Rio Texas Methodist Federation for Social Action

November Chapter Meeting on Justice for Our Neighbors (JFON)

The November 8 MFSA meeting will focus on the Justice for Our Neighbor (JFON) ministry. The speaker will be Rev. Liliana Padilla, pastor at the Emanuel UMC in San Antonio where the new JFON clinic opened on October 20. Rev. Padilla was an ordained UMC minister in Mexico before immigrating to Texas. As a former JFON client, she is familiar with the difficult journey through immigration policy and laws.  Prior to opening the JFON clinic in San Antonio, she was involved in the JFON clinic in Dallas. Her husband, Miguel, is the leader of the JFON site team at Emanuel UMC.

The Austin District will select a UMC site in Austin in January 2013.  The request for proposal (RFP) deadline is December 4.  Information from the Austin District RFP:

To expand our capacity to be in ministry with our community, the Austin District seeks a host site for a permanent JFON Immigration law clinic within the Austin District limits.  The JFON Clinic will provide free immigration legal aid to qualified individuals to assist them to attain full resident status with the USA.  JFON will also provide education to the public and advocacy services on behalf of people with immigration problems.

Please join us on Thursday, November 8, at Saint John’s UMC, 2140 Allandale Rd., for this interesting program.   Snacks and visiting begin at 6:30pm; the program begins at 7:00.

This past week the Judicial Council of The United Methodist Church met in Elk Grove, IL, and declared the decisions of General Conference  surrounding guaranteed appointments and clergy appointments to “transitional leave” as unconstitutional, “null, void and of no effect.”  The Methodist Federation for Social Action (MFSA) celebrates these actions as crucial to a deeper understanding of clergy covenant and effectiveness.

In relation to the security of appointment, the Judicial Council cited contradictions in the Discipline between paragraphs and violations of the third and forth restrictive rules of the Constitution of The United Methodist Church.  In relation to the changes made in language around transitional leave, giving a Bishop the ability to appoint a clergy person in good standing to transitional leave and in effect leave them without appointment, the Judicial Council stated, “Fair process procedures, trials and appeals are integral parts of the privilege of our clergy of right to trial by a committee and of appeal and is an absolute right which cannot be eradicated by legislation.”

“The Judicial Council’s ruling not only affirms our Wesleyan heritage of itinerancy, but also highlights the importance of theological, age, gender, and racial diversity within The United Methodist Church,” states Chett Pritchett, Interim Executive Director of the Methodist Federation for Social Action. “The work of the Church is best done through diffused power-sharing among both laity and ordained clergy, Cabinets and Boards of Ordained Ministry. This ruling is a strong reminder that such leadership is crucial to The United Methodist Church remaining a relevant reflection of God’s world.”

At The United Methodist Church’s General Conference this past spring, MFSA had hoped the Church might engage in conversation about ways to strengthen the clergy covenant and empower Bishops to better utilize their Boards of Ordained Ministry in cases of clergy effectiveness, rather than developing an adversarial approach leading to a culture of fear and distrust.   The Judicial Council ruling opens a door to broader discussion about faithful calling, training, and support of clergy in a two-way covenant system.

You can read the full text of the Judicial Council’s decision here.

Please consider helping our neighbors through UMCOR and the American Red Cross.

UMCOR – United Methodist Committee On Relief

United Methodists come together to help neighbors face massive Hurricane #Sandy. #umc #umcor #dreamumc

http://www.umcor.org/UMCOR/Resources/News-Stories/2012/October/Millions-Fear-Storm

You can help people affected by disasters like hurricanes, floods, earthquakes, fires and tornadoes, at home or around the world, by making a donation to support American Red Cross Disaster Relief. https://www.redcross.org/donate/index.jsp?donateStep=2&itemId=prod10001

Early voting continues through Friday, November 2. Remember that on Election Day, Tuesday, November 6, Travis County residents can vote at any polling place.  The ballot is long with many city and county items, in addition to Federal, State, and School Board candidate choices. Review the League of Women Voters Guide before going to the polls.

http://lwvaustin.org/votersguide/VotersGuideNov2012.pdf

20^th Anniversary Gay-La

Friday, November 9, 2012

6:30 PM to 8:45 PM

First UMC Family Life Center

1300 Lavaca St. – Austin

Friday, November 9^th

• Location: First UMC’s Family Life Center, 1300 Lavaca St.
  Great Hall, Room 200 (http://bit.ly/QZjkWC)
• 6:15 pm: Doors Open, Silent Auction Begins
• 6:30 pm: Buffet by Word of Mouth Catering
• 7:15 pm – 8:45 pm: 
  • Austin Babtist Women –  http://www.babtistwomen.com
  • Sharing Our Story
  • Keynote Speaker, Mark Bowman – Mark Bowman, Founder of Reconciling Ministries Network (bio at http://www.lgbtran.org/Profile.aspx?ID=25)
• Silent Auction
• Need Childcare? Contact Amy at info@tumc.org.

• Tickets: $50/adult; $25/ages 10 – 22

http://www.tumc.org/events/20th-anniversary-gay-la/

Bethany Holiday Crafts Market – sponsored by Bethany UMC Nursery Ministry
Saturday, November 3, 2012 -9:00 AM – 5:00 PM     http://www.bethany-umc.org/events/merry-marketplace

Crestview Annual Bazaar, Saturday, November 3, 9:00 am – 2:00 pm   http://www.gbgm-umc.org/crestviewumc/

Saint John’s UMC Alternative Christmas Market – Saturday, December 1, 11:00am – 4:00pm  and Sunday, December 2, Noon – 3:00.

University UMC Alternative Gift Market – Sunday, December 2

Sunday, November 18, 10:00am Worship

Wesley UMC

1164 San Bernard Street
Austin, Texas 78702-2030

On October 27, 2010, Anthony Graves walked out of the Burleson County Jail after spending 18 years in prison – including 12 years on death row – for a crime he did not commit.  Prosecutors dropped all charges against Anthony and declared him innocent after conducting their own investigation of the case.  He is the 12^th person in Texas to be wrongfully convicted and removed from death row and one of 140 death row exonorees nationwide.  Since his release, Anthony has spoken about his experience with the Texas death penalty system to audiences throughout the United States and around the world.  He served for a year as the Director of Community Outreach for the Texas Defender Service and now is working with attorney David Dow on individual capital cases and juvenile issues.  He is looking forward to starting school in the fall, 2012.

Sister Helen Prejean, the internationally known speaker and author of Dead Man Walking,  addressed a crowd of 300 at St. Edward’s University on Friday evening, October 12, as part of “Faithful Considerations: A Discussion with Sister Helen Prejean and Austin Faith Leaders”.  Sister Helen was fresh from a trip crisscrossing California, speaking in churches to encourage voting for Proposition 34 to repeal the death penalty on the November ballot. “Faithful Considerations” was the third such discussion hosted by TCADP.

The Austin event featured a conversation between Sister Helen Prejean, Dr. John Elford, senior pastor of University United Methodist Church, and Pastor Nestor Menjivar, pastor of Principe de Paz Baptist Church.  Dr. Elford was asked to be a part of the conversation due to his leadership and experience in tackling difficult issues while senior pastor at University UMC: “My fervent hope is that dialogue among Christians and practitioners of other religions will help us recover our voice as a people committed to peace and non-violence.” Pastor Menjivar has a long history of being involved in social justice issues and serving on the Board of the General Baptist Convention and Christian Life Commission. “I believe pastors and other religious leaders need to fully understand their God-given obligation and responsibility to teach God’s great mercy, which he calls us to show to others, especially those considered the least deserving,” he told TCADP.

Both Dr. Elford and Pastor Menjivar shared that clergy can have a tendency to avoid difficult issues as they shepherd their diverse congregations, but they have also learned that people seem to hunger for that direction and real application of their faith to the world around them.

The discussion was sponsored by Catholic Mobilizing Network, Congregational Church of Austin, Diocese of Austin Office of Prolife Activities and Chaste Living, General Board of Church and Society United Methodist Church, Methodist Federation of Social Action—Southwest Texas Chapter, Murder Victims’ Families for Reconciliation, St. Edward’s University, Liz and Duff Stewart, Texas Baptist Christian Life Commission, Texas Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty, and the Texas Interfaith Center for Public Policy. Tremendous thanks are also owed to Liza Manjarez, Mo McMorrow, Herb and Angela Diener, and Rev. Richard Bates. Links to video and pictures can be found at tcadp.org/what-we-do/religiousoutreach/.  Read tweets from the event #SrHelen.  http://tcadp.org/2012/10/15/acl-austin-can-lead-the-way/

November 18^th, 2012
4:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

University United Methodist Church
2409 Guadalupe, Austin, TX 78705

Ample free Sunday parking is available in three designated lots, as well as in metered spaces on the street. Parking details.

Reception following for those in attendance. Please bring your favorite dish ready to serve.
Free, family-friendly, all are welcome!

Tour Austin’s Garder Betts Juvenile Justice Center with Us on November 26.

What happens when kids break the law?

In Texas, thousands of young people aged 10 thru 16 are processed through the juvenile justice system every year. In 2011, the Texas Legislature made significant changes to the system designed to keep more youthful offenders in their local communities.

The new law means local faith leaders have new opportunities to support and guide youthful offenders and their families–and it starts with understanding the system.

Join Interfaith Center staff on a tour of Austin’s Gardner Betts Juvenile Justice Center on November 26^th. Learn what happens to youth when they are picked up by the police…what conditions they are held in…who is available to help them navigate the often-intimidating criminal justice system…and where faith communities fit in.

Details of the tour:

• Meet at 9am on Nov. 26^th at Gardner Betts Juvenile Justice Center, 2515 South Congress Ave. in Austin.
• The tour will last about 2 hours and include visits to the residential, probation, and detention areas.
• After the tour, Gardner-Betts staff will meet with us for a Q & A session.
• An informal debrief over brunch/lunch will be held following the visit.

Space is limited! We will accept reservations for this trip on a first-come basis through November 20^th. If you know someone that you think would like to attend, please forward this email along.

Please email cindy@texasimpact.org to RSVP or if you have questions or need more information.

Choices and Challenges: How Texas County Uninsured Rates
Will Drop Under Health Care Reform

Choices and Challenges Report >>
Press Release >>
Texas is projected to see the largest percentage gain in insurance coverage of any state under health care reform. With nearly one in four of the 25 million Texans lacking coverage today, any significant gain in coverage will reduce local charity care and uncompensated care costs and tax burdens. A recent model developed by Michael E. Cline, Ph.D., and Steve H. Murdock, Ph.D. of Rice University provides county-level projections to help local officials and residents plan for how increased coverage under the Affordable Care Act could affect their communities. http://www.cppp.org/research.php?aid=1231

• Distribution Day: Saturday, December 8^th from 8:00 AM – 3:00 PM
• Distribution Site: Palmer Events Center, 900 Barton Springs Road
• Community Coat Drive: Monday, November 12^th through Wednesday, December 5^th.  Please drop your coats off at any local Jack Brown Cleaners.  To find a location near you, click here.
• School & Business Coat Drive Competition: Monday, November 12^th through Friday, November 30^th.  Please drop your coats off at any local Jack Brown Cleaners.  To find a location near you, click here.