Global United Methodist Church Launches

GLOBAL METHODIST CHURCH LAUNCHED MAY 1, 2022

By Sean Claes

Today launched the “Global Methodist Church.”

I am saddened and pray for those who feel the need to leave a United Methodist Church because of the church’s discussion about the love, acceptance and inclusion of the LGBTQIA+ community… 

Those who are unwilling to be fully accepting and affirming (or at least open to the conversation) are the folks who removed the “United” from their name and added “Global.”

I pray those who have a place at the table for the next gathering of the United Methodist church make the Christian decision and fully affirm and accept LGBTQIA+ people who wish to marry the person they love and/or are called by God to serve the church. 

I pray for those who have left Christianity and/or organized religion because of individuals who hate in the name of God. 

I pray for those who are members of the LGBTQIA+ community. I pray they know that they are loved by Christians who lead by love. they are fully accepted by those who follow Jesus’ example. 

I look forward to a fully accepting, affirming and loving United Methodist Church. I pray this can be a reality. Then the Church can fully live up to their slogan: Open Hearts. Open Minds. Open Doors. 

Anything less is incompatible with Christian teaching.

Love moves first.

#LoveMovesFirst

Transgender Texans, You Are Loved (Thoughts on Governor's 2/22/22 "Order")

Texas, We Are Better Than This.

This is my reflection on this news:

Texas Governor Pushes to Investigate Medical Treatments for Trans Youth as ‘Child Abuse’

In a letter on Tuesday, Gov. Greg Abbott directed the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services to investigate gender-affirming treatments for transgender adolescents as “child abuse.” (from NY Times 2/23/22)

 

It’s 2022. Texas, we’re better than this. 

In a time when self-care and mental health is more important than ever, for a leader like Greg Abbott to come forward with an “order” on 2/22/22 to criminalize medical treatment for trans youth is at best confusing and at worst deadly. 

It is staggering how many people he is willing to hurt to appeal to his ultra-conservative constituents in an election cycle.

I will continue to affirm and love.

A human has the right to seek medical care to allow them live the gender identity outwardly they are internally. 

Transgender kids… you are seen. You are believed. You are loved. Please know you are loved.

Texas… it’s your job to voice your love for our kids with your vote. It’s time to remove Abbott from office in November. 

Lead with love. 

#LoveMovesFirst

FreedHearts are Happy Hearts

I am a LGBTQIA+ ally. 
I am also a Christian.

To me, those two things live in perfect harmony.

There are those who believe that they are mutually exclusive. There is a movement to shun and disown and not accept or try to "pray the gay away." 

But to me, being a fully supporting LGBTQIA+ ally who leads with love over hate is in perfect harmony with being a Christian. And I'm not talking "love the sinner hate the sin" type support. A beautifully created child of God living their authentic life while causing no harm IS NOT A SIN.

Hate, judgement, misrepresenting God's authority to serve your (not God's) beliefs... those seem, to me, to be more sinful than being authentic to yourself. I've spent a long time looking into the mirror to contemplate this... If you have a heart capable of love and are willing to listen... I recommend doing the same.

If you don't... you probably already stopped reading and moved on... for those who are left... well.. let me tell you about a resource I came across that just re-emerged in my world.

I attended an Austin Independent School District one day seminar/gathering/event a few years ago and one of the break-out session presenters was Susan Cottrell, the founder of FreedHearts. 

FreedHearts is a non-profit organization formed in 2013. According to their website (and my personal experience with them) this group "reaches into hurting communities with a message of love, inclusion, belonging, and hope — for parents, LGBTQ+, educators, therapists, and the church."

Her story is very interesting... and she even did a Ted Talk - "Why I chose my LGBTQ daughter over the Evangelical Church" telling her story back in 2018. you can watch that here - link.

Well.. it looks like they launched a podcast back in October.. and I just discovered it today. I listened to the Father's Day podcast by Robert Cottrell (Susan and Robert have been married for 30+ years) on Spotify. I highly recommend listening to it... here.

Then it automatically rolled to the next one...which is the one I share below.

I wish that every human being who has a heart capable of love and who is willing to let love move first to guide their lives would give a listen to this podcast...

There is no limit to what we can achieve when Love Moves First.