Hello their listeners and welcome to a special episode of blessed are the binary Breakers. I'm your host Avery Smith and I come to you a bit earlier than usual. The thing is something big is happening in the United Methodist Church right now, and it's got a lot of LGBT. EBT plus methodists and their allies worried starting very soon on February 23rd and going through the 26th is a special session of the UMC General Conference the outcome of this conference will determine things like whether all LGBT folks can be married and ordained within this denomination. I was lucky enough to get a lifelong Methodist onto the show to tell me and by extension all of You just what is at stake here? Adam Richards is a non-binary Methodist studying in Texas. They already work at a church there and are hoping to attend Seminary next year. It amazed me how much I could hear the spirit of God and Adam story as they told me about their worries and fears, but also their great love for the UMC and told me their reasons for staying in a denomination that sometimes hurts them. It is my hope that hearing a personal story from a queer methodists who will be very directly affected by the outcomes of the UMC General Conference might help people understand how vital it is to let us tell our stories when you hear real life experiences. It should help make real for you the fact that actual people people whom God loves and calls to participate in the church in various ways. Going to be impacted by this conference and all decisions in all denominations all Faith communities regarding sexuality and gender identity and I just want to give you a heads up. There will be swearing in this episode. I think Adam has every right to be swearing as they talk about this thing that is going to have a huge impact on their life their ordination their career. The lives of people they care about so please join me in learning a bit more about this General Conference. So for I'm not gonna bore with all the put bureaucratic details other than to mention the fact that the UMC loves bureaucracy, but we have like a legislative body that usually needs every four years called General Conference and it's literally two weeks all the methodists like delegates from all the Methodist fly. Annual conferences in the world go and meet and basically make all of the decisions. They need to make their next four years, you know real good system do it in two weeks. Um, what happened yours is only every four years. I'll prep the tyrian. We do it every two years. That's smarter honestly, but so what's basically happening is like within the book of discipline. There's these restrictions that say, there's things there's like one paragraph It says like clergy can't perform. Same joder weddings is another one that says like clergy can't be like LGB the cheese complicated I can get into that a little bit. Okay, that's that's a fun time. Let's get the whole separate thing. But and then you have there's also like the aligned in the pose like homosexuality is like fundamentally incompatible with like Christianity or something like that. I really gross and is the language for In LGB, is it like you can't be a practicing? Yeah be person. Yeah, that's what it used to be in PC USA my denomination, right? I'm just the wording is ridiculous. Oh that I'll do it like a little bureaucrat like a side. They're practicing means very different things depending on your district superintendent. Just like another level of leg - they have to approve you to be ordained certify you a candidate Ministry and some people like practicing. Saying like or something like District superintendents practicing means like you identify as Leia LG or even ski sometimes like from because a lot of people will just lump that in there because they don't know what they're talking about and sometimes it's means it's like, oh, well only if you're like dating someone so if you're like single you like the gay but that's still fine. You just can't like you just have to be single for the rest of your life mine are quotes and then there's another layer on top of that. We're like, sometimes it'll be like, oh you can be like you can do basically whatever you want. As long as you're not having gay sex, right? Like we're like same gender sexual relation with this is kind of like that. Actually M Barclay who's a non-binary minister. Yeah. They talked about this in an interview they did where they had when they were trying to get ordained in the central Texas conference, which is really conservative. And they are there was like a discussion with like 400 clergy were all like having this debate trying to determine whether they had ever had sex with their partner, which is just like that's so invasive right? Like I would say this is some has been a lifelong Methodist. Even I would have been like, yeah, fuck this. I'm out. Like I'm like, yeah, they you know that they went on to get like, you know, they went Another conference. I'm in Illinois and they got ordained up there, you know the Vets. They were still willing to stick with the church really is a testament really just to the resilience of like lgbtq+ absolute pay my you know, just like that's like, you know, they having that just keeps of spiritual abuse is levied on you but then like, you know still being like best this is not the church like, you know, the word of God is not like this and you feel like you have to keep going and I don't fault obviously don't fall people. Ooh Who feel like they need to leave the church. Like I understand the kind of hopping back to the general conference thing because I realized I never finished that thought. Oh, yeah, it's called again. There's layers to this so it gets kind of complicated to talk about. So basically General Conference meets every four years legislative make body and every four years, we have language that was put in the first like anti lgbtq+ language is put in a 1972, which is four years after the United. This church, like reunified all the Methodist nominations that have split as a result of segregation. So like already we go and do basically the same shit and already fucking up already. So that was really cool clearly learned nothing from the previous hundred years distribute against people. So like every four years, it's basically been like a massive clusterfuck like at General Conference because there's all these competing petitions from like, you know, Progressive Administration. Who like want to get rid of this language? And then there's like, you know really conservative like, you know delegates who like want to like really crack down on LGBT plus people in the church and the people who support them and it's just this back and forth and as a result, like basically nothing gets done because all of the legislating is focused on that and then there's no progress made on that. So things really came to a head in 2016, which was the last General Conference. Are the denomination almost went through a chaotic Schism like it? Oh it almost just fell apart like almost completely fell apart like not liking like, you know orderly division of property. It was just about to be like, you know, all right. Everyone's out like this is this is done like kind of deal at the last minute the Bishops stepped in and basically like, okay. we're going to table everything like lgbtq+ related at this conference and we're going to host a special General Conference three years from now because I'm sure that extra year is you know, yeah, so they're like, okay, you're gonna Host this like three years from now and they eventually they also went and develop like, you know plans for the domination going forward and Remain plans are there's the traditionalist plan, which is basically a status quo, but even harsher enforcement of the rules, there's the actual conference plan, which is basically like separate denominations, but under one like kind of global umbrella, theoretically sharing researchers and the the planet was endorsed by the Council of Bishops, which is the one church plan which would allow churches to decide whether they can like Mary. Three lgbtq or perform same-gender marriages and we remove the language in the book at this plan opposing like, you know, the incompatibility language and would allow for the annual conference to decide whether they will ordain lgbtq+ people. I think that's what pcus I ended up doing where one denomination where individual sessions and Presbyterians make the decision. Yeah, and so for context it is February. 16 right now is this being recorded and Conference I believe is the 23rd through the 26th. It's really soon after this and no one has any idea what's gonna there's just a splinter group called The Western Covenant Association is basically a pose whoo, any plan that would pass that even like the gives an inch to like this queer people. Basically that's like that that they just said we're going leave the church and we're going to do everything in power in our power to basically fuck over the denomination. Yeah. Well, I'm a very you know, because it's very, you know, very Christian thing to do, you know, you know if that's not motivated by Spite and hatred at all. There's that but no one really knows what plans going to pass or if they do nothing that's also an option which might be fucked up and of itself. Yeah. Basically there's like real chance that like A lot of every church is basically have to take a vote on whether they like remain in the UMC. Like well first off its just going to kill a lot of purchase. Like if you're like my Patricia I worked at and is like, you know, there's been declining in membership since the seventies and only has a worse like has 200 members and worships like 70 on a good Sunday and you know, you're still kind of working through this as a congregation like I'm out for at least is like by like as like bisexual to that. Station but they don't know I don't know if they know anything about trans stuff. Bye. It's really just kind of like I don't want to deal with this right now what kind of thing but like and everyone's been super nice to me, but it's just kind of one of those things. It's like it's the mostly older white congregation. I don't know what's going to happen or like having to like watch that happen. And again with this whole process you have no say in it basically but have to face all the consequences easy, Austin. It's like it determines make every like my entire like future because it's like am I going to be able to get ordained in this church and be able to become a commission candidate and be able to access scholarships because of that like and I can I continue working at the church a work? Yeah, like, you know because I wouldn't want to work at a church that decides the Westmead Covenant associations all that like that's horrifying people like people like me are the ones who like have to deal with all the consequences of this if like the one church plan. Like passes like that the because there was a church. They don't lose anything. It's just this seems like the sheer thought of having to share Ministry space where people just upsets them that much and it's really frustrating and annoying and it again it makes me wonder like why am I here like, you know, it's like kind of like why am I here because so again, that's just a question. I've been thinking about a lot and I kind of like boil it down to like You think one I'm not doing anything wrong. It's the other people have the problem. Like hi. I have done nothing wrong. So like I don't deserve this treatment to I'm a Wesleyan like like yeah, I can't just like pop denominations like the theology right? Like that's what people tell me and they're like, why don't you join like the Lutheran Church or why you dry my PC USA and I'm like no disrespect to you. But like I'm not a calvinist. Oh, believe me. I am not a calvinist either the other things were like, you know, I've given my whole life to the church. I've been like I've done the whole YouTube thing. I seven years inquire help bank account like a campus ministry like grow I work I've worked for shake to churches that this point and and one like Methodist Affiliated internship. You can't take that away from me. Like I've you know, I've like, you know, put my put my head on the line here like I Kind of like, you know paid my dues like, you know, and I think the last thing really was but really it's for the younger people in the church couple examples that come to mind immediately. We're both at our acre at Arapahoe and at Chapel Hill. I usually like, you know, I'm pretty open I oftentimes like we're like super duper crew themed shirts and stuff. I've had like, you know Young GE make people like come up to me and they're like, oh my God, like, you know like your shirt. So cool or like, you know, I'm really glad you work at this church and you're gay like, that's so awesome. Yeah, but you know and like that's like really that's the part of this. I like really like kind of keeps me here because it's like, you know, those people have hope that like, they see someone who is active and part of the faith and also living into their identity and that's something I didn't have when I was little They had no Role Models there and you know if I can be that then it's worth it. Yes. I am so with you there. But yeah, that's what I think that's just kind of like that's kind of like the big overview of like General Conference related stuff other than there's a couple more things I want to mention is one most churches have no idea that this is coming these congregationally so that's going to be a big surprise. Yeah, because the whole denomination is And of wanted to push this to the side for a long time and like prop up this facade of unity. Mmm, and so, you know church is just one talk about it. And so these issues are just kind of left to Fester like on top of that like because we haven't like figured out like the same gender marriage thing like trans stuff is not even a discussion that gets had Yeah, you mentioned that before that there's a Rinse most churches like even like a lot of progressive churches Methodist churches, like help identify Progressive the like really kind of 90s Progressive like they're like, yes. Yeah, they're kind of like all about like gay people but like if they're not they're not necessarily hostile towards trans people. They're just like, I've no clue what you're talking about like the church. I interned at over the summer last summer, which I will name drop because they are genuinely great. Like they are great people. They're willing to learn like they were just awesome people. I love That internship. I don't mean this is like, you know, like, you know a swipe at them. It's Oaklawn United Methodist in the neighborhood in Dallas. Go there. They're really cool Pastor like came up to me and she was like, I need you to explain like trans stuff to me because like this is not something that I have like ever been exposed to and I really want to like do right by this community my congregation like, you know, there are like gay men here. This is like a direct quote from Avatar dead provide, you know, I didn't figure out what transgender was until like last year and that was a conversation. I had this conversation. I had like this year and it's an older congregation and so but like that's kind of like but that's where they go a lot of like the churches are at. Yep, and sometimes the like they'll know some stuff about trans stuff but not anything about specifically non-binary gender queer stuff, right? Like yeah that's been like that especially has been like an education opportunity. You know and just like making sure like pronoun usage. Just correct. There was a master of my home Church, which is Arapaho. I mentioned I had to mention an email like hey like because they did a whole like they mentioned me and like the context of the storm which is really beautiful. I don't know if it's important is really beautiful, but they used the wrong pronouns an accident and I was like, hey you forgot my pronouns and yeah. And you know, I'm you know, maybe it's just I have low standards or something but like it like it's inches there and that's really what matters to me. Yeah, and it's like it's not these people's fault necessarily because they've been fighting another fight like their stock month. Like this is the thing that's like all-consuming and it consumes all Church debate. But if it's just it's silly and it's exhausting and I like finding like trans affirming fixed. Visibly trans affirming the uh, or like Ministry super hard like, yeah also the check. I just want to again I want to plug this because it's great same church. I interned at Oaklawn. They're actually doing a clothing swap. I believe it's on March. Yeah, it's March 2nd. They're doing a clothing swap like a trance Focus all of that. Thanks so fun. Yeah. Oh there. Good one that's a rabbit was my idea. It's an awesome idea Focus like they run. I there's a large homeless population there and they run a like Clothing Closet out of the church and they're always like looking for items. So it's like this is a great way to like one reach out transmuting to bring in items because the anything that gets like, you know is left over just gets donated so It's a great way to both like and you're just you're literally clothing. So many people as a result of this and like that's so awesome. Like that's so cool. You know, it's happening March 2nd. I think it's from 11 to 4. If you're in the DFW area totally go there you can meet me there and you'll meet a lot of really cool people there. Well, one of the things that they really frustrates me on the side about this kind of going back to the Methodist thing. I know we've bounced around a lot but most of the discussions I see taking place even while I got on Progressive angles is about the church property because there's a trust Clause that like you can't leave the UMC with your own property if you decide and and like all of this stuff about like, you know for your information is seems seemingly has been like reduced down to that and it's just like come on instead we talked about like, you know bu suicide rate, I will Talk about the fact that like 30% of lgbtq plus people like, you know use marijuana on a regular basis just triple the rate of the standard population. Not that that's like wrong or anything. But like, you know, it's a problem if they're doing it like if they're doing it because they feel sort of like they have no other Outlet, right? Yeah. It's just like there's so many of these things that are clearly the fault of the church and like, you know, those are not the stories that get cold at General conference is always a talked about in Methodist circles like this abstract thing and it's just like I want to grab people make shake my shoulders. I like I'm fucking right ear like fuck the fucking property. That doesn't matter that happen. Yeah bullshit. What do you have people who have no voices in the church because they can't be in leadership what I just don't have like the opportunity to like even Get this stuff and like, you know, and I'm like really frustrating thing. Like I expect that from like, you know, non affirming people like that makes sense because a lot of them, but just depend to humanize us out of habit at this point and we're we are considered a theological problem because our identities are not considered real but it's really frustrating when like progressives by into these argumentative frames because like you're automatically conceding when you buy it You like that kind of frame, you're automatically basically saying yeah, you're right. But like which is just like kind of roundabout like we're phobia honestly like yeah and more well-meaning but still very problematic right and like and again like it's really hard to find good allies in a Methodist contact because they don't have access to they don't have like the kind of networks of like lgbtq+ people to learn from Or the access to the theology that could help them 100 forced into these frames not even realize that and that and I guess just harm on top of harm on top of harm. But yeah, but probably you think is also like really fucked up just in general because you know, if there's any consequences to this it falls on us like because we either like lose our spaces or we lose our spaces. We lose our like, you know path forward is ministers we lose. They're like whole church like if the denomination usually social networks, and it's just you know, and like that's that's such bullshit. This is real fucking bullshit. I really wish I could take like every delegate who is considering like voting for hers knows plan and just be like, you know, there's live in my shoes for a day and have to deal with just the stress of this for a day just this like because then you that I People I feel like I'd hoped people would understand then why this is a problem. And why what is happening is causing harm. Yeah, if your side our side loses then we lose real practical things livelihood and jobs and church. Whereas if the other side loses they lost a theological debate, right? Well because like they also like again, A lot of this is motivated by like active bigotry and like there's definitely plenty of people on that side who see this and see the destruction of progresses faces as doing the work of God because they see us as false teachers and so it's just kind of like it's not enough to just merely squit. It's like no we have to defend the word of God and Destroy these people which a lot of this can lead to like literally tennis idle thoughts. This there is a general conference the few years ago. Like we there we have a large a lot of the overseas delegation is very clear video. Obviously, like not everyone not every United methodists who like lives overseas is like super conservative bigoted people do a lot of really racist shit because the Africa delegation in particular because like they're seen as the problem delegation and I'm like, yeah a lot of the theology that led to like the or theology over there was started over here by these white fundamentalist megachurches. So about you focus on them because they're the ones really causing the problem organizing things like the West they cut Wesley and having them Association, but there's one delegate my only mission was overseas because they were speaking through an interpreter. They speaking through an interpreter and they it was it was one of these numerous fucking debate over some like lgbtq related. And The Interpreter just refused to interpret what they said and they're like yeah, what you said is I'm not interpreting that like that's so vile. I am not interpreting that this is Avery from the future Adam emailed me after we talked they emailed me a link to an article about what happened with The Interpreter and basically what the delegate said in Swahili was that saying that a homosexual person was created by God is like saying that God created me to live with animals the translator did eventually translate it but apologized while doing so and of course as Adam was sure to mention. This is not an issue of good affirming American methodists versus homophobic African methodists. There are plenty of homophobic Americans just as there are plenty of affirming Africans the Wesleyan College Association. Feels perfectly fine with allying with those people but they're perfectly comfortable with making like allyship the people who if given the chance would kill us. But yeah, and that really that's what sends home to me what this is really about like it's not about like abstract theology. It's not about like it. Did you hate us? Yeah. Yeah things are things are going good in the Methodist church right now. Yeah, yeah working as an office manager during this is very interesting to like a bit of a lighter note because I handle a lot of the church like bureaucracy stuff. And so like I have like forms I had to turn into the conference or like things like update for them. Like I was updating like the church like leadership roster for like the annual conference and I'm just kind of feel like I'm like rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic and I'm like, yeah, this is pretty cool that I'm doing this. I'm like is any of this going to exist in two weeks like like yeah, everyone's just like going about like this is completely normal and nothing's happening and it's kind of like I don't I don't know how I want people to be acting but this doesn't feel yeah. The thing about like Schism is the denomination breaking up is like, you know, it might be the most just way going forward but it's not something that's kind of like, you know, I'm necessarily Going to be like jumping up and down and celebrate because like you're losing connection with other people you're losing like, you know your abilities you like really good work just as like being part of a larger Innovation that can like, you know managed funds and get some core like United Methodist committee on relief is like we're wearing one of they I'm course like one of the like first group to like groups that book shows up at any natural disaster. Like there's like super huge part of like Disaster Recovery feel like hurricanes. We had or like tornadoes earthquakes. Like what have you like? I'm course always there. And that's the thing that would probably go away, you know, and also like all the churches that are going to get split apart and probably have to close their doors, but for all the people who might get these are like, you know getting getting hurt your kids are growing up in like or even adults like in like not affirming churches like, you know, like they even if like the ones whose plan passes, they don't have like that hope and they especially don't have that. Hope nutritious eyes to leave the denomination and That's the all of that's like just it's sad. It's been genuinely sad and even if it's like, you know. Better quote unquote outcome. We're like at least at least some Churches get that kind of get the freedom that they took to to be just towards lgbtq+ people like there's still so much that needs to be done like and so much like Injustice that still there and then you just lose like the resources thing and that's that's just disappointing and it's you know, because Happening for no reason and it was something that if we had better leadership, but didn't just want to hide this under the rug and valued Unity above Justice like you maybe could have stayed United and could have been without and then you know, this is what happened. This is what happens when you ignore sin. Wow, it festers and it causes harm and it leads to the ending of relationship and community and connection like That's what it does that needs to be a sermon because the data breach that will brief did I mention I'm going into ordained Ministry. Yes. I look forward to hearing how that goes for you because I think your voice is really needed. I'm currently one step away. If you could fly like Gorman the ordination process, so I got so my first process was going before like the pastor you go before your pastor. Then your pastor passes you on to your staff Paris Relations Committee of the turkey been a member at got to be a member for a year and I've been at rapaho for a while. So that's like no problem and then they will send you to host an annual conference. That is the Instinct District conference or something there send you to another like bureaucratic like meeting where it's like a bunch of people from other they, you know, like other churches and stuff are also there. And then they sign off on you and then you go to the district superintendent and they once the district attorney has group signs off on you. You become certified What's called the certified candidate and after that you can be you can get access to scholarships like all the fun stuff that like basically gives you the tools to go for it and be ordained. Yeah, and like I got stuck at the certified candidate process because I I am I'm in a relationship. Like that's that's where I got stuck. That was the particular District superintendents interpretation which like I'm salty about but also I understand that to some extent her hands are tied because like, you know, if she loses her job person who can replace her isn't gonna be more affirming anyways, and I know she wants weird am like like I'm like, she's like I want to ordain you like you were clearly called to Ministry. Buying like look, I mean, there's like nothing I do like, you know, I think that's like bullshit when you make also forced people into these kind of like, you know, this kind of like weird loyalty test kind of thing like that for shit. But yeah where they have to act against what they believe right out of fear, that's really sucky. Yeah, and you know hope she Basics made to me. they are like there's gonna be like a little bit of like a lead time if the one church plan gets through but like she's pretty confident that our annual conference would vote to ordain like we have enough Progressive leaning churches in the delegation to my kind of like when that boat basically, but but there was still be like a lag time few months and so it's like my schedule is like a little accelerated because which I wonder how that works out because these things you said it would be like the summer before like, you know, all that would have been squared away and it might happen and like annual conference for like this boat gets taken which is again the sub Conference of like stupid Methodist, but You know and yeah, so that's kind of like just how all of that works. I think one of the cool things. I know I have a lot of slides here and I'm very scattered brain, but I remember as I really agonize because you have to write up a crawl space and it was really agonizing about this and like, you know, how much of like do like I put forward here is like knowing that I like is a very reluctant to get stopped at some point process and I go to the pastor at Chapel Hill if uh, I work at I'm going you call me in for something else like to talk, you know, it's like, you know, yeah, I'm working on my call State and I'm like, you know kind of like figuring out like what should I put in here kind of like anything that like, hey it's about like the queer stuff like and he just looked at each other said you put the truth. Like you put the truth like because you know, if you don't then they will know like because you know your call and your identity are so tied up together. Yeah that why if you exclude all of that, it doesn't make sense and it's not like, you know, if it you you lose the it. Impact of it like, you know, you can't lie your way and lightweight or addition process, but you can't not to that extent like but and that like, you know really stuck with me like, you know, just kind of like, you know, and I think the thing about this is I don't know. It's like I'm going to be in Ministry like, you know, even if they like the UMC like implodes on itself even if like Of like my media Church resources, like go away. Like, you know, that would not be great. Like don't get me wrong. I don't want that to happen. Like, you know, if that Lord take away this cup from me, please don't do that kind of deal. But like, you know, I am called by God to be part of the be a Ministry and that institutions can't stop that. Like that's not a thing that's going to stop like this. Not going to stop happening just because you know, like some random-ass / somewhere says I shouldn't be doing it and it's like no like that's what we should be doing it like you don't even get a choice. Yeah. Well, you know, I think that's what's I don't know what that's going to look like necessarily look like in the future and but like there's also like once the healing processes can begin that something like beautiful can happen. Know what that looks like, but I have a lot of you know, I've seen what what what like, you know, the Holy Spirit can do through I've seen that in and like that's not knowing that's not going to go away is like the one thing that like provides me a lot of comfort right now. It's just like, you know, this this is going to happen my come hell or high water. It's gonna happen it is so beautiful. Thank you. You know II I honestly think like maybe it's just because I've been through a lot of like bullshit like and you know, it's not like I don't have my doubts from time to time but like share like and obviously there's nothing wrong with doubts. There's nothing wrong with having like, you know, a more tenuous connection to the faith, but like I don't think like I honestly at the point in my life were like, I don't think I could not believe like just because I have it seen the things that I've seen at least for me feel so divinely inspired. Like it against the Wesleyan experience thing. It's like, you know, like you're seeing the fruits of the spirit and you're like, yeah ignoring all the historical actors season the Bible like, you know like this. This is what I know that I can see this like this is this is it I mean I'm in there are three the part of it that's like motivated by Spike because when people tell me I can't do things I go out of my way to do them. Yes, not necessarily A shouldn't because you know, some people tell me like You know, hey, you shouldn't I don't know like some boiling water on your head and I just kind of like yeah obviously shouldn't do that. But it's like people tell me like no you can't be a minister because you're big for your and I'm like, I'm gonna be like the most Christian a Christian that yeah, do you ever fucking say yes, I just like double down Spike can be a really powerful motivator. This has been the wonderfully cathartic conversation. Yeah. I'm glad to hear that. That wraps up this episode listeners. Thank you so much for tuning in. It really was such a wonderful thing to get to sit with a real live Methodist to discuss what's going on with the UMC right now. I hope that all of you will join me in praying for the United Methodist Church as this General Conference gets underway, very shortly after this episode will be back on our normal schedule. So you You can tune in not this coming Sunday, but the one after that and we'll be back to our every other week schedule in the meantime, go break some binaries and to bless the world with your life.
From February 23-26, 2019, the United Methodist Church is holding a special general conference specifically for the discussion of "human sexuality." The outcome will impact all members of the UMC, but particularly those within it who are LGBTQ+. In this special episode, nonbinary Methodist Adam Richards was good enough to walk me through the various possible outcomes of this conference. While doing so, they shared their own story -- their love for Methodism and why they stay despite pain and frustation, their plans to pursue a calling to ordination, and the differences they've noticed between LGB issues and trans issues in Methodist churches. Talking points:  - Introducing Adam and LGBT+ discussions in the UMC (0:00 - 5:14) - M Barclay and LGBT+ resilience (5:15 - 6:34) - Constant conflict at previous General Conferences (6:35 - 8:42) - This February's special General Conference: 3 main plans (8:43 - 10:56) - Possible consequences for congregations and for LGBT+ individuals (10:57 - 12:51) - Why Adam stays (12:51 - 15:04) - Congregations don't know; lack of knowledge and resources about trans people (15:05 - 19:46) - The discussion is focused on the wrong thing -- property instead of actual people; allies lack resources (19:47 - 22:39) - The consequences land on LGBTQ+ people; "live in my shoes" (22:40 - 23:50) - Groups who want to do LGBTQ+ actual harm; what this is really about: "You hate us" (23:51 - 26:51) - Schism will be a sad thing even if necessary (26:52 - 30:10) - Adam's journey to ordained ministry -- "no matter what, I will be ordained"; Spirit and spite (30:11 - 38:12) 