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Volume VIII Issue 2
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30 January 2013
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Greetings!
This past week seems to have been filled with news from the justice-world. This past Saturday, I walked with thousands of citizens calling on President Obama and Congress to take measures to decrease gun violence. In a few weeks, a similar protest will hold the White House accountable to promises made to curb climate change. These are issues that affect people of faith; these are issues that affect our humanity and our planet.
 One justice issue has made headlines in The United Methodist Church recently: a recent announcement by the Boy Scouts of America to change its policy on openly gay scouts and troop leaders. Two top executives of United Methodist agencies have applauded this policy change.
As an openly gay man, I hesitate to embrace this new policy because it leaves the decision of inclusion to each local troop. This is only an incremental step towards justice in which thousands of gay youth and adult leaders will still be excluded on the basis of sexual orientation. We must celebrate this step, but recognize that it is only a step towards a greater goal.
Oftentimes, those who make their voices heard, receive negative feed back. I'm asking you to take action - email Jim Winkler at the General Board of Church and Society, and Gil Hanke at United Methodist Men, and thank them for their efforts to bring about change in both Church and world. Then call the Boy Scouts of America (972-580-2330) and say, "I'm a United Methodist, and I encourage the Boy Scouts of America to change their policy against gay scouts and troop leaders." (If your congregation sponsors a troop, you may want to include the troop number in your message).
As I was reminded this past weekend, "Equality is only the starting place on the road to justice." May we continue our work for equality, recognizing that it is only the commencement of a much greater journey.
Grace and peace,  | |
Interim Executive Director,
Methodist Federation for Social Action
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 Go Fizzless for the Super Bowl
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The US Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation has launched the first interfaith nationwide boycott campaign! This week, a coalition of Christian, Muslim, Jewish, and other faith organizations that are part of the US Campaign coalition are starting a joint campaign to Boycott SodaStream! The launch comes just in time for the Super Bowl, during which the settlement product SodaStream will be airing a 30-second ad.
Creative types have developeds poof ads, like the one below, to educate about SodaStream profiting from the Israeli occupation of Palestine.
 | | Sodastream presents...How to profit from Occupation, Oppression and Apartheid |
Finally, if you are the Super Bowl partying type (even if just for the halftime entertainment), make your party "Fizzless for Freedom!" All you need are some chips, dip, computers, and creativity! Click here to learn more!
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It's Time to Move #Forward on Climate Change!
|  We've been having glorious 70 degree weather in Washington, DC...in January. Across the world, there have been crippling droughts, devastating wildfires, and Superstorms, not to mention roller-coaster temperatures. It's is clear: we must curb climate change.
At 12 Noon on Sunday, February 17, thousands of Americans will head to Washington, D.C. to make Forward on Climate the largest climate rally in history. Join this historic event to make your voice heard and help President Obama start his second term with strong climate action. MFSA will be participating and we hope you'll join us. Please email mfsa@mfsaweb.org if you'll be attending and want to march with other people of faith! Prior to the march (11am), there will be coffee, water, and restrooms available at the MFSA Office on Capitol Hill. Recognizing that many will not have the opportunity to worship on Sunday morning, we'll have a short time of devotion together before heading to the National Mall. |
NC Chapter Celebrates a Successful Jack Crum Conference
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The North Carolina Chapter of the Methodist Federation for Social Action recently held the Jack Crum Conference on Prophetic Ministry. Co-sponsored by a number of community organizations, this conference was a Faith Summit on Children and Poverty. The Rev. J. Herbert Nelson II, director of the Presbyterian Church (USA) Office of Public Witness in Washington, D.C., and the Rev. William Barber, president of the North Carolina NAACP were keynote speakers. Commenting in The Herald Sun, End Poverty Durham's Mel Williams states, "the faith community has much power-spiritual, moral and compassionate power. There is spiritual and physical energy in congregations that can bring significant change in the community. We know that many congregations are already involved in working with the poor. Through the Faith Summit, we hope to invite increased involvement, both in acts of charity and justice." Congratulations to the NC Chapter of MFSA for raising awareness and engaging more than 400 participants in the moving toward greater action! |
Progressive Ponderings
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Justice in the News
Job Postings
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Social Media Corner
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Help MFSA with our February twitter campaign. Beginning February 1 and continuing until Valentine's Day, join MFSA and tell us #whatsonyourheart. It's pretty simple - each morning or evening, just tweet the prayer (personal or communal) and the social media network will hold these prayers.
Example: "Peace in the Middle East #whatsonyourheart @MFSAVoices"
This is a simple way to connect personal and social holiness using social media. Let's keep one another in prayer! (At the end of the campaign, we'll create a cool word cloud to share, too!)
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