LYNC Plans for GC Presence
The Love Your Neighbor Leadership Team met in October in Charlotte, NC, the location of next year’s United Methodist General Conference. Leaders worked to make plans for the witness of the fourteen progressive organizations in the coalition.
Leaders from the fourteen coalition members of the Love Your Neighbor Coalition
LYNC is dedicated to promoting inclusivity, equality, and social justice within the United Methodist Church, and plans a major witness at the conference. Key legislation will be coming before the conference to support decolonization, revise the social principles of the UMC, and remove restrictive language that keeps the church from being a place for all of God’s people.
LYNC's initiatives for the General Conference encompass:
LYNC Hospitality and Action Center: This central hub, located near the convention center, will serve as a gathering point for delegates, supporters, and volunteers. It will provide resources and foster community, furthering their mission to make the United Methodist Church more inclusive.
International Craft Market: To support central conference attendees, LYNC is hosting an International Craft Market. It showcases artisans from diverse regions, allowing conference attendees to support their work directly.
Translation Services: LYNC will offer translation services in three key languages for their messages and gatherings, ensuring effective communication. Additionally, these services will facilitate one-on-one dialogues between delegates and supporters, bridging language barriers.
Cultural Competency Training: Volunteers and attendees will receive cultural competency training to enhance their ability to engage respectfully with people from diverse backgrounds, fostering understanding and inclusivity.
Communication: Donations sustain LYNC's online, social media, and print presence, keeping supporters, delegates, and volunteers informed about the General Conference's latest developments, and fostering solidarity.
Globally Centered Worship and Meals: LYNC plans to host globally centered worship services and meals to connect with delegates from across the denomination, celebrating diversity and emphasizing unity through love and inclusivity.
Scholarships for Underrepresented Youth and BIPOC Individuals: LYNC is committed to providing opportunities for underrepresented young individuals and BIPOC members to participate in the witness opportunities at the General Conference. Donations contribute directly to scholarships that broaden the event's inclusivity.
LYNC leaders participate in a prayer session at the site of GC-Charlotte. (UMNews photo by Heather Hahn)
Fundraising is underway to meet these goals. Contributions to the Love Your Neighbor Coalition are instrumental in bringing their vision of a more inclusive United Methodist Church to life. Together, these efforts are set to create a powerful and resonant witness at the General Conference, contributing to the ongoing conversation about LGBTQ+ inclusion, and gender equality, decolonialization, disability rights, and environmental justice within the denomination.