Rio Texas Methodist Federation for Social Action

How to join or support MFSA

Please join with us as we connect progressive United Methodists in putting faith into action!

Membership in MFSA is not predicated on ability to pay.  We do not have “dues”.  However, our Chapter and the National Office need funding each year for programs and activities.  Membership gifts and special giving are always appreciated. MFSA is classified as a 501(c)(3) organization by the IRS.   Membership gifts to MFSA are tax deductible as provided by law.

There are several easy ways to join or support MFSA.

• You can log onto the national MFSA website, http://www.mfsaweb.org and follow the instructions there (you can safely use a credit card). Please indicate that you are part of the SWTX Chapter.
• Or, you can mail a check made out to “SWTX – MFSA” to our Treasurer, Janice Curry, at 1509 Mearns Meadow Blvd, Austin 78758.  The suggested donation is $60, but any amount is welcome.  Thanks for your support!

We have eight monthly meetings per year, generally on the second Thursday of the month.  We communicate using monthly electronic newsletters & updates to our website and Facebook page.

Mental illness impacts the lives of one in four adults and one in 10 children in the U.S.  Yes, 60 million people.  The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) is a grassroots mental health organization dedicated to building better lives for all these people.  The local affiliate, NAMI Austin, works all year long to raise awareness, reduce stigma, and provide essential education, advocacy and support group programs for people living with mental illness and their loved ones.  To support this event, go to namiwalks.org and choose whether to register to walk or donate.

Tuesday, October 9, is the last day for Texans to register to vote in the November 6 Presidential Election.  With the recent confusion about voter registration, you may want to check to make sure you are registered at the Texas Secretary of State website:

https://team1.sos.state.tx.us/voterws/viw/faces/SearchSelectionVoter.jsp , or at the Travis County Tax Office website: http://www.traviscountytax.org/showVoterSearch.do.

The voter registration application https://webservices.sos.state.tx.us/vrapp/index.asp can be used for first time voters, to change your address if you have voted in Texas before, or to get a replacement voter card.  Did you know that in Texas:

• You can register your spouse, your child, or a parent (driver’s license number or last 4 numbers of Social Security # required).
• Early voting begins on October 22 through Friday, November 2.
• Voters are not required to present photo ID – Texas law struck down by court.

If you live in Travis County:

• There are 19 ballot issues in addition to voting for the US President.

• You  can vote at any poll on Election Day.

The Red Bench: Interfaith Conversations that Matter is a dialogue program centered on moderated small group discussions that are genuinely respectful and safe. No one has to be an expert – individual participants are invited to share from their personal experiences and listen with their hearts.

The Red Bench meets at the “Family Life Center” of First United Methodist Church at 1300 Lavaca Street in downtown Austin. A light meal is served from 6:30-7:00 PM and the conversation runs from 7:00-8:30 PM.

In October we will meet on Tuesday, October 30 at 6:30 PM. Our topic will be “Civility & Polarization.”
RSVP for this conversation at Meetup.com.

We will close out our fall programs on Tuesday, November 27 at 6:30 PM with a conversation about “Authenticity.” RSVP for this conversation at Meetup.com. 

Before you vote…Attend iACT’s Health and Housing Forum

by Tom Spencer, CEO of iACT  

We are so blessed to live in Austin, Texas! Our economy continues to outperform the rest of the nation and we live in a beautiful community brimming with genuinely creative and hospitable souls. However, many of our neighbors are feeling less welcomed than before… housing prices are pushing working families out of our city and decent healthcare is beyond the reach of thousands more.

This November, Austin voters will be asked to approve two ballot propositions that can help address these pressing moral concerns: An Affordable Housing Bond Package and an initiative that would create a new University of Texas Teaching Hospital.

In order to help keep our faith community partners informed about these issues, iACT in partnership with The Seton Healthcare Network, will be holding a Health and Housing Forum for clergy and all interested Austin citizens during the lunch hour on Monday, October the 8th, 2012 from noon – 1:30 PM. We are inviting you to come, enjoy a wholesome meal, and learn about the difference that communities of faith can make in addressing these crucial concerns. The Health and Housing Forum will be held at the Dell Children’s Medical Center Auditorium, 4900 Mueller Blvd., Austin, Texas 78723.

Please mark your calendars now for this important community forum! You may RSVP by sending an e-mail to iact@interfaithtexas.org or by calling Jason Erick Taylor at (512) 386-9145 x 303

Night Under One Sky

Tuesday, October 9, 2012

6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Umlauf Sculpture Garden & Museum.

“We may be of different tribes, but we all live under one sky.”

A Night Under One Sky is a sacred evening of dining and dialogue in celebration of the relationships we have and those we hope to build. A Night Under One Sky has become a truly beloved tradition in our community. It celebrates the notion that there is common ground we can all walk in search of peace and harmony in this world. The setting is magical. The food is delightful. The music is inspiring. The conversation is uplifting.

This year, A Night Under One Sky will feature a special guest: Rev. Dr. Wes Magruder, senior associate pastor at First Rowlett United Methodist Church in Rowlett, Texas. Rev. Magruder recently attracted international attention when decided to join his friend, Imam Yaseen Shaikh of Plano, in observing the Ramadan fast. He wrote about the experience on his personal blog, offering insights into the practice of fasting and how his interaction with his Muslim friends deepened his Christian faith. For more information contact Simone Talma Flowers at (512) 386-9145 x302 or send an e-mail to stalma@interfaithtexas.org

Invites You to Attend our Monthly Symposium
7:00 pm Tuesday, October 2, 2012
at Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary
in the Hazel McCord Community Center
100 East 27th Street, in Central Austin

This month’s symposium

Finding our Place in Nature: 
an Interfaith Perspective
Part II

Please join the Interfaith Environmental Network for our second interfaith panel discussion on the relationship between humans and nature, and spiritual practices that can help us find this relationship.

Featured Panelists:

Kosho McCall, Head Priest, Austin Zen Center

Imam Islam Mossaad, North Austin Muslim Community Center

Rev. Tom Van de Stadt, Pastor, Congregational Church of Austin

On October 4, Dr. Allan Boesak, South African Liberation Theologian and Activist, will present “Seeking Justice in a Civilized World” at Southwestern University.  Dr. Boesak is a hero of South Africa’s anti-apartheid struggle as the founder of the United Democratic Front.  A theologian in the Reformed tradition, he is a powerful, eloquent, and dynamic speaker.

“Quietly Bringing Justice”, 11:00 am, Lois Perkins Chapel

“The Glory That Is Not Steeped In Blood: War And Peace In A Globalized World”
4:00 pm, Mood-Bridwell Atrium

Within Our Reach-Reflections on Women, Faith, and Health

Monya Stubbs, Associate Professor of New Testament at Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary will be leading our retreat this Fall on Friday evening, October 5 and Saturday, October 6.  Something new – UUMC and Trinity UMC are jointly planning the retreat which will be held at Trinity UMC, 4001 Speedway.

If you would like to register for the retreat or need more information, please contact Rev. Susan Sprague at 478-9387.  COST – $35.  Scholarships available. Click here to view the flier and registration form.

OCTOBER 12 – 13, 2012

DR. AMY-JILL LEVINEpresents

“JESUS, JUDAISM, AND JEWISH-CHRISTIAN RELATIONS”

in SAN ANTONIO, TX
Amy-Jill Levine is University Professor of New Testament and Jewish Studies, E. Rhodes and Leona B. Carpenter Professor of New Testament Studies, and Professor of Jewish Studies at Vanderbilt University Divinity School and College of Arts and Sciences.  She holds the B.A. from Smith College, the M.A. and Ph.D. from Duke University, and honorary doctorates from Christian Theological Seminary, Drury University, the University of Richmond, the Episcopal Theological Seminary of the Southwest, and the University of South Carolina-Upstate.

This seminar is in partnership with THE WORK SHOP, St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, Temple Bethel, Trinity University, Oblate School of Theology, Church of Reconciliation, The SoL Center at University Presbyterian Church, all of San Antonio, Texas, and Seminary of the Southwest in Austin, TX.

COST:  $35.00    

To register, visit www.faithandreason.org or CLICK HERE.

The D. L. Dykes, Jr. Foundation

Saturday, October 7 – The TX Health & Human Services Center for Elimination of Disproportionality & Disparities hosts: First Saturday’s Courageous Conversations on Race

“Courageous Conversation” the first Saturday of each month fosters dialogue among people throughout the community to develop better understanding and to dispel stereotypes. St. James Episcopal Church Founder’s Hall, 1941 Webberville Rd., 9 -11:30.  Town Hall meeting from 1:30 – 4:00pm.

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Breaking Schools’ Rules: A Statewide Study of How School Discipline Relates to Students’ Success and Juvenile Justice Involvement

Millions of U.S. public school students in grades K-12 are suspended or expelled in an academic school year, particularly students in middle and high school. Research demonstrates that when students are removed from the classroom as a disciplinary measure, the odds increase dramatically that they will repeat a grade, drop out, or become involved in the juvenile justice system. These negative consequences disproportionately affect children of color as well as students with special needs. Policymakers and practitioners have a growing need to identify strategies for effectively managing students’ behavior and aligning schools’ policies in order to support student engagement and learning, and reduce poor academic outcomes and juvenile justice contact. Although some states and local governments have taken promising steps to address these issues, decision makers and front-line practitioners lack a comprehensive, multisystem approach to making school discipline more effective.

Visit http://justicecenter.csg.org/resources/juveniles to see the report that was referenced at the September Courageous Conversations meeting.

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Every Friday – At weekly Friday forums, activists from churches, law enforcement, NAACP, AISD, ACC, and other organizations, report on progress of ongoing projects. 9 -10am at the NAACP office at 1704 E 12^th St.

Contact Jan Dawes jdawes@grandecom.net or Janice Curry jlcurry@austin.rr.com for more information.

Leaders of the 40-year-old interfaith group Texas Impact today announced the formal launch of a partner organization. The new Texas Interfaith Center for Public Policy is a faith-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit with a mission to help people of faith participate effectively in public policy discussions concerning broadly shared religious social concerns through non-partisan education on policy issues and training in civic participation.

Visit the Texas Interfaith Center for Public Policy online

Texas Impact president Reverend T. Randall Smith of Tyler said the Interfaith Center will be an important resource for Texas faith communities that care about the common good but are leery of becoming entangled in partisan politics.

Board member Beaman Floyd of Austin said the Interfaith Center’s mission includes a strong focus on training faith communities and their members in effective, nonpartisan communication. “The Interfaith Center is committed to helping people of faith become well-educated, well-rounded, resourceful citizens who engage and encourage other people to become involved in religious, social and cultural matters that stir their conscience,” said Floyd.

The Interfaith Center is based in Austin, Texas and is governed by a volunteer board that includes clergy and lay leaders from diverse faith traditions and areas of the state. The Center’s staff brings significant theological, public policy, communications and popular education background and represents diverse faith perspectives.

Join Trinity in celebrating 20 years of being a Reconciling Congregation!

November 9

6:30 PM – 9:00 PM

First UMC Family Life Center
1300 Lavaca St. – Austin

Speaker: Mark Bowman, Founder of Reconciling Ministries Network

• Tickets: $50/adult; $25/ages 10 – 22
• Scholarships are available – please don’t let finances keep you from coming!

• Silent Auction
• Catered Meal
• Fun & Fellowship!

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

Some of our readers have asked us to include petition requests that they are passionate about.  If you have similar petitions to share, please send the link to rcurry@austin.rr.com.

From Jan Dawes:  Tell China: Don’t built a coal plant in Texas. 

https://act.credoaction.com/campaign/china_texas_coal/?r=6963400&p=china_texas_coal&id=47141-608957-0J3ifQx

From John Yeaman:  The electronic media — TV and radio: On political ads show the Politifact truth meter for that ad.

http://www.change.org/petitions/the-electronic-media-tv-and-radio-on-political-ads-show-the-politifact-truth-meter-for-that-ad?utm_campaign=day_two_email&utm_medium=email&utm_source=guides

From David Strong:  Sign the petition to the Council of Bishops in Support of Bishop Talbert.

In September 1960, a young pastor named Melvin Talbert was arrested and jailed alongside Martin Luther King, Jr. for sitting in at a segregated lunch counter. He went on to become a bishop in the United Methodist Church and serve as president of the National Council of Churches.

Fifty years later, Bishop Talbert is under attack again – this time for calling on Methodist pastors to join him in an “act of biblical obedience” by putting Jesus’ commandment to love our neighbors ahead of “immoral and unjust” church rules that prohibit same-sex marriage.

Now a group of conservative pastors are accusing him of “advocating anarchy and chaos” and demanding that the Methodist Council of Bishops take action to “hold those who have been disobedient .. accountable for their inflammatory actions.”

This story has gotten some media attention, and we’ve got a chance to show the world how everyday Christians are standing in solidarity with Bishop Talbert as he continues to struggle against the church’s discriminatory policies towards LGBT people.

Will you join me in standing with Melvin Talbert? Sign this petition to the United Methodist Council of Bishops:

http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/2518/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=11599

From Janice Curry:  Like I Stand With Bishop Talbert on Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/IStandWithBishopTalbert.  As a project of the Reconciling Ministries Clergy, “I Stand With Bishop Talbert” is a direct action witness in support of Bishop Melvin Talbert and other episcopal leaders who are seeking justice and inclusivity in The United Methodist Church.

The Other Convention: A Church Votes on Gay Rights

A short documentary about General Conference 2012, by Adithya Sambamurthy

From California Watch:  Methodists are among the last mainline Protestant holdouts on the topic of homosexuality. Karen Oliveto, pastor of San Francisco’s Glide Memorial United Methodist Church, is bound and determined to change that at the 2012 General Conference in Tampa, Fla., just steps away from the site of the Republican National Convention. Similar to a political convention, the question of whether homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teaching will be the subject of intense lobbying, heated debate, close committee votes and, if Oliveto and the progressive faction are successful, a decision on the convention floor.

But the conservatives, bolstered by large and rapidly growing Methodist congregations in Africa, are just as determined – and they believe they have the Old Testament on their side. The two factions are destined for a showdown at the convention. This is the story of what happened. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LydlOEXTjSE&feature=plcp

Sambamurthy shot and edited this documentary for the Center for Investigative Reporting just launched on The I Files, CIR’s video channel. He is working on a fuller version for KQED (Northern California PBS member station), which will be broadcast later this year.

Please join with us as we connect progressive United Methodists in putting faith into action!

Membership in MFSA is not predicated on ability to pay.  We do not have “dues”.  However, our Chapter and the National Office need funding each year for programs and activities.  Membership gifts and special giving are always appreciated. MFSA is classified as a 501(c)(3) organization by the IRS.   Membership gifts to MFSA are tax deductible as provided by law.

There are several easy ways to join or support MFSA.

• You can log onto the national MFSA website, http://www.mfsaweb.org and follow the instructions there (you can safely use a credit card). Please indicate that you are part of the SWTX Chapter.
• Or, you can mail a check made out to “SWTX – MFSA” to our Treasurer, Janice Curry, at 1509 Mearns Meadow Blvd, Austin 78758.  The suggested donation is $60, but any amount is welcome.  Thanks for your support!

We have eight monthly meetings per year, generally on the second Thursday of the month.  We communicate using monthly electronic newsletters & updates to our website and Facebook page.