Rio Texas Methodist Federation for Social Action

Join the 50th Anniversary Commemorative March for Farm Worker Rights, September 11th in Austin

On Sunday, September 11, 2016, march to honor the justice struggles of farm workers 50 years ago—and to commit to the justice struggles that remain unfinished today.

Schedule

12 p.m.:  Program on the Quad at St Edward’s University

1 p.m.:  Start of 4-mile march to the Capitol

4 p.m.:  Arrive at Capitol for a rally

Background

In July and August of 1966, hundreds of people—including whole families—marched 400 miles from Rio Grande City to Austin to call attention to the plight of farm workers in Texas. On Labor Day, more than 10,000 supporters, including Cesar Chavez, walked with marchers the last four miles from St. Edward’s University to the South Steps of the Capitol. Texas religious leaders were among key supporters of the march, “La Marcha”—and of the movement for better pay and working conditions for farm workers.

The Rio Grande Melon Strike started in June, 1966, when workers who were paid between $.40-$.85 per hour called for a minimum hourly wage of $1.25. Rebecca Flores, former director of the United Farm Workers in Texas, notes: “It has been 50 years since the farmworker march and strike called attention to harsh working conditions and microscopic pay in Texas, but the issues of the minimum wage, poor working conditions, and substandard housing for migrant farmers are just as relevant in Texas in 2016. Remembering what the farmworkers did in 1966 is much more than a lesson in history.”

A United Methodist deacon at the time, Bishop Joel Martinez participated in La Marcha and has been instrumental in supporting this year’s commemorative march. “If we forget the previous generation’s struggles,” he warns, “we’re not going to do the justice work in the present generation. We have a lot of unfinished business in the state of Texas in terms of justice work around the issues of fairness in the workplace, educational opportunity, healthcare, and immigration policy. All of that is unfinished business for this generation and the generation yet to come.”

Repairers of the Breach

On September 12, people of faith and moral courage will gather at state capitols in 25 states to deliver the “Higher Ground Moral Declaration”, which calls on governors, senators, state legislators, and candidates for office to move away from extremist politics and policies that benefit the few and move toward policies and laws that are just and fair and guarantee a better life for the majority of the people.

TO: 2016 CANDIDATES FOR PRESIDENT, SENATE, AND GOVERNORS

By Rev. Dr. William Barber II, Rev. Dr. James Forbes, Rev. Dr. Traci Blackmon, Sr. Simone Campbell

We declare that the deepest public concerns of our nation and faith traditions are how our society treats the poor, those on the margins, the least of these, women, children, workers, immigrants and the sick; equality and representation under the law; and the desire for peace, love and harmony within and among nations.

Together, we lift up and defend the most sacred moral principles of our faith and constitutional values, which are: the economic liberation of all people; ensuring every child receives access to quality education; healthcare access for all; criminal justice reform; and ensuring historically marginalized communities have equal protection under the law.

Why is this important?

Our moral traditions have a firm foundation upon which to stand against the divide-and-conquer strategies of extremists. We believe in a moral agenda that stands against systemic racism, classism, poverty, xenophobia, and any attempt to promote hate towards any members of the human family. We claim a higher ground in partisan debate by returning public discourse to our deepest moral and constitutional values. Please add your name to call on our 2016 presidential candidates, senate candidates, and governors to advance a moral agenda.

http://www.breachrepairers.org/

September 12 at 11:00am-12:00pm in each time zone at the State Capitol.

“The Revival: Time for a Moral Revolution of Values” is a national tour to redefine morality in American politics and challenge leaders of faith and moral courage to be more vocally opposed to harmful policies that disproportionately impact the poor, people who are ill, children, immigrants, communities of color, and religious minorities. The first part of the national revival tour has over 19 stops from April 2016 to January 2017 including New York, North Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Texas, Mississippi, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, South Carolina, Wisconsin, Missouri, Washington DC, Tennessee, Indiana, Minnesota, New Mexico, Kentucky, and Virginia.

The Revival is co-led by the Rev. Dr. James A Forbes Jr. and the Rev. Dr. William J. Barber II, architect of the historic Moral Monday Movement in North Carolina. They will be joined in some states by other national social justice leaders, including the Rev. Dr. Traci Blackmon, acting executive minister of the United Church of Christ’s Justice and Witness Ministries, and Sister Simone Campbell, leader of the “Nuns on the Bus” and executive director of the Catholic social justice lobby NETWORK in Washington, DC. Sponsoring and supporting organizations include:

• Repairers of the Breach
• Drum Major Institute
• Healing of the Nations Ministries
• Auburn Seminary
• Kairos Center
• Samuel DeWitt Proctor Conference
• The Middle Project

In each state, we will lead revival services and hear testimony from people who have been impacted and hurt by regressive policies. Prior to the revivals, the leadership team will train hundreds of faith and moral leaders in each state to strengthen local and state activism from the bottom up. Lastly, local faith leaders, citizens, and persons impacted and hurt by regressive policies are invited to participate in direct actions in their state capitals during three Mondays in September, and sign on to the “Higher Ground Moral Declaration” calling on our political system to rise above hatred, fear, and left and right politics, in order to reach our highest values of love and justice.

Each year the International Day of Peace is observed around the world on 21 September. The U.N. General Assembly has declared this as a day devoted to strengthening the ideals of peace, both within and among all nations and peoples.

The Day’s theme for 2016 is “The Sustainable Development Goals: Building Blocks for Peace.”

The 17 Sustainable Development Goals were unanimously adopted by the 193 Member States of the United Nations at an historic summit of the world’s leaders in New York in September 2015. The new ambitious 2030 agenda calls on countries to begin efforts to achieve these goals over the next 15 years. It aims to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure prosperity for all.

Austin events: http://www.peacedayaustin.org/#!2016-events/esuwc

Church and Society applauds the Justice Department for their move away from private prisons

The U.S. Department of Justice has announced that it is ending its use of private prisons. Thirteen privately run facilities in the Bureau of Prisons will be affected. Along with recurring incidents, recent studies commissioned by the Justice Department have shown that private prisons are less effective, less secure, and less capable of carrying out the stated aims of correctional facilities.

We join with the Department, criminal justice advocates, and people of good will in rejoicing at this step forward. The United Methodist Church has an historical faith commitment to fair and just prison policies, as seen in our Social Principles, our Book of Resolutions, and our statements on socially responsible investment ethics (Resolution 4071, 2012 Book of Resolutions; Paragraph 717, forthcoming 2016 Book of Discipline).

Our commitment to a system of restoration rather than retribution draws on biblical authority that emphasizes transformation, healing, and right relationship with God, self, and community. As the Apostle Paul writes in his letter to the Hebrews, “Remember those who are in prison, as though you were in prison with them; those who are being tortured, as though you yourselves were being tortured” (Hebrews 13:3).

We call upon the Department of Homeland Security and state and local governments to enact similar standards regarding the use of private prisons. May this move – away from the privatization of prisons – be one step in a journey toward a more compassionate and just criminal justice system.

The General Board of Church and Society is one of four international program boards of The United Methodist Church. The board is called to seek the implementation of the Social Principles and other policy statements of the General Conference on Christian social concerns.

Letter from Texas Impact to our United Methodist Friends:

“Texas Impact would like to invite your congregation to participate in the Above Politics Health Justice Sabbath. The goal of the Health Justice Sabbath is for congregations across Texas to do something health justice related the weekend of November 18-20. It could be as simple as praying for health, preaching a sermon, having a Sunday School class conversation, running a newsletter article or doing something hands on that is health or health advocacy related. Texas Impact will be providing resources as the event nears.

More information on the event, a list of current resources and a page to register your congregation maybe be found online at www.abovepoliticstx.org. The email announcing the Health Justice Sabbath from our Executive Director Bee Moorhead is below, and you may always call or email me for more information.

We would love for there to be a movement of congregations throughout Texas addressing health as a component of our faith so any help you can give in spreading the word would be appreciated.

I hope you are well and let me know if you have any questions or need more information about the Health Justice Sabbath!

Scott Atnip

Texas Impact

Congregational Outreach Director

scott@texasimpact.org

(512) 472-3903 (Office)

(281) 728-4593 (Cell)

www.texasimpact.org

www.texasinterfaithcenter.org