ALL ARE WELCOME AT HENNEPIN AVENUE UMC
Progress Flag Flying
We retired our worn, torn, and well-loved pride flag that has been proudly flying at the corner of Groveland and Hennepin/Lyndale as symbol of our and God's love of queer people. In its' place, now flys the Progress Pride flag.
Designed by Daniel Quasar in 2018, it features black and brown stripes to represent people of color, and baby blue, pink and white to include the trans flag in its design. And it’s all part of a mission to be more inclusive of the expansive breath of identity within the community.
HENNEPIN AVENUE UNITED METHODIST CHURCh: A RECONCILING CHURCH SINCE 1994
Statement of Welcome and Reconciliation
We, the members of Hennepin Avenue United Methodist Church, take seriously the importance of an open communion table. With that sacred encounter as our vision, we claim that as a congregation we are welcoming and open to all peoples. We embrace as a gift the diversity of our neighborhood and the world. We celebrate all the ways that the human family of Christ lives its diversity, including marital status, sexual orientation, faith history, gender identity, race, ethnicity, age, economic status, physical or mental ability, and education. We affirm that all people are created in the image of God, and we know that all, as beloved children of God, are worthy of God’s love and grace. We welcome the full inclusion of all people in the life and ministries of the United Methodist Church as we journey toward reconciliation in Christ. We believe in the vision of John Wesley that we can love alike, though we may not think alike.
We proclaim this statement of welcome to all, including those who have known the pain of exclusion or discrimination in the church or in society. As members of Hennepin Avenue United Methodist Church, who seek to be agents of social change, we covenant to work together until all are fully embraced in our church and we live into our dedication to “Open Hearts, Open Minds, and Open Doors.”
(revised by Committee in January 2016)
We believe that God’s grace is offered to all, and we will strive to be lavishly generous when it comes to inclusion.
We are committed to the vision adopted at the 2019 Annual Conference that envisions a Methodist movement rooted in Jesus, grounded in Wesleyan theology, inclusive of all persons, and engaged in the work of justice and reconciliation. These are and will continue to be our guiding values as a leadership team; we believe they align with our mission to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world and our vision for every congregation to be a vital expression of the gospel imperatives to grow in love of God and neighbor, reach new people, and heal a broken world.
General Conference further Postponed to 2024
As the pandemic continues and the wait time for visas stretches to over two years in some countries, the Commission on the General Conference announced today that the 2020 General Conference cannot be held in 2022 due to COVID-related and governmental policies/constraints.
The gathering will be postponed until 2024, and the Commission has already secured a venue for what would have been the regularly scheduled quadrennial event. Read press release
What the postponement means for us:
In light of the postponement, we as the Minnesota Annual Conference will continue to engage in creating a post-pandemic church, living into our vision, and embodying our values. This means we are committed to creating a place at the table for everyone, including LGBTQIA+ persons, and to listening more deeply to voices that have often been marginalized. The Extended Cabinet has created a statement of our commitments that speaks specifically to how we hold the value of LGBTQIA+ inclusion in this waiting season. Regardless of the outcome of the next General Conference, we will be unwavering in our commitment to full inclusion and laser focused on furthering Jesus’s ministry of extending abundant life to all of God’s children. This extended liminal time does not change who we are as the Minnesota Annual Conference or who we are in Christ.
Read more: What this postponement means for us
Where Do We Stand Now?
Helpful Links
Grace Through Separation Website
United Methodists for the Way Forward Collaboration Guide
Wesley Covenant Association (The Wesleyan Covenant Association has been shepherding the formation of the Global Methodist Church)
Current News
Church court: Conferences can’t exit unilaterally
Church court rules on resolutions on lgbtq inclusion
Cabinet and transition table nominations MNUMC
General Conference further postponed to 2024
GC2020 postponement: What it means for us
Bishops seek ruling on whether an annual conference can leave UMC
Show what we believe!
Show what we believe!Put one of these 24x18" signs in your yard! A free-will offering of $10 is appreciated, but any amount will be accepted. Contact Mary Martin for pick-up options: mary@haumc.org or 612-871-5303