The following report from January 6 is shared on behalf of the WJ Fresh Summit Working Group, the ten-person team elected by attendees of the summit in November 2019.
A working group of the Western Jurisdiction was elected by the 200+ United Methodists who came together at the Fresh United Methodism Summit in Los Angeles in November. This working group’s charge at the close of the Summit was to continue and expound upon the work the Summit yielded. We have taken that charge to heart as we embark on that work.
The working group met in Denver January 2 – 4. We would like to share how the Spirit’s presence at the Summit has continued to guide us as we discern our next steps.
While there, we developed the following statement of our work:
Led by the Spirit, our task is to create and initiate a Wesleyan movement that celebrates diversity, embodies Jesus and develops faithful ministries of God’s table of Grace.
During our time together, we grounded ourselves in Scripture, centered ourselves in theology with the support of Iliff School of Theology faculty, and practiced that theology serving in the streets of Denver. We also began the work of defining and mapping out our path ahead by identifying shared values and practices that focus on working together towards shared outcomes.
We believe that our work will, and must, continue notwithstanding the release of the proposed “Protocol of Reconciliation & Grace Through Separation.” A new Wesleyan movement becomes even more important as we hopefully turn away from dissension and toward the future. Please keep us in your prayers.
Amy Go, Co-Leader
Rev. Joseph Kim, Co-Leader
Paul Crosgrove
Rev. Dottie Escobedo-Frank
Kelly Marciales
Rev. Jasper Peters
Nica Sy
Regina Walker
Rev. Dale Weatherspoon
Rev. Wendy Woodworth
