Matt Berryman, Executive Director, and Helen Ryde, Southeastern Regional Organizer, for the Reconciling Ministries Network

Reconciling Ministries Network (RMN) mobilizes United Methodists of all sexual orientations and gender identities to transform our Church and world into the full expression of Christ’s inclusive love. RMN envisions a renewed and vibrant Wesleyan movement that is biblically and theologically centered. As committed disciples of Jesus Christ, RMN strives to transform the world by living out the Gospel’s teachings of grace, love, justice and inclusion for all of God’s children.

This paragraph is taken from the mission and vision statements on the website (RMN) of this international organization that is headquartered in Chicago. With a small professional staff, the organization depends a great deal on the time, talents, and donations of friends and volunteers to make the United Methodist Church (UMC) live up to its motto: Open Hearts, Open Minds, Open Doors.

The church has been discussing the issue of homosexuality for decades. This extended debate has caused some Protestant denominations to split, and the Methodists are struggling to prevent it. The 2016 General Conference enacted a special commission to seek "A Way Forward." The members of the commission recently were appointed and probably will meet in November about when the Council of Bishops will meet.

Lincoln used this phrase in a speech preceding the Civil War. We’re not quite to the point of a civil war, but our nation certainly is divided. I cannot recall a period when we have been so polarized over social, economic, environmental, religious, and political issues. We’ve been bombarded with political diatribes and ads for almost a year to where I’ve almost reached the point of mental and emotional exhaustion.