Gender and Sexual Orientation Equity
“There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” - Galatians 3:28
Women deserve opportunity, pay, benefits and work conditions on par with what their male colleagues experience, but, when we engage in promoting gender equity, we must go well beyond confronting just this dynamic. Even more crucial is our call to oppose exclusion of, and discrimination and violence against, those who, as part of the LGBTQIA+ community, identify as something other than their birth sex (cisgender). While the United Methodist Church remains divided regarding the wording added to the 1972 Social Principles of the UMC, declaring homosexuality as incompatible with Christian teaching, Burke UMC, through prayer, reflection, and conversation, has established itself as a community that welcomes all, including our those who identify as LGBTQIA+. When we embrace them with love, acceptance, and respect, we recognize that we are all perfect in Christ and reinforce God's love for all.
Become Informed:
-
Be introspective, prayerfully examining the United Methodist stance on social issues and your own beliefs and habits. Becoming a strong ally in a social justice movement requires ongoing self-reflection, learning, and openness to growth.
Books:
-
Living Faithfully: Human Sexuality and the United Methodist Church
-
Where Do We Go From Here? Honest Responses From Twenty-Four United Methodist Leaders
-
Balancing on the Metchitza: Transgender in the Jewish Community (Dzmura)
-
Trans-gendered: Theology, Ministry and Communities of Faith (Tanis)
-
Unclobber: Rethinking The Misuse of the Bible on Homosexuality (Martin)
Articles:
Websites:
Help:
-
Be in prayer for individuals who identify as LGBTQIA+ and those who support and advocate for them
​
Advocate:
-
Become a part of a Burke UMC social justice team
-
Become involved in Reconciling Ministries
-
Write a social justice article for the BUMC Connections Newsletter
​
Rise Up:
-
Attend demonstrations or protests aimed at supporting LGBTQIA+ people and organizations that advocate for them.