Outreach

An article detailing the evangelistic work of a local Affirmation group.

Evangelism

Affirmation connected their outreach to the Christian practice of evangelism – sharing the good news of the message of Jesus Christ. For Affirmation, this good news was simple. There was no prerequisite to abandon one’s identity in order to believe in Jesus. Any message that insisted LGBTQIA+ people had a particular requirement for salvation that others did not have was not good news. Affirmation made this evangelistic work a central part of their work.

An article detailing the launch of local Affirmation groups.

Regional Organizing

One of the ways Affirmation spread this good news was through the creation of regional and local Affirmation groups. These groups spent time in local communities connecting with LGBTQIA+ people and non-LGBTQIA+ people inside and outside of The United Methodist Church.

An article describing the growing interest in regional Affirmation chapters.

Community

Regional and local Affirmation groups helped combat the alienation and isolation that could be brought to the LGBTQIA+ community by discrimination in the public sphere and in The United Methodist Church. They also created a pipeline for information and stories to be collected and distributed. The information and stories shared through Affirmation’s platforms provided resources for churches that were interested in welcoming LGBTQIA+ people into their congregations.

A flyer describing the work of the Reconciling Congregation Program.

Reconciling Congregation Program

Despite The United Methodist Church’s policies against the full inclusion of LGBTQIA+ Methodists into all aspects of ministry, some pastors and congregations believed such policies were wrong. Affirmation launched the Reconciling Congregation Program to build a network of these churches for LGBTQIA+ Methodists to find community and to provide resources and support for the churches if and when The United Methodist Church took action against them. 

An article describing the growth of the Reconciling Congregation Program.

Growth

The Reconciling Congregation Program grew rapidly under the leadership of Affirmation and eventually was launched as its own distinct network, now known as the Reconciling Ministries Network. Thousands of people and hundreds of ministries and churches have been supported and equipped through the Reconciling Congregation Program and Reconciling Ministries Network. 

A stylized print of Africa.

To All the World

LGBTQIA+ Methodists were not just present in the United States or the West, nor was discrimination and persecution. Affirmation’s outreach included drawing attention to the stories of LGBTQIA+ people in other parts of the world, especially in Africa. Over time, partnerships in Africa became a major focus of Affirmation’s outreach.

An article detailing Affirmation's work in Uganda.

Uganda

Affirmation’s work and advocacy in Uganda included resistance to policies influenced by Americans who called for increased discrimination and persecution against LGBTQIA+ people in Africa. Affirmation helped draw attention to these acts and supported locals in their resistance. Affirmation also helped support local businesses.

An article detailing Affirmation's work in East Africa.

Kenya

Affirmation’s outreach in Kenya included funding for a clinic run by a local affirming congregation that joined the Reconciling Ministries Network. That an affirming congregation could thrive in a country with restrictive anti-gay laws is a testament to Affirmation’s work and support.

Outreach played no small part in the organizing efforts of Affirmation. Their advocacy and networks of support amplified the voices of LGBTQIA+ Methodists wherever they happened to be. This amplification was particularly heard during General Conference, the quadrennial meeting of The United Methodist Church and its highest legislative body.