| For many months, we on the planning team had wondered if folks would be willing to come to San Antonio in the middle of a Texas summer to attend this event. The answer was a resounding “yes” as 700 gathered at Travis Park UMC for this wonderful weekend! |
More Photos: https://www.flickr.com/photos/swtexasmfsa/albums/72157655763941734
Videos: https://www.rmnetwork.org/newrmn/category/gather-at-the-river/gather-videos/
Joy Butler receives RMN Voices in the Wilderness Award
Joy Butler, chair of the Rio Texas Reconciling Team, was named the recipient of the RMN Voices in the Wilderness Award presented at the Gather at the River conference in San Antonio. The national award, given by Reconciling Ministries Network, recognizes an individual who stands against injustice to “proclaim the rightness of inclusion for all people in the church.” Thank you Joy for your passion, skill, and perseverance!
Rev. Dr. Mindy Johnson-Hicks Transfers Clergy Credentials
At a worship celebration in the sanctuary of Travis Park UMC on Friday, August 7, Rev. Dr. Mindy Johnson-Hicks, transferred her clergy credentials to the Church Within A Church Movement. There to support Mindy were spouse Amy, and friends and well-wishers from around the country. Mindy is on the Board of the Rio Texas MFSA. Congratulations, Mindy! To learn more about the Church Within A Church Movement, visit: http://www.cwac.us/.
On Saturday, August 29, Rio Texas MFSA led a group of Methodists in the Austin Pride Parade. Saint John’s UMC, Trinity UMC, & Journey of Faith marched side by side, with First UMC & University UMC up ahead. We survived the heat and had a great experience giving smiles, hand hugs, water, beads, and fans to those in the crowd.
See photos at: https://www.flickr.com/photos/swtexasmfsa/sets/72157657571885650
 All are welcome to visit with members of the Rio Texas Reconciling Team on June 12 & 13 during Annual Conference in Corpus Christi at our display tables in the American Bank Center exhibition hall. Reconciling United Methodists plan to gather for a Friday night dinner (RSVP to RioReconciling@gmail.com by June 7 if you are interested).
RMN’s African Central Conferences Coordinator, Dennis Akpona, will give a testimony during the 2nd Annual Conference Reconciling Worship Service, hosted by Trinity UMC Austin in room 225 on Saturday, June 13 at 7AM. |
Gather at the River is a national conference that will meet at Travis Park United Methodist Church, an historic, open and justice-seeking community of faith in downtown San Antonio, steps away from the renowned River Walk entertainment and cultural district. Housing and additional meeting space will be at the Sheraton Gunter Hotel next door. Methodist Federation for Social Action and Reconciling Ministries Network members and friends in the Rio Texas Conference are preparing to provide extravagant hospitality for Gather at the River participants. Gather at the River will also include the participation of kindred groups in the Love Your Neighbor Coalition. Gather at the River is a multi-generational gathering. Program activities for children (ages 3-rising 6th grade) and youth (middle and high school) will be led by professionally-trained staff. Register Now at www.gather2015.org ! The lineup of worship leaders, preachers, speakers, and entertainment is AWESOME! Worship Leaders: Marcia McFee & Mark A. Miller Preachers: Rev. Peter Storey, Rev. Theon Johnson, Nikilas Mawanda, Rev. Sarah Thompson Tweedy Speakers: Bishop Minerva Carcaño, Rev. Grace Imathiu, Bishop Melvin Talbert, Rev. Frank Schaefer Entertainers: Jennifer Knapp, IlluMen, Campanas de América Youth & Children’s Programs: Shelley Walters, Carol Kohrs Hosts: Chett Pritchett (MFSA), Matt Berryman (RMN) If you have been to convocation or one of the joint MFSA/RMN events such as Sing a New Song in 2011, you know what a treasure it is to have this conference in our backyard! |
Workshops are intended to provide hands-on training opportunities to learn and hone skills for vital congregational ministries, advocacy for LGBTQ equality, engaging persons in the intersections of justice issues, and/or preparing a progressive witness for the 2016 General Conference.
Workshops will happen on Friday afternoon, August 7, and will be 75 minutes in length.
| BEING CHURCH
A1: Creating Rituals for Life Passages of Individuals and Communities – Marcia McFee A2: Twenty-First Century Worship Leading and Soul Justice Singing – Mark Miller A3: Breaking Down Barriers: Practicing Inclusion A4: REFUEL: A Filling Station for the Overworked A5: Inclusion from Inception: Church Planting for Today A6: The Reconciling Process – Using the “Building An Inclusive Church Toolkit” – Helen Ryde A7: “Where Do I Belong?” Creating Vital Communities of Accountability & Responsibility Across Difference A8: Making God’s Vision Ours – Rev. Max Blaylock
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Pre-day forum begins at 9AM on Thursday Event begins with Worship at 7PM Thursday Gather at the River is a national conference that will meet at Travis Park United Methodist Church, an historic, open and justice-seeking community of faith in downtown San Antonio, steps away from the renowned River Walk entertainment and cultural district. Housing and additional meeting space will be at the Sheraton Gunter Hotel next door. Early registration deadline extended to April 16!Methodist Federation for Social Action and Reconciling Ministries Network members and friends in the Rio Texas Conference are preparing to provide extravagant hospitality for Gather at the River participants. Gather at the River will also include the participation of kindred groups in the Love Your Neighbor Coalition. Gather at the River is a multi-generational gathering. Program activities for children (ages 3-rising 6th grade) and youth (middle and high school) will be led by professionally-trained staff. Register Now at www.gather2015.org ! The lineup of worship leaders, preachers, speakers, and entertainment is AWESOME! Worship Leaders: Marcia McFee & Mark A. Miller Preachers: Rev. Peter Storey, Rev. Theon Johnson, Nikilas Mawanda, Rev. Sarah Thompson Tweedy Speakers: Bishop Minerva Carcaño, Rev. Grace Imathiu, Bishop Melvin Talbert, Rev. Frank Schaefer Workshops: Music, Worship, LGBT Issues, Anti-Racism, Israel/Palestine, Preparing for Gen Conf Entertainers: Jennifer Knapp, IlluMen, Campanas de América Youth & Children’s Programs: Shelley Walters, Carol Kohrs Hosts: Chett Pritchett (MFSA), Matt Berryman (RMN) If you have been to convocation or one of the joint MFSA/RMN events such as Sing a New Song in 2011, you know what a treasure it is to have this conference in our backyard! Place the dates, August 6 to 9, 2015 on your calendar now! |
 The Rio Texas MFSA Chapter and Reconciling Ministries Team will offer financial assistance for deserving Rio Texas youth, young adults and adults who would like to go to the Gather at the River Conference in San Antonio, but cannot attend due to financial circumstances. The amount that we can give depends on the amount we raise for this purpose.If you or your congregation would like to contribute to this effort, there are two ways to donate. You may send a check to the MFSA treasurer, Janice Curry, 1509 Mearns Meadow Blvd., Austin, TX 78758. Make the check to Rio Texas MFSA and write Gather 2015 scholarships on the memo line.Or, you may donate online at http://www.gofundme.com/riotexasgather15.
If you are interested in applying for one of these scholarships, please download the application at https://riotexasmfsa.org/2015/04/03/gather-2015-scholarships-for-rio-texas-applicants/ and apply by May 30. |
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Join us to hear our panelists speak about the importance of affiliation with Reconciling Ministries Network:
Rev. Dr. Sid Hall – Trinity UMC Austin
Rev. Richard Bates – University UMC Austin
Kate Campbell – Travis Park UMC San Antonio
Bruce Kellison – University UMC Austin
Open to all interested United Methodists.
Please RSVP to this page or email JoyLButler@gmail.com
CARPOOLING FROM AUSTIN? Feel free to use Trinity UMC lot located at 4001 Speedway in Hyde Park.
 On October 27, the Judicial Council of The United Methodist Church (UMC) released its decision to uphold the decision of the Committee on Appeals and Rev. Frank Schaefer will no longer have to fight for his ministerial status. In November 2013, a trial court of the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference of the UMC found Rev. Frank Schaefer guilty of officiating the marriage of his son, Tim, to another man in 2006. The penalty assessed to Rev. Schaefer, eventually leading to the loss of ministerial credentials, was indirect and convoluted. Earlier this year, upon appeal, the Committee on Appeals of the Northeastern Jurisdiction of The United Methodist Church overturned the penalty assessed in the original trial. Last week in Memphis, TN, The United Methodist Church’s highest judicial body, Judicial Council, heard a final appeal. |
“At a time when the Church stands as a painful reminder that human institutions are more concerned with legalisms than with grace, the Judicial Council has noted the errors of a process based on retribution,” states Chett Pritchett, Executive Director of the Methodist Federation for Social Action (MFSA). “The Methodist Federation for Social Action thanks the Judicial Council for their thoughtful and prayerful deliberation We celebrate with the Schaefer family with this resolution – and all United Methodist families who seek to love their children, no matter their sexual orientation or gender identity.”
Rio Texas Methodist Federation for Social Action 