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Dear Justice-Seeker,

A drag queen shook up my community this October. Ms. Penny Cost, aka seminary candidate for ordained ministry Isaac Simmons, expertly preached the justice-laden words of Habakkuk through a lens of liberation and queerness. The question “how long” was answered with hope, and we were sent out in joy! 

Her preaching upended our gathering within a way that matched her hyperbole of identity. She reminded us that “drag is an over the top art form brimming with enthusiasm, and over the top in the acceptance and celebration of all people, of all bodies, of all genders, and of all sexualities. It is a hyperbole of love, a hyperbole of grace, and a hyperbole of all that it is we as Christians are called to be.” It was a beautiful day in the life of my Justice-Seeking and Reconciling Congregation Allendale UMC in St. Petersburg, FL. 

Soon after we were hit with an IRD hit-piece, a feature on InfoWars, and a local Moms For Liberty school board candidate calling our guest preacher names. A youth director in the Northeast filed a complaint against me for spreading false doctrine, and our song leader was disciplined by his university’s administration. The words “false church” now litter our Google reviews. The worst responses were from those who feared the preaching queen was supplying ammunition for traditionalists who would convince more congregations to leave The UMC. An annoying, temporary taste of what Ms. Penny Cost and those like her face every day of their lives. 

The repeated sacrifice of our marginalized siblings on the altar of false unity for institutional survival is the opposite of the Gospel. Stoking fear and outright bigotry and discrimination for political gain and calling that living into "Christian values" is sinful. Every religiously traumatized person at my church who is willing to give their faith another try is promised that their stories will occupy the center of our communal life and witness. Centering people placed on the fringes of society requires intentional focus that isn’t distracted by hatemongers or those who love institutions more than people. 

I'm writing this the day after election day and in my state of Florida we lost on everything politically. On every level from the state, county, and the local school board people voted for fear and hate. I was on the phone with about five more members of my church feeling the need to move because they do not feel safe living in this state, four were trans. The prophet Habakkuk says it this way:  “Look—those whose hearts are corrupt will faint with exhaustion, while those who steadfastly uphold justice will live” (Inclusive Bible Translation).

This is why I support MFSA—a life giving community that enables justice-seeking churches like mine the strength to steadfastly uphold justice. Just this year, MFSA has finalized work on an anti racism audit, hosted numerous online seminars on various Justice Issues, and has organized through our chapters to uphold equity and justice. I invite you to make a financial gift to MFSA so that we may build a community rooted not in false unity, but in courageous hope—and be sent out seeking justice with the joy of a drag queen!

Rev. Andy Oliver, Board President
Methodist Federation for Social Action

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.

Upcoming Webinar

MFSA Joins the Call for a Christmas Truce in Ukraine

"As people of faith and conscience, believing in the sanctity of all life on this planet, we call for a Christmas Truce in Ukraine. In the spirit of the truce that occurred in 1914 during the First World War, we urge our government to take a leadership role in bringing the war in Ukraine to an end through supporting calls for a ceasefire and negotiated settlement, before the conflict results in a nuclear war that could devastate the world’s ecosystems and annihilate all of God’s creation."

MFSA has joined over 800 faith leaders nationwide in signing the Christmas Truce to the war in Ukraine. Use the link below to read the full Christmas Truce and add your voice to those demanding that "our leaders have the courage and conscience" to use the powers of negotiation and imagination instead of the military. 

2022 Advent Devotional Series

Have you read all of the devotions in MFSA's 2022 Advent Devotional series?

This year, five Justice-Seekers shared their reflections on intersectional justice and faith this Advent season. You can now access all five devotionals as well as devotionals from previous years below.

Demands to President Biden on Human Rights in the Philippines

MFSA is excited to be in a new relationship with our long-time partner, International Coalition for Human Rights in the Philippines-US (ICHRP-US) as a fiscal sponsor. We are excited to support their latest demands to President Biden on Human Rights in the Philippines.

In response to "Biden’s ongoing military funding of the Philippine government while people in the US continue to suffer from the ongoing impacts of the Covid pandemic and face insufficient wages, food and housing insecurity, mental health crisis, police brutality, lack of access to health care, and increasing inequality between rich and poor" ICHRP-US issues the following demands to the Biden Administration:

1. To hold the Marcos regime accountable for the repression of labor activists and defend the right to unionize. 

2.To give due justice to the victims of Martial Law and uphold the contempt of court case against Marcos, revoking his immunity as the head of state of the Philippines. 

3. To halt US aid to the Philippine military and police by passing the Philippine Human Rights Act, and to halt all future arms sales to the Philippines. 

4. To hold the Duterte Regime responsible for it’s egregious crimes against humanity and ensure justice & accountability for the victims of state terrorism

5. To halt US corporate operations impacting climate change and resulting in the eradication of biodiverse ecosystems and the violation, harassment, and displacement of indigenous peoples.

6. To delist the CPP-NPA from the US terror list in support of the peace process in the Philippines. 

We invite Justice-Seeking People of Faith to add their signature to these demands and "call on people in the US to unite in solidarity with the Filipino people to advance the struggle for peoples’ rights and Reject US support of the Marcos Dynasty!" 

Now's the Time for Action

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

1. Discover more campaigns targeting companies making a negative impact on Palestinians lives and human rights, from the The Palestinian BDS National Committee (BNC) and use Investigate! to discover corporations involved in incarceration and immigrant detention, the Israeli occupation, and the border industries.
2. Hold Siemens and Chevron accountable for fueling Israeli apartheid and climate disaster. 
3. Contact your legislators and tell them to to support the Banning All Neurotoxic Organophosphate Pesticides from our Food Act (The BAN OPs Act) to make a difference for farm workers and their families. 
4. Sign ICHRP-US's open letter to President Biden on human rights in the Philippines. 
5. Tell Congress to reduce funding for ICE detention capacity and shrink the cruel immigration detention system. 
6. Reject U.S. support of the Marcos Dynasty in the Philippines and sign the Unity Statement. 
7. Tell Congress to protect children in agriculture through co-sponsoring the Children's Act for Responsible Employment and Farm Safety (CARE Act). 
8. Send a message to your legislators in Congress to speak out publicly and also urge the Biden administration to press Israel not to fulfill its plan for ethnic cleansing and destruction in Masafer Yatta. 
9. #Standwithblackgirls and encourage your legislators to pass the Pushout Act H.R. 5325 (IH) – Ending Punitive, Unfair, School-based Harm that is Overt and Unresponsive to Trauma Act of 2019
10. Call on Congress to pass an Afghan Adjustment Act which will help keep families together and ensure lasting protection for at-risk Afghans. 

In Case You Missed It

1. Access the latest recording and resources from MFSA and UMKR's webinar, "Palestine is a Climate Justice Issue Emergency!
2. Watch MFSA New York Chapter sponsored presentation "The Five Eras of Black Reconstruction & White Rage."
3. Access all five sessions in the Stealing the Earth webinar series, and explore the Dismantling the Doctrine resource list.