Rio Texas Methodist Federation for Social Action

The Texas Hunger Initiative, Texas Food Bank Network and the USDA Southwest Regional Office are pleased to present Together at the Table: Hunger and Poverty Summit at Baylor University on October 1-3, 2014.

We hope you’ll join the conversation as we hear from leaders from across the country as they share their expertise in addressing poverty, specifically food insecurity, on both a macro and micro-level. Together at the Table is designed to encourage the exchange of ideas and to strengthen partnerships as we move closer toward our goal of ending hunger and poverty together.

Keynote speakers include Robert B. Aiken, Jr., Chief Executive Officer of Feeding America, US Rep. Joaquin Castro, and Suzii Paynter, executive coordinator of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship.

Connections, Temple, TX

Barbara Wendland and her family foundation, The Joe B. and Louise P. Cook Foundation, are supporters of progressive Christianity and the work of the MFSA.  Barbara, a lay United Methodist from Temple, TX, is the author of Connections, a four-page monthly letter. Connections urges church members to take initiative and action to help make their personal lives, the institutional church, and the world more like what Jesus described.

In Connections, Barbara Wendland, a lay United Methodist, is urging church members to:

• Continually reevaluate their religious beliefs, their understanding of God, their understanding of the church’s purpose, and their churches’ effectiveness in carrying out that purpose
• Revise their beliefs and their churches’ methods when new insight or information seems to make revision necessary
• Focus on today rather than yesterday, and on earthly life rather than an unknown afterlife
• Notice how their personal lives, their churches, and their world differ from what Jesus advocated
• Take initiative and action to help make their personal lives, the institutional church, and the world more like what Jesus described
• Talk openly in the church about how the teaching of Jesus may apply to current issues and about how the church needs to exemplify and promote adherence to that teaching.

Barbara has a theology degree, years of personal reading and study about religion and the church, and wide involvement in the church, helping her to see and say what many lay church members can’t. In Connections, Barbara takes on one sacred cow after another. Wendland is saying what many other laity and many clergy would like to say, and she says it clearly in conversational language.

Take a look at her website and sign up to receive Connections free of charge.  http://connectionsonline.org/

Becoming Carbon Positive

The documentary, Becoming Carbon Positive, represents the values and actions of Austin’s faith community in tackling the challenges of climate change.  Clergy and church communities have joined across central Texas, forming the Interfaith Environmental Network to spur awareness and action in reducing their congregational carbon footprint.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JfvICzzqyX0

Free or Affordable

Immigration Legal Services
Clinics

The Austin Region Justice for Our Neighbors (ARJFON) is a not-for-profit legal clinic whose goal is to provide hospitality and compassion by welcoming low-income immigrants through free or affordable immigration legal services, engaging in advocacy for immigrants’ rights, and education to communities of faith and the public.  Immigration Legal Services
Clinics

Legal Clinics will occur the last Saturday of every month at Servant Church, 1605 E. 38 1/2, from 10am-1pm.  There are a variety of ways to volunteer.  Sign up here.

Learn more about ARJFON here

MFSA National E-News Newsletter

http://mfsaweb.org/?page_id=212

MFSA Spring 2014 Progressive Voice is available for download at:

http://mfsaweb.org/wp-content/uploads/TPV_draft_April4(1).pdf

Current Faith in Action from General Board of Church & Society –

http://umc-gbcs.org/faith-in-action

Reconciling Ministries newsletter:  http://www.rmnetwork.org

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!

Historically, we have had eight monthly chapter meetings per year, generally on the second Thursday of the month (this may change in the future).  We communicate using monthly electronic newsletters & updates to our website and Facebook page.

Anthony Graves is a death row exoneree who spent 18 years of his life in prison for something he did not do. He shared his amazing story filled with faith and grace.  More than 230 people attended the luncheon.

Southwest Texas MFSA has sent a letter to 2014 delegates to the Southwest Texas Annual Conference. We will be electing delegates to 2016 General Conference this June. We have invited delegates to come by our vendor booth for conversation and to attend our Peace and Justice Luncheon. We wanted delegates to know that there are voices in our conference other than Methodist Renewal Movement and the United Methodist Men.

Read the letter here:  Clergy Delegate Letter