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Dear Justice-Seeker,

This issue of MFSAVoices is jam-packed with resources and information. So much so that it won't all fit in your email message so be sure to click view entire message at the bottom of this email to view the entire issue. Our newsletters are designed to be used all month long. So take a quick glance and take note of important dates to add to your calendar but also come back in the following weeks to work your way through the action items.  

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We continue to see the urgency of our work to make broad systemic change. Change that honors the dignity and worth of all people, puts people over money, and honors the earth and all her inhabitants. Since 1907, MFSA has been shining a light on injustice and organizing to change it.  

You make our collective work possible by your witness for justice every day in your church, community, and Annual Conference. MFSA does not receive any financial support from the United Methodist Church's giving channels. 100% of our budget is funded through your membership dues and your generosity in giving.

Jurisdictional Conferences this season saw only two episcopal elections in the Western Jurisdiction, some new episcopal assignments with a few across jurisdictional lines, many bishops appointed to more than one episcopal area, and a few annual conference mergers. 

Episcopal Assignments 2024-2028
 

North Central

Dakotas and Minnesota: Lanette Plambeck
East and West Ohio: Hee-Soo Jung
Indiana: Tracy Smith Malone
Iowa and Illinois Great Rivers: Kennetha Bigham-Tsai
Michigan and Illinois Great Rivers: David Bard
Northern Illinois and Wisconsin: Dan Schwerin

Northeastern

Baltimore-Washington and Pen-Del: LaTrelle Easterling
Eastern PA and Greater New Jersey: Cynthia Moore-Koikoi
New York and New England: Thomas Bickerton
Upper New York and Susquehanna: Hector Burgos
West Virginia: Debra Wallace-Padgett (shared with Southeastern)
Western Pennsylvania: Sandra Steiner-Ball

South Central

Arkansas, Oklahoma, Oklahoma Indian Missionary: Laura Merrill
Great Plains: David Wilson
Horizon Texas (Central + North + Northwest): Ruben Saenz
Louisiana: Dolores Williamston
Missouri: Robert Farr
New Mexico: Carlo Rapanut (shared with Western)
Texas and Rio Texas: Cynthia Fierro Harvey

Southeastern

Alabama-West Florida and North Alabama: Jonathan Holston
Florida: Tom Berlin
Holston: Debra Wallace-Padgett
Kentucky and Tennessee-Western Kentucky: David Graves
Mississippi: Sharma Lewis
North Carolina: Connie Shelton
North and South Georgia: Robin Deese
South Carolina: Leonard Fairley
Virginia: Sue Halpert-Johnson
Western North Carolina: Kenneth Carter

Western

Alaska, Oregon-Idaho, and Pacific Northwest: Cedrick Bridgeforth
California-Nevada: Sandra Olewine
California-Pacific: Dottie Escobedo-Frank
Desert Southwest: Carlo Rapanut
Mountain Sky: Kristin Stoneking

MFSA Gatherings at Annual Conferences 

This summer, many MFSA Regional Communities gathered at Annual Conferences across the country, each filled with inspiring moments, meaningful discussions, and a shared commitment to social justice. Here are some highlights:

None of our work towards justice in the United Methodist Church and our world is possible without your prayers, your commitment to living out your faith, your leadership, and your gifts. It is the sum of all of our collective work that we have accomplished so much this year. We still have a lot of work ahead of us as we organize to live into the legislation that we passed at General Conference. Please make a gift to MFSA and help us reach our Annual Conference fundraising goal. We have $7,000 to go.

Welcome our Development Assistant, Emily Lutz

We are excited to welcome Emily Lutz (she/her/hers) as our new Development Assistant for Methodist Federation for Social Action (MFSA). She brings over 15 years of experience in fundraising and nonprofit administration in social services, faith-based, and higher education organizations. Emily especially enjoys helping organizations find efficient ways for donors to express their generosity and connect them with programs they are passionate about. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Troy University and a Master of Divinity and Master of Arts in Pastoral Care and Clinical Counseling from Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary.

A Goodbye from our Organizing Intern,
Takundanashe Chinogwenya

As my term as the Organizing Associate for the Methodist Federation for Social Action comes to an end, I would like to express my utmost gratitude for the support I have received from each and every one of you. From Bridget who has mentored me throughout the internship, to the Creation Justice Movement that collaborated with MFSA during the Climate Justice Teach In, to everyone that supported the MFSA climate justice series by reading the articles I wrote that were published in the MFSA newsletter and/or attended the Climate Teach In, from the bottom of my heart, I say thank you.

This experience with MFSA has helped me to cultivate my passion for environmental and climate justice. It gave me a platform to express myself and provided me with a special network of people who also believe in advocacy for social justice. It helped me to understand social justice advocacy from different perspectives. I have gained invaluable skills and knowledge that I will be using in my journey in social justice advocacy.

I will be continuing my social justice advocacy journey with the United Women in Faith where I will be working as an intern for the Department of Economic and Environmental Justice. I have also been accepted into the GreenFaith Rising Leaders Fellowship Program for the year 2024-2025. I am truly excited for what is to come. Thank you all for encouraging me to further pursue my calling to serve God, the community and all of God’s creation.

I wish the MFSA community well in its efforts in seeking social justice, not only in the United Methodist Church, but in the world at large. We are stronger together. 

With gratitude,

Takundanashe Chinogwenya

“Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The LORD be with all of you”
(2 Thessalonians 3:16)

“The LORD bless you and keep you; 
the LORD make his face shine on you and be gracious to you;
the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace.” (Numbers 6:24-26)

Stand with ICAN: No Money for Nuclear Weapons

This September 16 to 22, 2024, join people from around the globe in the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) with one powerful message: “No Money for Nuclear Weapons!”

Why is this important? Nuclear weapons programs siphon critical public funds away from essential services like health care, education, and disaster relief. The staggering truth is that nuclear-armed countries are spending more than $173,000 every minute on their nuclear arsenals—that’s over $90 billion each year. Meanwhile, the corporations behind these weapons and their investors are raking in billions in profits.

This campaign is a call to action for all of us to advocate for a shift in priorities. Instead of funding weapons of mass destruction, these resources should be redirected to build a more just and peaceful world. Let’s raise our voices and demand a change.

Central Texas MFSA among Advocates for Relocation of Georgetown Confederate Monument

On July 4th, 2024, Williamson County residents, alongside Central Texas MFSA and other community advocates, rallied at the Georgetown courthouse to call for the relocation of a Confederate monument. Erected in 1916 by the United Daughters of the Confederacy, the monument honors county residents who fought against the United States during the Civil War.

For years, a coalition of church and community groups has tirelessly advocated for the monument's removal from the courthouse grounds, arguing that it cannot represent justice for all while commemorating a history of division and oppression. Among the groups leading this charge are the Central Texas Methodist Federation for Social Action, Courageous Conversations of Georgetown, Georgetown Ministerial Alliance, GTX Connect, WilCo Patriots, San Gabriel Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, Live Oak Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, and Wellspring United Methodist Church.

This rally is part of an ongoing effort to persuade county leaders to relocate the monument, building on last year’s actions where the monument was symbolically wrapped to signal public support for its removal. Central Texas MFSA remains committed to ensuring public spaces reflect true justice for all.

The Chevron Boycott: Standing Against Environmental Destruction and Apartheid

MFSA and our partners at United Methodists for Kairos Response (UMKR) are supporting the global boycott of Chevron, led by the Palestinian BDS National Committee. Chevron's involvement in Israel's exploitation of natural gas off the occupied Palestinian coast fuels environmental destruction and sustains Israel's apartheid and military occupation. By participating in this boycott, we're taking a stand against injustice and advocating for Palestinian rights.

Racial Audit Implementation Team Update

In 2017, MFSA committed to becoming an intentionally anti-racist organization. We worked to recruit people of color (POC) to serve on our Board of Directors and staff. At the end of 2019 we continued on our journey towards becoming a more anti-racist organization by forming a Racial Audit Team and partnering with Crossroads Antiracism and Training, a non-profit that focuses on dismantling systemic racism and building anti-racist multicultural diversity within institutions and communities, to conduct a full organizational racial audit. This Racial audit was completed/adopted in Jan 2023 and presented publicly in Feb 2023. In June 2023 the MFSA Board of Directors created the MFSA Racial Audit Implementation Team to implement the recommendations of the Racial Audit. Our goal is to be better structured to perpetuate justice and equity throughout MFSA, our church, and our world.

Now's the Time for Action

Here are a few ways you can seek justice and work for broad systemic change:

1. Join the boycott of Chevron who is profiting off the genodize in Gaza

2. Tell President Biden to Recognize Palestinian Statehood NOW! Sign the Petition

3. Amend the Farm Bill

4. Call for a ceasefire now 

5. Here is a list of products and services to boycott of companies that are supporting Israel's apartheid of Palestine.

6. Take the pledge to bring racial justice into our education system. From curriculum to student life, there is so much we can do to make schools a safe and equitable place for all children.

7. Protect Anti-Corruption human rights defenders in Africa.

8. Ask Congress to expand access to medical care as one way to fight back against racial inequality.

9. The House has passed the reauthorization of The Fredrick Douglas Trafficking Victims Prevention and Protection Reauthorization Act. Now the Senate needs to do the same. Let them know to pass this vital legislation.

10. We must continue to protect people seeking asylum. With anti-immigrant sentiment still high among part of the country it is vital we ensure our laws protect those coming here to escape dangerous situations. 

11. Push the Federal Government to take more actions to stop pipeline leaks and protect the environment.

In Case You Missed It

1. Read all of the MFSA Plumbines from the Postponed 2020 General Conference 
2. Second Article in the MFSA Climate Teach in Series Climate Justice: Our Food Systems
3. Access the latest recording and resources from MFSA and UMKR's webinar, The Fierce Urgency of Now: Legislation for the United Methodist General Conference 2024

4. Visit the Racial Audit Report page on our website

5. Read Taku Chinogwenya's article, Frontline, Fence Line, and Shoreline Communities

6. Deaconess Leah Wandera's Post General Conference Reflection

7. MFSA and United Methodist Creation Justice Movement (UMCJM) held a webinar entitled “Climate Teach in: Climate Justice Legislation for General Conference” Read the reflections from that Teach In