Rio Texas Methodist Federation for Social Action

Witness to Innocence:  Stories from Death Row

Tuesday, October 18  – 7:00pm
First UMC Family Life Center (Northwest corner of 13^th & Lavaca)

The General Board of Church & Society of the United Methodist Church and Witness to Innocence (www.witnesstoinnocence.org) are co-sponsoring death penalty events across the country in the next several months to engage communities in the debate about the death penalty in America.  One of those events will take place right here in Austin on Tuesday, October18, at the First UMC Family Life Center.  Four death row exonerees will tell their stories and talk about their experiences in the criminal justice system in our country.  These members of Witness to Innocence bring a powerful voice to the discussion about abolition like no one else can.  This program represents an exciting new partnership between United Methodists and Witness to Innocence that can help the church transform and save lives.  The speakers, all professionally trained storytellers, will share their journeys from death row to freedom.  The General Board of Church & Society of the United Methodist Church, along with local communities of Christians, Jews, Buddhists, and Friends, invite interested persons to gather for this meaningful program.  Light snacks will be served. The event is free and open to the public.  Free parking is available in the parking garage across from the event.

TEXAS PREMIERE OF DOCUMENTARY ABOUT FULL INCLUSION EFFORTS IN THE UMC

Incompatible with Christian Teaching

Sunday, October 30, 1:00pm

First UMC Family Life Center, (northwest corner of 13^th & Lavaca)

On October 30th at 1pm, First United Methodist Church in downtown Austin will host the Texas Premiere of a documentary titled Incompatible with Christian Teaching.  It will be screened by the film maker, Anne P. Brown and there will be an opportunity to ask Anne questions after the screening.  Snacks will be provided.  After seeing this film in Washington, DC, Liza Chigos, a St. John’s UMC member, helped bring this film to Texas in order to share it with the Methodist community here. Liza says, “This film explores the efforts of Methodists to remove exclusionary language from the Book of Discipline and to allow full inclusion of Gay/Lesbian/ Bisexual/ Transgender people into the clergy and into the life of the church.”

History of Incompatible Language:

In 1972, the United Methodist Church (UMC) adopted the phrase, “homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teaching.”

In 1984, the UMC declared that “no self avowed practicing homosexual could be ordained.”

In 1996, the UMC adopted into church law that no pastor could officiate over a same-gender union and such a ceremony could not occur in a local Methodist church.

These laws have ignited over 80,000 United Methodists to dissent from denominational policy and advocate for change in the UMC by demanding that the discriminatory language be eliminated from church law and that the doors of the church be open to all.

“Incompatible with Christian Teaching” is a documentary film detailing the stories of clergy and laity, and GLBT and straight allies. Some have been arrested while others have been tried by the Judicial Council. Each has demanded that the church live into the true meaning of the Gospel.

http://annepbrown.com/Film%3A_Incompatible_with_Christian_Teaching.html

Be sure to shop for pumpkins at these area United Methodist Churches in October:  Bethany, Grace, Northwest Hills, Saint John’s, and Tarrytown.  

Proceeds go to mission and service projects at these churches.

Lace Up for Local HIV Care and Prevention on October 16, 2011!

We need you to raise awareness and funds to reduce new HIV infections and provide care to people living with the disease. Please join the local AIDS relief effort by registering to walk or by donating today!  http://www.asaustin.org/site/PageNavigator/walk/walk_home.  First UMC member, Lisa Owens, is CFO for AIDS Services of Austin.

Olympic Gold Medalist Greg Louganis is the Honorary Chair of AIDS Walk Austin 2011.

Louganis, who tested positive for HIV in 1988, will speak at the opening ceremonies and will lead the 24th annual Walk. Aside from his success in diving, Louganis is an activist, actor, dog trainer, speaker and author. His best-selling autobiography, “Breaking the Surface,” spent five weeks on the New York Times best-seller list. For the first time since 1988, Louganis has returned to the world of diving as a coach for Team USA in advance of the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. He recently started the Greg Louganis Positively Pet Fund to provide food and veterinary care for pets of people affected by HIV and AIDS.

The First UMC Reconciling Team is excited to announce that Rev. Amy Delong will be the speaker at the First UMC-Austin Reconciling Service on April 15, 2012 and hope that many of you will be able to join us.  Please spread the word to your congregations.

Starting time for service will be announced at a later date.  It is typically around 6:00PM.