Press Release: Young Methodists Speak Out At 24 Hour Drumming and Rally

RECONCILING MINISTRIES NETWORK – Mosaic Youth Network
3801 North Keeler Avenue, Chicago, IL 60641

Contact Persons:

Ann Craig, Media Coordinator
craig@glaad.org, 213-703-1365, cell

Rev. Troy Plummer, Executive Director
troy@rmnetwork.org, 773-315-9225, cell

Monica Swink, Board Chair
monicaswink@cox.net, 405-473-3942, cell

YOUNG METHODISTS SPEAK OUT AT 24 HOUR DRUMMING AND RALLY

Drums pulsed the air for 24 hours and culminated in a young people’s rally calling for the church to listen to the Gospel’s message of inclusion in the United Methodist Church as it votes on gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender welcome at its General Conference. 

Every four years, elected delegates from around the world gather to set the policy of the church.  United Methodists have debated issues relating to sexual orientation for more than thirty years and the votes are gradually moving toward inclusion. 

The drumming intensified as young people and delegates gathered for a noontime rally in the General Worth park.  When the drumming stopped, young speakers went to the microphone.

Rachel Birkhahn-Rommelfanger said, “Young people have chosen a future of hope. That hope is that all people will be welcome.  Today we claim our voice, our future and our place in the church.  As the younger generation is elected to General Conference, it will change. It is changing. We have already accepted LGBTIQ friends and want to bring them to church; a church where they will be accepted for who they are.” Rachel Birkhahn-Rommelfanger is the co-chair of The United Methodist Student Movement.

Brian Schlemmer, coordinator of On Fire, a young adult group within the Methodist Federation for Social Action, reminded those in attendance “God’s yes is always bigger than the Church’s  no.”

The rally leaders led the way back to the convention center and prayed for the delegates as they returned to their meetings.  The General Conference will take most of its votes on these controversial issues midweek. 

Miriam Wood said, “It is time for The United Methodist Church, the church that I love, to include. I feel so strongly.  It will happen in my lifetime, and I will feel comfortable being called a United Methodist.”

Rev. Troy Plummer, executive director of RMN, reflected, “Young people know gay people and are leaving anti-gay churches.  The recent Barna research revealed that 80% of young people, 16-29, with church homes are embarrassed by anti-gay policies and reluctant to invite friends.  If United Methodist seek to have a vital church in the future in the US, they must pay attention!”