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! |
Gather At The River Workshops Announced!
May 6, 2015 — Rio Texas MFSAWorkshops 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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Rio Texas MFSA and Reconciling Team Offer Scholarships
May 6, 2015 — Rio Texas MFSA|
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. |
First UMC – Austin Celebrates 175 Years
May 6, 2015 — Rio Texas MFSA
| Bishop Mike McKee will preach on Sunday, May 17th, during the celebration of the 175th anniversary of First UMC-Austin. Bishop McKee, a native of Ft. Worth, Texas, attended the University of Texas, Austin, from which he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1973. As a young adult, he worshipped at First Church and volunteered in youth ministry.
He answered a call to ordained ministry and graduated from seminary at Perkins School of Theology, SMU, in 1978. His years of service as a pastor were spent in his home conference, Central Texas, where he served a variety of churches, including fifteen years as senior pastor of a fast growing congregation, First UMC, Hurst, from which he was elected bishop. Following his election, Bishop McKee was assigned to the Dallas area to serve as bishop of the North Texas Conference. |
Events From Equality Texas
May 6, 2015 — Rio Texas MFSA
| The 2nd Annual Contemporary Relationships Conference
Creating Healthy Dating, Relationship, and Family Experiences Within the LGBTQ Community Saturday, May 16 • Austin, Texas • Optional Pre-Conference Institutes on Friday, May 15 Don’t miss your chance to get valuable information on LGBTQ dating, relationships, and family – presented by 32 thought leaders from across the country. The conference is open to LGBTQ singles, those in a relationship, and the allies and mental health professionals that affirm them (6-9 CE credits available). The Equality Texas Foundation is the conference host. The Early Bird registration rate ends April 7th. Find out more at: http://www.contemporaryrelationships.com/
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| Building a State of Equality in Texas
The Spirit of Texas Brunch brings together influential LGBT and ally Texans, speakers, and award honorees for an enjoyable champagne brunch to celebrate diversity! The Brunch is Equality Texas’ annual statewide celebration and an opportunity for you to make an important impact on improving the lives of Texas’ diverse lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) population. Please join us as we say “thank you” to Texas leaders who have worked to advance equality for Texans in their workplaces, families, and communities! All funds raised at the event support Equality Texas’ work toward a state where all Texans are treated equally, with dignity and respect. The 9th Annual Spirit of Texas Brunch |
| While there 20 bills before the 84th Texas Legislature that would subject LGBT Texans to discrimination, the regular session has seen more pro-LGBT bills, filed by more authors, than ever before seen in the history of the body. These 35 bills represent a huge step forward for equality in Texas. Take a look at these bills at:
https://equalityfederation.salsalabs.com/o/35034/content_item/goodbills84th |
Bolz-Weber To Speak At Annual Conference In Houston
May 6, 2015 — Rio Texas MFSA
The Breaking the Silence Dinner at Texas Annual ConferenceFeaturing the 8th Annual John Fellers Lectureship Speaker: REV. NADIA BOLZ-WEBER Monday, May 25, 2015 Dinner begins at 5:00 p.m. Registration Fee: $25 per person Scholarships are available. For information, contact Rev. Glynden Bode at glyndenbode@gmail.com Rev. Nadia Bolz-Weber is the founding pastor of House for All Sinners and Saints in Denver, CO. She is author of Salvation on the Small Screen? 24 Hours of Christian Television and the New York Times best selling theological memoir, Pastrix: the Cranky, Beautiful Faith of a Sinner & Saint. Her writings can be found in the Christian Century, The Lutheran Magazine and Patheos.com. She is an ordained pastor in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). |
Interfaith Action of Central Texas (iACT)
May 6, 2015 — Rio Texas MFSA
Austin’s World Refugee Day Celebration is an annual event which is a collaboration between the Austin Refugee Roundtable and the Bullock Texas State History Museum. The Austin Refugee Roundtable is comprised of the agencies and groups that work with refugees in Austin, and its mission is to make Austin a welcoming community for refugees. Hundreds of people come to the Bullock Texas State History Museum for the World Refugee Day celebration each June. The museum is decked out in colorful world flags, and many participants wear the traditional clothing of their home countries and ethnic groups. The event kicks off with a ceremony in which former refugees who have become eligible for naturalization are sworn in as U.S. citizens. Throughout the day, visitors of all ages engage in educational activities about the refugee journey and enjoy arts and crafts, face painting, storytelling, and games. A professional photographer takes portraits for refugee families to have as keepsakes. The event culminates with live music and dancing by refugee groups and other local performers. The museum makes its exhibits free to the public during the day, and many first-time visitors take advantage of the opportunity to explore. Austin’s World Refugee Day celebration is held each year in June. For information on this year’s event, please check our calendar. |
Texas Coalition To Abolish The Death Penalty
May 6, 2015 — Rio Texas MFSA
The State of Texas is scheduled to carry out one execution this month:
The State of Texas has carried out six executions to date in 2015. Two individuals scheduled to be executed last month – Robert Pruett and Richard Vasquez – received stays. Six people have received stays of execution this year, although the stay granted to Lester Bower by the U.S. Supreme Court has been lifted and his execution rescheduled for June 3, 2015. At this time, no executions have been scheduled past June 18, 2015. Attend a vigil in your community on the day of executions in Texas. Information and updates on cases are available on our website and through Facebook and Twitter. Information and updates on these cases are available on TCADP’s website. |
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Advocacy at the 84th Texas Legislature “The death penalty has worn out its welcome.” That’s the message Anthony Graves delivered to members of the Texas House Criminal Jurisprudence during his riveting testimony last week in support of House Bill 1527. The hearing on HB 1527 – State Representative Jessica Farrar’s abolition bill – took place on Wednesday, April 29, 2015. Anthony went on to tell the committee the death penalty does not work and the fact that he spent 18 years in prison, including 12.5 years on death row, and faced 2 execution dates should concern all of us. MFSA was pleased to hear Mr. Graves speak at our 2014 Annual Conference Luncheon.
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2015 Parliament of the World’s Religions
May 6, 2015 — Rio Texas MFSA|
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Rio Texas Methodist Federation for Social Action 