Classes and events
Unclobber | Tuesdays, June 6 to July 18 | 6:30 - 7:30 p No class on July 4
Join Debbie Reinhardt, Leader of the LGBTQ+ Family Support Network, as she leads a book study on Unclobber: Rethinking Our Misuse of the Bible on Homosexuality
Walk Justly 2023 (re) inhabit | October 20-21, 2023
The (re)inhabit conference is for those leaning into our calling to tend the wellbeing of the earth, our communities, and our own very flesh…and for those wondering how the church can best take on this task.
Lunch & Learns
On the first Tuesday of the month, the Social Justice Ministry will host monthly Lunch & Learns in Fellowship Hall (and via Facebook Live). These events will be from noon to 12:45 pm and will cover topics related to root causes of injustice.
Bring your lunch and surround yourself with community as we learn about important social justice issues impacting our community
upcoming lunch and learns
June 6, 2023
How to be an LGBTQ+ Ally
Join Debbie Reinhardt, Leader of the LGBTQ+ Family Support Network, during Pride month and explore how you can be an LGBTQ+ ally.
Register for Any of the Above Education events
lgbtq+ Inclusion and the umc
As part of a “Live in Love” sermon series, Pastor Andy Bryan delivered a compelling sermon laying out interpretations of the “clobber verses.” These are verses in the Bible that have been used to harm or “clobber” members of the LGBTQ+ community. The interpretations are rooted in Biblical scholarship, linguistic analysis, historical context, and other ancient sources.
Pastor Andy asked, “Knowing there is an interpretation of these verses that does harm to your neighbor, and knowing now that there is another interpretation of these verses that doesn’t do harm to your neighbor, why do you believe what you believe?”
Why do we believe what we believe? It is a provocative and necessary question. After Pastor Andy’s sermon people wanted to know more and to better understand the different interpretations. Using a resource created by Nick Mundwiller, and Pastor Andy’s sermon, Ali Fields drafted a summary of the interpretations.
The UMC and Homosexuality –
Homosexuality in the Bible
The Future of the UMC
Eating disorder and disordered eating resources
Information and resources related to eating disorders and disordered eating
The Missouri Eating Disorders Association
Educational information as well as local treatment resources
Radical Self-Love for Everybody and Every Body
Social justice centered eating disorder and disordered eating recovery resources
Road to Recovered
One woman’s experience of letting go of a long-term eating disorder by healing from the inside out
Committed to Size Diversity in Health and HAES
Association for size diversity and health
Books
- Reclaiming Body Trust: A Path to Healing & Liberation by Hilary Kinavey and Dana Sturtevant (releasing in August 2022)
- The Body is Not an Apology by Sonja Renee Taylor
- 8 Keys to Recovery From an Eating Disorder by Carolyn Costin and Gwen Schubert Grabb
- Hunger by Roxane Gay
- Intuitive Eating, 4th Edition: A Revolutionary Anti-Diet Approach by Evelyn Tribole and Elyse Resch
- How to Raise an Intuitive Eater: Raising the Next Generation with Food and Body Confidence by Sumner Brooks and Amee Severson
- Decolonizing Wellness by Dalia Kinsey
- Belly of the Beast: The Politics of Anti-Fatness as Anti-Blackness by Da’Shaun L. Harrison
If questions or to learn how to get involved, please email the Director of Social Justice, Ali Fields.
Past events
An Evening With Rev. Darryl Gray |
March 28, 2023
7pm
Rev. Darryl Gray is the Senior Pastor at Greater Fairfax Missionary Baptist Church and was the spiritual advisor for Kevin Johnson, a man put to death by the state of Missouri in 2022. Rev. Gray will speak about his experience as a spiritual advisor & his work to end the death penalty. Watch Rev. Gray's powerful testimony on the Manchester UMC Social Justice Facebook page or click on the photo of Rev. Gray.
Lift Up the vulnerable
Online only | April 25, 2023
7:00 pm
There are an estimated 50 million people trapped in modern-day slavery today. This number has increased by 25% since 2016 due to conflict, Covid-19, and the climate crisis.
Join Manchester United Methodist Church Social Justice team to learn about the Myths and Realities of Human Trafficking and how you can take a courageous step to end exploitation
