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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.

Postponed 2020 General Conference

We’ve reached the end of this historic postponed 2020 General Conference in Charlotte, North Carolina. Here is a legislative recap from UM News that does and excellent job of summarizing the major actions taken by the General Conference. 

We first want to acknowledge the major sacrifices many justice-seekers have made in order to get the denomination to this place and we rejoice in all of the hard work and progress that was realized over these two weeks! We praise God for justice and liberation!

A 52 year-long struggle for LGBTQ+ inclusion in The UMC has been won, we have passed the Revised Social Principles, and we have passed Worldwide Rationalization. We have also passed many of MFSA's legislative priorities that were highlighted in our Plumblines. Our priorities around Racial Justice, Climate Justice, Reproductive Justice, Apology for Illegal Overthrow of Hawaiian Kingdom, a resolution on divestment from Israeli Bonds, and many sunset resolutions we adopted. I want to say a big thank you to the 21 partner organizations that helped draft these and to the editorial team who brought all of this together. Cynthia Tuell our editor and Sara Baron our main writer. I was honored to work with all of these amazing people and organizations doing important work in our church to highlight legislation beyond the three R's.

On top of these legislative wins MFSA also provided daily email update and organized and hosted the progressive lens chat during GC. A big thank you to our board co-chair Andy Oliver for organizing the progressive lens chat and to the many people who were admins of the group: Cameron Helwege, Ophelia Hu Kinney, Trey Comstock, Becca Girrell, and Jeremy Smith.

I am already in conversations concerning the hard work ahead of us. Removing the discriminatory language is much different than changing the culture and systemic harm of our denomination, we have work to do to put into action our Revised Social Principles, and we are already working to organize for ratification of Worldwide Regionalization.  

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 and your generosity in giving.

Bridget Cabrera She/Her/Hers
Executive Director
MFSA

Reflections on Climate Teach in: Climate Justice Legislation for General Conference

by Taku Chinogwenya

On April 4, 2024, the MFSA held a webinar entitled “Climate Teach in: Climate Justice Legislation for General Conference” in collaboration with the Creation Justice Movement. This was my internship project for the year. Thank you to all that attended and helped make it a success.

There were two speakers namely Cathy Velasquez Eberhart, who represented the United Methodist Creation Justice Movement, and Nancy Blade, a United Methodist Elder who co-chairs a new Northern Illinois task force focusing on eco-sustainability. Cathay Eberhart spoke about the UM Creation Justice Movement, what it stands for and ways to get involved with the work the UMCJM is pursuing. Nancy Blade gave an overview of creation justice resolutions that were to be proposed at the General Conference and at the annual conference level highlighting the importance of building coalitions. Two of those resolutions that resonated with me are those of the use of plastics and divestment from fossil fuels. These are solutions not only our churches can use but that we can take in our own personal lives.

Reconciling Ministry Network Releases VBS Curriculum

Reconciling Ministry Network announced the release of JUST Like Me: an innovative and adaptable, multigenerational Vacation Bible School (VBS) curriculum for congregations and communities of all sizes.

JUST Like Me centers the deep and active faith lives of children and engages the real-world contexts in which children live. Built on theologies of inclusion, this unique curriculum uses First and Second Testament Bible characters to help students build vital social and spiritual skills to support active faith development.

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. Call for a ceasefire now 

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

3. 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.

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

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

6. 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.

7. 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. 

8. 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