Rio Texas Methodist Federation for Social Action

MFSA at the Rio Texas Annual Conference

May 10, 2017 — Rio Texas MFSA

Rio Texas MFSA will provide witness for Social Justice once again at the Rio Texas Annual Conference in Corpus Christi, June 7 – 9, 2017. We will sponsor the 7^th Annual Peace and Justice Luncheon on Thursday, June 8, at noon. We are excited that our luncheon speaker will be John Hill, Assistant General Secretary of Advocacy and Organizing for the UMC General Board of Church and Society.

Also, our Book Fair will return this year! We ask friends to box up their gently used books – religious and spiritual books, curriculum, and appropriate fiction and nonfiction – and we take them to Corpus Christi. It becomes like a treasure hunt at our tables! People contribute to us according to what they think the books are worth to them. The donations help defray the costs of the Rio Texas MFSA Peace and Justice Luncheon. Contact Rowland Curry rcurry@austin.rr.com and he will arrange to pick them up.

Annual Conference 2017 Registration is NOW OPEN
Registration Information • General Information Workshops • Breakfasts and Luncheons

(Click here for link to Peace & Justice Luncheon flyer)

Thursday, June 8, 2017 – Noon

American Bank Convention Center – Watergarden A (upstairs)

Corpus Christi, Texas

A Peace & Justice Luncheon Sponsored by

Methodist Federation for Social Action, Rio Texas Chapter

Rio Texas Conference Transforming Communities Vision Team

Featuring

John Hill

Assistant General Secretary for Advocacy and Grassroots Organizing

United Methodist General Board of Church and Society

John S. Hill has been with the GBCS since Earth Day, April 22, 2002. He has served as Program Director for Environmental Justice and Director of Economic and Environmental Justice. As part of his ecumenical work, John serves as chair of the Policy Committee for the National Council of Churches’ Eco-Justice Working Group and co-chair of the Washington Interreligious Staff Community’s Energy and Ecology Working Group.

Join us for this on-site luncheon. In addition, we will honor the recipients of the MFSA “Building a Just Community” Awards.

Luncheon Registration Information

Cost: $12.00 in advance (by June 1) – Check or cash; $15.00 at the door (limited number available)

Or, pay by credit card https://www.eventbrite.com/e/let-justice-roll-down-tickets-32890572588

Credit Card fee of $1.65 will be added to the cost ($13.65 total)

Please return this form with cash or check payment.

Name(s): ______________________________________________

Address: __________________________City:________________

Church: # Tickets: ___ X $ 12.00 =$ ______

E-Mail (for confirmation): __________________________________

Indicate Special Dietary Need: _____________________________

Make Check to: “Rio Texas MFSA”

Mail this form and check to:

Janice Curry, Treasurer

1509 Mearns Meadow Blvd.

Austin, TX 78758

For more information contact:

jlcurry@austin.rr.com

512-836-7004

Posted in Advocacy, Church Conferences, Special Events. Leave a Comment »

MFSA Meeting on Thursday, May 11

May 10, 2017 — Rio Texas MFSA

On Thursday, May 11, we will gather at Saint John’s UMC Austin to discuss recent ruling by the Judicial Council of the UMC regarding Bishop Karen Oliveto. Many of us have questions about the decision and the impact it may have on our local churches and conferences, the Commission on A Way Forward, and the special General Conference in St. Louis in February 2019.

We invite all clergy and laity to attend a brief presentation followed by discussion and informal Q&A session to gain a better understanding of the impact of the decision.

We are inviting our friends from the Reconciling Ministries Network to participate in this meeting.

Join us at 6:30p for snacks. The program begins at 7p. All are welcome.

Posted in Chapter Meetings, Inclusion in UMC. Leave a Comment »

Judicial Council Rules on Bishop Oliveto

May 10, 2017 — Rio Texas MFSA

Excerpt from United Methodist Reporter by Linda Bloom, see full story here.

“The consecration of a gay bishop violates church law, the top court of The United Methodist Church has ruled.

However, the bishop “remains in good standing,” the Judicial Council said in Decision 1341, until an administrative or judicial process is completed.

“Under the long-standing principle of legality, no individual member or entity may violate, ignore or negate church law,” said the decision, made public April 28. “It is not lawful for the college of bishops of any jurisdictional or central conference to consecrate a self-avowed practicing homosexual bishop.”

Officials in the U.S. Western Jurisdiction consecrated the Rev. Karen Oliveto as a bishop on July 16, 2016. Based in the Denver area, she is the episcopal leader of the Mountain Sky Area, which encompasses Colorado, Montana, Utah, Wyoming and one church in Idaho.

A petition from the South Central Jurisdiction to the Judicial Council raised four questions about the legality of that election. Judicial Council claimed jurisdiction to review its petition “only with respect to the consecration of an openly homosexual bishop” and said the rest of the petition, related to nomination, election and assignment, “is improper.”

The vote on the decision was 6-3. Judicial Council members N. Oswald Tweh and Deanell Reece Tacha filed a joint dissenting opinion that the council had no jurisdiction over the petition. First lay alternate W. Warren Plowden Jr., who was sitting for council member Beth Capen, and council member Ruben T. Reyes each filed a concurring and dissenting opinion.”

Posted in General Information, Inclusion in UMC. Leave a Comment »

One Human Race

May 10, 2017 — Rio Texas MFSA

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.

Posted in General Information, Racism & White Privilege. Leave a Comment »

JFON Austin Celebration

May 10, 2017 — Rio Texas MFSA

*** Do you want to participate? ***

Are you an artist, poet, musician, dancer or performer seeking to share your talent with our clients and volunteers?

Email andrea@jfonaustin.org for more info!

*** Volunteers Needed***

JFON Austin appreciates volunteers for the following activities.

-Event Set up

-Event Tear Down

-Moonbounce supervision

-Knockerball supervision

-Photobooth assistance

-Face Painting assistance

-Piñata assistance

If you are interested in volunteering please email Volunteer@jfonaustin.org

We can’t wait to celebrate with you!

Posted in Civil Rights, General Information, Immigration. Leave a Comment »

May 10, 2017 — Rio Texas MFSA

Join us on Tuesday, May 30 for a conversation on

the topic of Courage at Unity Church of the Hills.

If you plan to attend, please RSVP

May 30, 2017

6:30 – 8:30 pm

Organizer: iACT iact@interfaithtexas.org

Phone: 512-386-9145

Website: interfaithtexas.org

Venue Details:

Unity Church of the Hills

9905 Anderson Mill Rd

Austin TX 78750

Phone: (512) 335-4449

Website: unityhills.org

Get directions

Posted in General Information, Interfaith Dialogue. Leave a Comment »

Texas Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty

May 10, 2017 — Rio Texas MFSA

Scheduled Executions
The State of Texas is scheduled to execute two individuals this month:

On May 16, Tilon Carteris scheduled to be executed for the robbery and murder of 89-year-old James Eldon Tomlin in April 2004 in Fort Worth. Following Carter’s sentencing in 2006, his appeals focused on the deficiency of his trial lawyers, as well as faulty jury instructions. The U.S. Supreme Court refused to consider his appeals last year.
Carter was originally scheduled to be executed on February 7, 2017, but the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals granted him a stay after the trial court missed the deadline to notify the Office of Capital and Forensic Writs of the execution date. If it proceeds, Carter’s execution would be the third out of Tarrant County this year. Tarrant County accounts for 40 executions since 1982.
On May 24, Juan Castillo is scheduled to be put to death for the robbery and murder of 19-year-old Tommy Garcia, Jr. in December 2003 in San Antonio. During the punishment phase of his trial, Castillo fired his attorneys and represented himself; he made no final argument to the jury. In 2007, Castillo tried to appeal his sentence based on insufficient evidence, faulty testimony, and the unconstitutionality of the death penalty. The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals rejected his claims. The S. Supreme Court rejected similar appeals in October 2016.
If it proceeds, Castillo’s execution would be the second out of Bexar County this year; there is one other individual convicted in Bexar County scheduled to be put to death. Bexar County accounts for 43 executions since 1982.

Texas accounts for four out of the ten executions nationwide thus far in 2017. At this time, there are three additional executions scheduled in Texas through July.

Attend a vigil in your community on the day of executions. Information and updates on cases are available on our website and through Facebook and Twitter.

See more from TCADP.

Posted in Death Penalty, General Information. Leave a Comment »

Texas Impact

May 10, 2017 — Rio Texas MFSA

Texas Impact is a statewide religious grassroots network whose members include individuals, congregations, and governing bodies of the Christian, Jewish and Muslim faiths. Texas Impact exists to advance state public policies that are consistent with universally held social principles of the Abrahamic traditions.

Texas Impact accomplishes its mission by developing grassroots networks in local communities and mobilizing them to advocate with their legislators on specific issues. Developing these networks includes a process of broad policy and advocacy education in congregations and denominational bodies; teambuilding in local faith communities; leadership development with key individuals and groups; and coordination with lawmakers, media, and other public interest groups.

Texas Impact was founded on the central religious conviction that religious communities are called to minister to the whole person—to respond with compassion to the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of all people. The Texas religious leaders who established Texas Impact in 1973 believed that such a ministry cannot be performed adequately without a concern for basic social problems at the state government level. http://texasimpact.org/Action-Alerts/May-1-2017

Posted in General Information, Legislation. Leave a Comment »

Support Syrian Refugees with the Music Peace Project

April 29, 2017 — Rio Texas MFSA

Music Peace Project is a nonprofit organization, based in Austin that brings together national and international musicians in order to assist in humanitarian relief around the world. They do this by engaging in local, national and international communities through the art and gift of music (www.musicpeaceproject.org).

In collaboration with Austin’s Wesley UMC Choir, Music Peace Project recorded its first album, Austin for Peace. The album, released on April 1, is comprised of arrangements of song selections that are known and loved worldwide. These songs all have a message of peace. 100% of the net profits will be donated to the International Rescue Committee to aid Syrian refugees. Founded at Albert Einstein’s request, the IRC (www.rescue.org) offers lifesaving aid and solutions to today’s most challenging human crises. The IRC is rated with the highest grades given to a nonprofit organization based on their performance and expenses. Their goal is to sell 2,000 albums and raise $25,000.

According to Esteban Alvarez, President and Co-founder of Music Peace Project, “Perhaps the largest human catastrophe on earth today is the Syrian conflict. Over 12 million people have been either killed or displaced over the past five years.”

Austin for Peace is an album that involves international renowned artists (such as John Patitucci, Ignacio Berroa, Esteban Alvarez, Tamela Hedstrôm, Red Young, to mention a few) as well as local artists (Rabbi Blumofe, James Sheeran, Russell Shores, and some key members of Wesley United Methodist Church) and its mission is to assist the Syrian refugees with shelter, food and medical care. You will find the United Methodist symbol on the album cover.

Please support this very innovative and interesting project that is taking place here in Austin. This is a way you can offer support for Syrian refugees while enjoying good music. Click on these links to listen to songs and watch a short video about the project

Here are two of the songs on the album, My Sweet Lord, and Imagine:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/tcsx41xbdkdwm3q/MySweetLord2_03.mp3?dl=0

https://www.dropbox.com/s/55c77sjauzjjw1j/Imagine3_09.mp3?dl=0

Link to Google Play:

https://play.google.com/store/music/album/Esteban_Alvarez_Austin_for_Peace?id=B4r47pp4tv3agi5h65eochpi4be

A short video on MPP and its mission:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rmYdrV2FbXE

Contact Velvet Hammerschmidt at velveth@v-hdesign.com or Esteban Alvarez at eacmusicjazz@gmail.com if you would like to help support their efforts for humanitarian assistance.

For more information contact MFSA representative Janice Curry at jlcurry@austin.rr.com.

Posted in Advocacy, Refugee Justice. Leave a Comment »

2017 Rio Texas MFSA Peace and Justice Luncheon Flyer

April 4, 2017 — Rio Texas MFSA

Please join Rio Texas MFSA and the Rio Texas Conference Transforming Communities Vision Team at the 7th Annual Peace and Justice Luncheon during the Rio Texas Conference of the United Methodist Church in Corpus Christi on Thursday, June 8. See the registration flyer at: LuncheonRegistration2017

Posted in Advocacy, Chapter Meetings, Church Conferences. Leave a Comment »

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MFSA at the Rio Texas Annual Conference

MFSA Meeting on Thursday, May 11

Judicial Council Rules on Bishop Oliveto

One Human Race

JFON Austin Celebration

Join us on Tuesday, May 30 for a conversation on

the topic of Courage at Unity Church of the Hills.

If you plan to attend, please RSVP

May 30, 2017

Texas Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty

Texas Impact

Support Syrian Refugees with the Music Peace Project

2017 Rio Texas MFSA Peace and Justice Luncheon Flyer

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