… Surely, we are in front of a potential opportunity for change, but let’s not be naïve. Those changes will happen only if we are courageous to confront evil in all its forms while remembering the pain that this intense period has caused. There are 70 million reasons to remain woke. If we dismiss the impact of this reality, healing will be a distant dream and justice an empty word.

Rev. Carlos Samuel Reyes-Rodríguez

Love rebukes injustice, calls out the oppressor and resists evil in any form of transgression.

Thank you God, “subversion is now the new song.”

A visual poem written by Rev. Carlos Samuel Reyes-Rodríguez.

Greetings in the name of Christ Jesus, the one who brings good news to the poor, release to the captives, and freedom to the oppressed! With 2020 bringing both new and familiar challenges, we are reminded that the work of liberation continues. Those committed to this work must constantly evaluate their call and determine the path that best fits their vision and their needs. The Leadership Team of UM-Forward is no different. In recent months, new visions, new formations, and new strategies have emerged.

“… La doctrina contradictoria popularmente descrita como “odiar al pecado y amar al pecador” es insustancial y a la vez indefensible…”

“… A mal orientada e conveniente prática heteronormativa de descontextualizar meia dúzia de versos Bíblicos dentre mais de seis mil, tem sido a raiz e o adubo de toda a violência sofrida por pessoas LGBTQIA+…”

“… We do not accept the arguments of the document published as Palavra Pastoral do Colégio Episcopal da Igreja Metodista do Brasil (Word of the Episcopal College of the Methodist Church of Brazil) that cling to ossified ideas about the nature of the world, sexuality, sin, human nature, and do not observe the lethal implications of what they claim…”

It's been 17 years since I got on a bus as a strung out, addicted, angry and confused 19 year old. I left my hometown of Foley, Alabama on a Greyhound bus to go to a program in Houston, Texas just hoping I could make a bit of a change and avoid going to prison…

“Something to do with you guys?” Therein lay my hurt and anger during that conversation. Stonewall was on the periphery of his memory…

“… We should replace Sunday School curriculums with educational resources that show our children that the characters they learn about are Brown skinned Jews from the Ancient Near East. I believe such changes will have a positive effect on the next generation as we seek to teach that racism is incompatible with Christian teaching…”

“It always strikes me as strange whenever people ask me whether I miss the church when they find out I’m no longer a local church pastor. My response is always similar…”