Take a Stand Against Racism
What's Next?
Now that you've signed the pledge to commit to becoming an anti-racist Conference, here are some immediate actions you can take:
- Read Ibram X. Kendi's How to Be an Anti-Racist. (Bonus: Click here to watch a webinar on this book hosted by Bishop Ken Carter & Rev. Dr. Sharon Austin)
- Register to attend the Table Talk webinar series. Each month a panel of experts will talk about topics related to anti-racism during a half-hour session. Find out more here.
- Share your anti-racism story. Pastors, laity, and congregations have been engaged in the work of anti-racism at a grassroots level for many years, and we want to collect and share those stories! The team is accepting written testimonies of 500 words or less and recorded video stories three minutes or under in length. These stories might be used on the conference website and social media or considered to be featured in a forthcoming book on discipleship as a pathway to antiracism. Simply email these stories to
reverendwild
. Let us know if you have any questions! Please frame your story by answering these three questions:
- What racist policies, behavior, or ideas exist in your congregation or community?
- What is being done to challenge those manifestations of racism?
- What does the congregation and community look like today as a result? Or what positive transformation is taking place?
- Get involved with your District Anti-Racism Team. Contact your District Administrative Assistant for more info.
- Share the pledge with friends! Consider downloading this graphic and including it in your email signature. Link to https://www.flumc.org/take-the-pledge
Social Media Campaign
- Print one of the selfie signs.
- Fill in Sign 1 with an action you are taking to stand against racism or fill in Sign 2 with the reason you are taking a stand.
- Take a picture with your sign.
- Share the link to the pledge & your selfie picture on social media with #FLUMCStandsAgainstRacism
Use the hashtag #FLUMCStandsAgainstRacism and tag your friends to challenge them to take the pledge!
Selfie Sign 1: I'm going to _______________________ to take a stand against racism.
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Selfie Sign 2: I stand against racism because ________________________.
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If you don’t engage on social media but would like to share your selfie picture with us so we can share it online on your behalf, please email antiracism
I Took the Pledge
Thank you to the following people for pledging to join us in becoming an anti-racist Conference:
Danny Bennett, St. John's UMC - Winter Haven |
Suzanne Hutto, First UMC Gainesville |
Kathryn Halterman, Tuskawilla UMC, Winter Springs |
Jacqueline Harvey, Haines City UMC |
Darlene Kostrub, First UMC Boca Raton |
Free Canaan UMC, Waldo, Arkansas |
Opa-Locka UMC |
Ann-Marie Webster, Keystone UMC, Tampa |
First United Methodist Church of Mount Dora |
Asbury UMC, Maitland, FL |
Flagler Beach UMC |
Deaconess Dr. Judith Pierre-Okerson, Miramar UMC |
Warren Pattison, First UMC Lakeland |
Derrick Scott III, Campus to City Wesley Foundation |
Danny Davis, First UMC Boca Raton, Deerfield Beach |
Andy Whitaker Smith, First United Methodist, Lakeland |
Angelo Martinez, Branches UMC |
Brittany J. Jackson, Conference Staff |
Charles Sward, Yulee United Methodist Church |
Patti Aupperlee, First UMC Homosassa |
Martha Cross, First United Methodist Church, Ft. Pierce |
Suzanne Hulls, St. James UMC, Tampa |
Sam Wright, First UMC Sarasota |
Alexis Aupperlee, First UMC Homosassa |
Jim Mitchell, First UMC Auburndale |
Brett Opalinski, Christ Church UM, Ft. Lauderdale |
Candace Lewis, Gammon Theological Seminary, Atlanta, GA |
Frank Adams, New Horizon Church, Haines City |
Beth Fogle-Miller, DeLand |
Lee Hall-Perkins, Mt. Zion, Clearwater |
Sharon Austin, Conference Staff |
Stewart Memorial UMC, Daytona Beach |
Mary Mitchell, Bartley Temple/Wesley Chapel, Gainesville |
Gary Mitchell, Bartley Temple UMC, Gainesville |
Eldora Mayes, Bartley Temple UMC, Gainesville |
Kenya Ellis, Bartley Temple United Methodist, Gainesville |
Deborah Jones, Bartley Temple UMC, Gainesville |
Melissa Stump, First Winter Garden |
Patria Davis, Bartley Temple UMC, Gainesville |
Sara McKinley, Conference Staff |
Madeline Baum, First UMC Boca Raton |
Andrea Byer-Thomas, Community UMC, Ft. Pierce |
Matt Wallis, First UMC Clearwater |
Jad Denmark, St. Luke's UMC, Orlando |
Heather Pancoast, Gator Wesley Campus Ministry, Gainesville |
Doug Wright, Harvest UMC, Lakewood Ranch |
Anita Campbell, Trinity UMC, DeLand |
Beth Potter, Hyde Park UMC, Tampa |
Wilma Reyes, Poinciana UMC, Miami Springs |
Brittany Leclair, Southwest UMC, Gainesville |
Tice UMC, Ft. Myers |
Hope UMC, Trinity, NC |
Rini Hernandez, Latino/a Ministries |
Shores UMC, St. Augustine |
Linda Parrish, Melbourne, Victoria (Australia) |
Soloman Chapel United Methodist Church, Reddick |
Bethlehem United Methodist Church, Starke |
Patty Surface, Community UMC Ft Pierce |
Vicki McMullen, Heritage UMC, Clearwater |
Diana Goetz, HOPE UMC, New Port Richey |
Janet Bono, Hope UMC - Trinity, New Port Richey |
H Parker Bennett, First & Faith UMC, Boynton Beach |
Hope UMC, Trinity, FL |
Juanita Goode, CROS Ministries, Boca Raton |
Debbie Mitchell, First United Methodist Church, Orlando |
Iglesia Metodista Unida Cristo, Orlando |
St. Catherine UMC, Webster/Bushnell, FL |
Lisa Degrenia, Coronado Community UMC, New Smyrna Beach |
Janet Prueitt, Heritage UMC, Oldsmar |
Diane McCoy, Harvest UMC, Lakewood Ranch |
St Paul United Methodist, Deerfield Beach |
Saint Mark Lakeland |
David Range, Miramar UMC |
Ezy Adeniji, First Church United Methodist, Coral Springs |
Mary Robertson, First Church of Coral Springs |
Velma Christian, Miami Lakes UMC |
Wesley Hispanic, Miami |
Tom Tannehill, Miami Lakes United Methodist Church |
Gwen Pipkin, First United Methodist of Lakeland |
Braden River United Methodist Church, Bradenton |
Mark Reynolds, First United Methodist Church Cocoa Beach |
Marta Burke, Plantation United Methodist Church |
College Park United Methodist, Orlando |
First UMC, Kissimmee |
Ken White, First UMC of Winter Garden |
First UMC Ft. Lauderdale |
Grace Haitian Mission, Eustis |
United Methodist Emmanuel Haitian Mission, Orlando |
St. Mark's UMC, Ocala |
Leann Kuebelbeck, Grace Community Church, Lithia |
Carrie McCannell-Scruggs, Memorial UMC, Fernandina Beach |
Kelly Kowalski, Conference Staff |
Community UMC, Oldsmar |
Nancy Metz, Young Adult Missional Movement |
Robert Roseberry, St. Paul's UMC, Ocala, FL
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Anna Brook Opalinski, Christ Church UMC, Ft. Lauderdale
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Peggy Ashbaugh, Keystone United Methodist Church, Tampa |
B.B. Gould, Plantation UMC |
Barbara Mitchell Driscoll, Christ Church UMC, Ft. Lauderdale |
Jane Finnegan, Christ Church UMC, Ft. Lauderdale
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Mirhonda Studevant, Christ Church, Pompano Beach |
Kerry Zimmer, Christ Church UMC, Pompano Beach
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Susan Spragg, Christ Church UMC, Ft. Lauderdale |
Jason Campbell, Christ Church, Ft. Lauderdale |
Jeff McNeil, Christ Church UMC, Ft. Lauderdale
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Linda Bird, Christ Church UMC, Lithia |
Dennis Bird, Christ Church UMC, Lithia |
Deborah Mott-Lundgren, Hope UMC, New Port Richey |
David Fuquay, First UMC Ocala |
Connie Booth, Christ Church UMC, Pompano Beach |
Nicholas Lee, Harvest UMC, Bradenton
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Beth Bostrom, Metropolitan Ministries, Sarasota |
Ida White, First UMC Kissimmee |
Heather Harding, Tuskawilla UMC, Casselberry |
Marcus Webster, Christ Church UMC, Ft. Lauderdale |
Wildwood/St. Mark's UMC |
Anna Brook Opalinski, Christ Church UMC, Ft. Lauderdale |
Terri Hill, Key West, FL |
Kerry Zimmer, Christ Church UMC, Pompano Beach |
Fred Williams, Christ Church UMC, Pompano Beach |
Edward Wolfe, Christ Church, Delray Beach |
Armando Gutiérrez, Jr., Christ Church UMC, Pompano Beach |
Patricia Goff, Christ Church UMC, Pompano Beach |
Edward Heck, Christ Church UMC, Ft. Lauderdale |
Barbara Long, Christ Church, Ft. Lauderdale |
Bradley Burtner, Christ Church UMC, Deerfield Beach |
Michael Lockwood, Christ Church UMC, Ft. Lauderdale
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Jan Tansey, Christ Church UMC, Ft. Lauderdale |
Jeanne Smith, Bethel UMC, Lewes, Delaware |
Margaret Cox, First UMC of Coral Gables |
Karen Skinner, Christ Church UMC, Ft. Lauderdale |
Susan Hickman, Oceans UMC, Vero Beach |
Christ Church United Methodist Church, Ft. Lauderdale |
Sharyn Ladner, First Coral Gables UMC |
Elizabeth Gouin, Christ Church UMC, Oakland Park |
Geoffrey Allan, Christ Church UMC, Miami |
Wendy Lyons, Christ Church UMC, Ft. Lauderdale |
Aragon Jones, Christ Church UMC, Pompano Beach |
Kevin Smith, Christ Church UMC, Lewes, Delaware |
Teresa Ormiston, Edge UMC, Groveland |
George Ormiston, Edge UMC, Groveland |
Kaylee Vida, Pine Island UMC, St. James City |
Christina Sprouse, Epworth UMC, Miramar |
Debra Eggebraaten, Saint Paul's UMC, Tallahassee |
Ann Skellenger, First United Methodist Lakeland |
Don Skellenger, First United Methodist Lakeland |
Giselle Lawn, Community UMC, Fruitland Park |
Dreena Robinson, Kendall United, Miami |
Betty Cesar, The Florida United Methodist Children's Home |
Deborah Corbin, First UMC Homestead |
Anne Fuquay, First UMC Ocala |
Linda Tice, Trinity UMC Sarasota |
Rebecca Babalian, First United Methodist Church, Ocala |
Teresa Baker, First United Methodist, Frostproof |
Edith Zewadski-Bricker, BURTON & UWF, Key Largo |
Wesley at UCF, Orlando |
Corey Jones, Pasadena Community Church, St. Petersburg |
Beth Snarr, First UMC, Gainesville |
Susan Garcia-Nikolova, Anona, Seminole |
Vicki Walker, Hyde Park UMC, Tampa |
Bailey Schreiner, Limona Village Chapel UMC, Brandon |
Tracy Newman, Riviera UMC, Largo |
Kathi Sheehan, Keystone UMC, Odessa |
Bobby Hinton, Forest Hill United Methodist Church, Tampa |
Kolby Golliher, Wesley UMC, Gainesville |
Alice Williams, St. Luke’s UMC, Orlando |
Janice Blaine, First United Methodist Church, Clearwater |
Alex Christian, Miami Lakes UMC |
Rebecca Tozer, Ormond Beach |
Linda LaBell, Racial Justice Committee, Jacksonville
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Tom Nelson, First Church, Port Orange |
Beth Joyner, Riverside Park UMC, Jacksonville |
Jana Hall-Perkins, McCabe United Methodist, St. Petersburg
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Michael LeBlanc, Shepherds Community UMC, Lakeland
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Tracy Zielinski, College Heights UMC, Lakeland |
Sue Panazze, Seminole Heights UMC, Tampa
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Avondale United Methodist Church, Jacksonville |
Tiffania Icaza Willetts, Seminole Heights UMC, Tampa
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Nicki Taylor, First United Methodist, Lakeland |
First UMC Clearwater |
Rachel Williams, Emory University’s Candler School of Theology |
Emily Edwards Shughart, Community of Faith, Davenport
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Roy Terry, Cornerstone, Naples |
David Charlton, Glade Missional Network, Belle Glade
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Paul Chilcote, Oviedo |
Letha Heulitt, Asbury Maitland, Altamonte Springs
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Ivan Corbin, First United Methodist of Homestead |
Gillian Wolfe, Community of Faith UMC, Davenport |
Rev. Dionne C. Hammond, Conference Cabinet, Indialantic
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Kelly Everling, Anthony UMC, Anthony |
Roland Heinrich, Cornerstone UMC Naples
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Lois Rogers-Watson, East Lake UMC, Palm Harbor
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Todd Bardin, Trinity, DeLand |
Elan Miavitz-Brown, Cornerstone UMC, Naples |
Kelly Scott, RMN at Cornerstone UMC, Naples |
Katherine Fabian, Tuskawilla UMC, Winter Park |
Erin Corbelli, First UMC Winter Park |
Mark Caldwell, North Naples United Methodist Church |
Nan Langston, First United Methodist Auburndale |
Al Palmisano, Broadway UMC, Orlando |
Deborah Manuel, First UMC Orlando |
Nathan Adams, Christ Church, Fort Lauderdale |
Ellen Pollock, New Covenant UMC, The Villages |
Beth Pinson, Limona Village Chapel, Valrico |
Lake Panasoffkee United Methodist Church |
Pam Cahoon, UMC, West Palm Beach |
Roseland UMC, Sebastian |
Hannah Hunter, The Gathering Place of Palm Beach Gardens, Lake Park |
Kathy Rowland, The Gathering Place, Jupiter |
Haley Eccles, Campus to City Wesley, Jacksonville |
Susan Sheehan, United Methodist Church of the Palm Beaches, WPB |
Alice Naegele, The Gathering Place, Lake Park |
Lyda Kiser, Trinity UMC DeLand |
Maureen Baker, Spring Lake United Methodist Church, Sebring |
Brenda Moore, Trinity United Methodist Church, Sarasota |
Leslye Nelson, First United Methodist Church Auburndale |
Stephen Hoffman, Trinity UMC Sarasota |
Bishop Tom Berlin, Florida Conference of the UMC |
Pamela Davis, First Boca, Deerfield Beach |
Joe Henderson, Temple Terrace UMC |
St. Marks Ocala |
Michael Beck, Fresh Expressions |
Brenda Sims, Bartley Temple UMC, Gainesville |
Eldred Lewis, Wesley Chapel, Gainesville |
Mary Reed, Bartley Temple UMC, Gainesville |
Melanie Pate, First, Gainesville |
Geraldine McClellan, Free Canaan, Gainesville |
Christina Harden, Lakeside United Methodist, Lake Worth |
Viola Legge, Sun City Center UMC |
Mary McCurty, Oceanview, Palm Beach Gardens |
Earl McCurty, Oceanview, Palm Beach Gardens |
Susan Brelsford, Palm Harbor UMC |
Sharon Dey, Tomoka UMC, Ormond Beach |
Connie Durrence, First United Methodist Church of Lakeland |
Mary Van Tol, United Women in Faith, Cape Coral |
Emily Sterling-Strongman, First UMC of Orlando |
Susan Jones, Trinity United Methodist Church, Gainesville |
Tim Barton, First UMC Fort Pierce |
Shawn Klein, Hernando UMC |
Sandra Clark, Mandarin UMC, Jacksonville |
Jim Clark, Mandarin UMC, St. Johns |
Vickki Jorge, The Gathering Place, West Palm Beach |
Ryland Dodge, The Gathering Place, West Palm Beach |
Vivian Smith, FUMC, Clearwater |
Kathryn Adikes, FUMC Clearwater |
Molly McEntire, First UMC of Lakeland |
Anna Swygert, Gator Wesley |
Brooke Lawrence, Campus to City Wesley |
Sam Owen, Cason UMC, West Palm Beach |
Cara Fleischer, Saint Pauls UMC / Creation Care, Tallahassee |
Andrew Foreman, Cason United Methodist, Delray |
Tracy Rose, Good Samaritan UMC, Tallahassee |
Stuart Upton, Centenary UMC, Quincy |
Jill Berquist, Lake Jackson, Tallahassee |
Elaine Racicot, CUMC Daytona |
Denika Player, Mt Pleasant United Methodist Church, Gainesville |
Kim Uchimura, Emmanuel United Methodist, Bradenton |
Alan Hawthorne, Cypress Lake UMC, Ft Myers |
Daniel Greathouse, First UMC - Gainesville |
Grace Rogers, MandarinUMC/San Marco Church/CCW |
Tim Smiley, UMC of the Palm Beaches / Retired Clergy |
William Annis, The Gathering Place, Palm Beach Gardens |
Jayne Rideout, St. Andrews, Brandon |
Gary Rideout, St. Andrew's UMC, Brandon |
Margena Hinley, Hyde Park UMC, Tampa |
Martha Ross, Coronado Community UMC, New Smyrna Beach |
Susan Adair, First United Methodist Church, Titusville |
Deane Ugalde, The Gathering Place, Palm Beach Gardens |
Peytyn Tobin, Christ Church, Ft. Lauderdale |
Matthew Williams, Trinity UMC, Tallahassee |
Anona UMC, Largo |
First UMC, Ormond Beach |
Britt Gilmore, Mandarin UMC, Jacksonville |
Trinity UMC, Gainesville |