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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.

Wear Orange June 2-4th to Honor Gun Violence Survivors

This year, MFSA will participate in the Wear Orange movement to support gun violence survivors and raise awareness for gun reform. The first Friday of June (June 2) is National Gun Violence Awareness Day, but the entire weekend is set aside for action and awareness. Post your selfies or group photos wearing orange and tag MFSA (@mfsavoices) so we can share on our social media profiles. You can also email your photos to communications@mfsaweb.org. Along with posting your photos, we ask that you take action to help push common-sense gun reform during the weekend. Below you can write emails to your legislators and join the Gun Sense Action Network to make calls to sign up volunteers and voters to take action to make our communities safer. 

Save the date! MFSA is participating in Give OUT Day again this year!

Give OUT Day is a month-long fundraising campaign culminating on June 28th, 2023. It is the only national day of giving for the LGBTQ community. Your generous gift helps us continue our work advocating for LGBTQIA+ rights and inclusion in the church and beyond.

Saying Goodbye to Carol Ngwenyama, Organizing
Associate Intern

Dear MFSA Team,

I am writing to express my heartfelt gratitude for the opportunity to serve as an Organizing Intern at the Methodist Federation for Social Action (MFSA). It has been an incredibly fulfilling experience, and I am sincerely thankful for the knowledge, skills, and personal growth I have gained during my time with MFSA. As my internship comes to a close, I want to take a moment to reflect on the tremendous growth and learning I have experienced throughout this journey. The lessons I have learned, the relationships I have built, and the impact I have witnessed will greatly shape my future endeavors. The skills and knowledge I acquired during my time at MFSA will continue to guide me as I navigate my career and pursue my passion for social justice.

While this may mark the end of my internship, it does not signify the end of my commitment to social justice. I am determined to carry forward the values and lessons learned during my time at MFSA and continue to work towards creating a more just and equitable world.

Thank you once again for the privilege of being part of the MFSA community. It has been an honor and a transformative experience. I wish you and the entire MFSA team continued success in your vital mission of advocating for social justice.

With sincere gratitude,
Carol

Welcoming MFSA's New Development and
Communications Coordinator

Jenn Meadows (she/her/hers) is the Development and Communications Coordinator at MFSA. Jenn has over 8 years of experience working in communications and public relations for non-profits and small businesses. She has a passion for justice, seeking to bring that into both her work and her daily life. Jenn is pursuing her Master’s of Library and Information Science at Dominican University. She hopes to one day become a children’s librarian, instilling a love of learning, curiosity, and compassion in our youth. Outside of work and graduate school, Jenn enjoys collecting vinyl and attending live music throughout Chicago.

Support and Safeguard
The Indian Child Welfare Act

On July 1 2023 the U.S Supreme Court is due to render a decision that will impact the future of the Indian Child Welfare Act. It is urgent that as United Methodists we lift our voices on behalf of God’s children and align our faith with the prophetic call to “learn to good; seek justice, rescue the oppressed; defend the orphan, plead for the widow” (Isaiah 1:17 NRSV).  

The Native American International Caucus of The United Methodist Church (NAIC) respectfully asks that The U.S. Supreme Court and Members of Congress to prioritize the welfare of our Native children and their families and uphold the Indian Child Welfare Act.

We recognize that State and Tribal laws depend on the Indian Child Welfare Act to secure a critical connection between our Native children and their respective Tribal cultures. Overturning the Indian Child Welfare Act will have damaging implications on Federal Indian Laws and policies. Native American classification for political sovereignty rather than racial identity undergirds essential laws that secure equitable access for Native Americans to housing, healthcare, education, and employment.  

Sign the action alert addressed to Congress and the U.S Supreme Court, and ask members of your churches to stand with the NAIC.

Watch the Recording of KNOWING THE NAKBA: 

The Ethnic Cleansing of Palestine to Create the State of Israel

The Palestinian Nakba (Catastrophe) of 1948 has been called the poisonous root of all that has plagued the Holy Land since that time, with a never-ending impact that pervades the Middle East and the entire world.

We cannot hope to understand the present turmoil in the Holy Land - let alone achieve a just peace for all those who live there - without knowing where and how the conflict began: with the ethnic cleansing of indigenous people from their homeland.

Watch the recording of this unique educational and thought-provoking presentation, with moving recollections from living Nakba survivors, expert historical analysis, and riveting video clips.

***Trigger warning: graphic depictions of violence of war described in the video recording

MFSA Organizational Racial Audit Report

You have been hearing updates for the last three years on MFSA's work conducting an Organizational Racial Audit. We are pleased to announce that we have completed the Organizational Racial Audit and want to share it with you-individuals, churches, and other organizations. 

Read the Executive Summary, Full Audit Report, and watch the Justice-Seeking Movement wide presentation of the MFSA Organizational Racial Audit Report on the new Racial Audit Report page on our website.  

Now's the Time for Action

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

1. Write to your senators asking them to pass the Equality Act now. The Equality Act addresses modern forms of discrimination, including against all women, people of color, and LGBTQ people in areas of life.
2. Contact your state and local representatives to encourage them to vote no on any proposed drag bans in your state.
3. Write to your representatives to support gun safety legislation in your state and join the Gun Sense Action Network to encourage Americans to vote for candidates and legislation that bring common sense gun reform into our local communities. 
4. Book bans are on the rise in America. Show your support for your local public librarians by writing some words of encouragement.
5. Contact your representatives in Washington to express your concerns for the budget cuts to Veterans Affairs services that will negatively impact veterans and their families. 
6. Take action by signing this letter addressed to the U.S. Supreme Court and Congress to support and safeguard the Indian Child Welfare Act.
7. Show your support of farmworkers and their fight for dignity by signing a petition to expand the Fair Food Program to protect more farmworkers. 
8. Join the fight against anti-trans discrimination by learning what anti-trans legislation is proposed in your state and access information to contact your state legislator. 
9. Help buy up medical debts through RIP Medical Debt. Learn about churches who have had successful medical bill forgiveness campaigns. 
10. Tell Congress to reduce funding for ICE detention capacity and shrink the cruel immigration detention system. 

In Case You Missed It

1. Access the latest recording and resources from MFSA and UMKR's webinar, "Knowing the Nakba: The Ethnic Cleansing of Palestine to Create the State of Israel"
2. Visit the Racial Audit Report page on our website. 
3. Access all five sessions in the Stealing the Earth webinar series, and explore the Dismantling the Doctrine resource list.