The Church of the Resurrection, the largest United Methodist congregation in the United States and led by Kansas Democratic U.S. Senate nominee Adam Hamilton, has encouraged the use of gender-neutral terms instead of traditional references like boys and girls within its children’s ministry.
According to messaging distributed to participants, the vocabulary shift is intended to ensure that all children feel welcome. The communication included an image titled “Gender-Neutral Terms to Address a Group,” featuring dozens of alternative greetings and collective nouns. Suggested terms listed in the material include “kiddos,” “folks,” “niblings,” “homo sapiens,” “peep-a-doodles,” “kitties,” and “comrades.”
The graphic credited transgender singer, songwriter, and LGBTQ activist Mila Jam—whose legal name is Jahmila Adderley—along with user @sara.levine1 as sources of inspiration. Jam, who celebrated becoming the first Black transgender artist to co-headline Boston Pride, has publicly promoted nonbinary awareness and expressed political support for prominent figures such as former First Lady Michelle Obama and former Vice President Kamala Harris.
The adoption of gender-neutral language in the children’s program is the latest in a series of developments drawing public scrutiny to Hamilton as he campaigns against incumbent U.S. Senator Roger Marshall in November. Hamilton previously acknowledged voting for Harris in the 2024 presidential election and contributed $500 to her campaign shortly after President Joe Biden ended his reelection bid.
Additional scrutiny has focused on the megachurch’s community partnerships, including its sponsorship of Kansas City PrideFest alongside advertisements for youth and teen tents featuring arts, crafts, and story time events. Hamilton has also publicly supported affirming same-sex marriage within the United Methodist denomination, legal abortion, and the Black Lives Matter movement.
Throughout his tenure, Hamilton has addressed theological questions that have drawn debate among conservative congregations. During a 2015 pastors’ panel hosted by the LGBTQ-affirming Reformation Project, he discussed rethinking traditional interpretations of scripture after congregants came out to him as gay, questioning how much latitude ministers have to challenge traditional Pauline epistles. In a January 2025 sermon, he argued that churches prohibiting women from preaching had misinterpreted Paul’s letters.
On a 2024 episode of his Making Sense of Faith podcast, Hamilton discussed whether belief in the Virgin Birth is essential for following Jesus, stating that while he personally affirms the doctrine, he tells individuals who harbor doubts that following Jesus remains paramount. In a 2022 sermon concerning salvation and other faiths, he suggested that adherents of non-Christian religions might recognize Jesus upon reaching heaven without fearing eternal damnation, drawing on the writings of C.S. Lewis and John Wesley. He has also stated publicly that the Bible contains hundreds of errors.
Campaign financial disclosures have also emerged as a point of discussion in the Senate race. Financial documents indicate Hamilton has an estimated net worth of up to $20 million, supported by a $394,239 annual salary from the Church of the Resurrection, $417,372.70 in publishing royalties from the United Methodist Publishing House, a Stilwell, Kansas primary residence valued at approximately $1.4 million, and a Missouri vacation property near the Lake of the Ozarks valued at nearly $1 million. The disclosures have drawn attention as Hamilton positions his campaign against the influence of billionaires and special interests.
Other past remarks by Hamilton have sparked political debate in Kansas, the nation’s third-largest beef-producing state with approximately 5.8 million cattle and 2.9 million residents. During a January 2020 sermon examining climate change, Hamilton noted that cattle production contributes to greenhouse gas emissions through methane and carbon dioxide generation. Senator Marshall criticized the remarks, while Hamilton’s campaign countered that the incumbent senator had previously discussed addressing cattle methane emissions.
On the issue of institutional accountability, Hamilton acknowledged during a CNN interview in October that church officials should have immediately contacted law enforcement regarding allegations of sexual abuse involving church camp volunteer Scott Moore, who was accused of molesting teenage boys at retreats in 2005 and 2006. Hamilton explained that immediate reporting to police was not part of the church’s official policy at the time, though Marshall has criticized the church’s handling of the matter regarding whether Moore was permitted to return as a counselor.
