MFSA – Austin members participated in the MLK Celebration and Community March on January 15
The Montgomery, Alabama-based Equal Justice Initiative reports 335 lynching victims in Texas between 1877 and 1950. MFSA representatives joined about 250 gathered on December 16 in an East Austin church to remember those anonymous deaths. Later, under a steady, cold rain, most of those people huddled outside as Austin NAACP President Nelson Linder, Travis County Commissioner Jeff Travillion, Austin Mayor Steve Adler and U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett unveiled a blue-and-gold plaque in front of Wesley United Methodist Church. The plaque, headlined “Lynching in Travis County,” is the seventh such remembrance installed by the Alabama-based EJI nationwide and the first from that group in Texas. (Photo courtesy Austin American-Statesman)
PERSIST! – Racism in the United Methodist Church
The November meeting of the Rio Texas MFSA will be Thursday, November 9, at Saint John’s UMC Austin. Continuing the yearlong PERSIST! theme, the speaker will be Dr. Barbara Finlay. Dr. Finlay is a sociologist with degrees from Texas Tech, UT-El Paso, and the University of Florida and minors in history and religion. In addition, she has a Master of Divinity degree from Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary. Her career in academia included teaching at the University of Florida, Oregon State University, and Texas A&M, where she served for 26 years on the Sociology faculty. The author of five books, Dr. Finlay has a particular interest and expertise in race and gender issues. She retired from TAMU in 2008. We hope you can join us for her revealing presentation.
We invite you to join us at Saint John’s UMC, 2140 Allandale Rd. in Austin for this special discussion. Contact Rowland Curry rcurry@austin.rr.com with questions.
For our San Antonio friends: Susan Aguilar is offering a ride to Austin and back for the Nov 9 meeting with RSVP – Text or leave a message at 210-717-8604.
Join us at 6:30p for snacks. The program begins at 7p. All are welcome.
The goal of One Human Race is to create a safe, open, and productive environment for participants to examine the American concept of race, share feelings and experiences, and engage in discussions about race. Over a dozen Austin-area churches have held this three-session Saturday workshop and participants have been transformed, encouraged, and inspired in the ways they see each other, participate in community, and communicate about race.
May 13, 20 & 27
12:30-3:30 p.m.
St. John’s United Methodist Church
2140 Allandale Road
Austin, TX 78756
Click here to sign up.
The One Human Race Initiative is a ministry of the Union of Black Episcopalians, Myra McDaniel Chapter. For questions, Contact Rev. Hilary Marchbanks hilary@stjohnsaustin.org
or 512-452-5737.
12:30-3:30, March 11, 18, and 25
First United Methodist Church – Austin
1300 Lavaca Street
12:30-3:30, May 13, 20, and 27
Saint John’s UMC – Austin
2140 Allandale Rd.
Attendance is free, but registration is required.
Reserve your spot today at http://ubeaustin.blogspot.com/
