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MFSA News
An Advent Vision of Hope for the World
In Advent we anticipate the coming of Christ, who is already with us but whose liberating presence is not yet fully revealed. Early Advent texts vividly portray apocalyptic images, warnings to keep awake, and John the Baptist’s fiery calls to repentance. This year, as we reflect on these texts “with the Bible in one hand and the newspaper in the other” (Barth), they come to life in contemporary scenes of war and slaughter in the Holy Land. Such images, together with mass shootings, persistent injustices, and climate breakdown, make clear the violence and destructiveness of what Walter Wink called “the domination system” and Marcus Borg calls “the normalcy of civilization.”
Seeking God in a Time of Genocide
This is how the “Christmas story” ends (in Matthew), with the death of every male child in Bethlehem. Amidst the exaltations of “Peace on Earth” and “Hosanna;” the gifts of the magi, and the elation of the shepherds, it is easy to miss the devastating political situation that surrounds the birth of Jesus.
The story (in Luke) begins with a pregnant teenager forced to give birth far from home due to the whims of an Emperor. It ends with the holy family fleeing as refugees to Egypt and a massacre against the children of Bethlehem.
Help Support Our Justice-Seeking Work
Over the last 116 years, Methodist Federation for Social Action (MFSA) has strived to uphold the core values of the Christian and Wesleyan tradition, values that compel us to seek justice, promote equity and equality, and embody love and compassion in our church and our world.
Introducing MFSA’s Organizing Associate
Hello! My name is Takundanashe Chinogwenya, and I am the new Organizing Associate at the Methodist Federation for Social Action (MFSA). I am from Harare, Zimbabwe. Currently, I am a second-year Master of Divinity, Social Justice Advocacy student. My passion lies in social justice advocacy, especially environmental justice, food justice, and racial and gender equality. I strive to be a defender of the vulnerable and marginalized members of society, as is the Christian mandate.
Reading Banned Books as An Act of Resistance
My parents used to joke that my second home growing up was my hometown’s public library. When I learned to ride my bike, I spent my summer vacations waiting for the library to open so I could ride my bike there and spend the whole day reading in the children’s room. I signed myself up for every single program. At the end of the day, I would pack my bags with whatever books I could carry home on my bike. My hometown’s library was the catalyst for me to learn about new places outside of my small town in Indiana. I dreamed about travel, living in big cities, meeting new people, and making a difference in the world, all thanks to the magical worlds that books transported me to. That’s the library's power—it can transport you to new worlds and experiences.
Tribute to Bishop Melvin Talbert
Bishop Melvin Talbert died on August 3rd at the age of 89. One of seven children born to sharecropper parents in rural Louisiana, he was ordained a pastor in 1963 into a segregated Methodist church. He was elected and served as bishop of The United Methodist Church from 1980 until the year 2000.
Peace, Justice, Unity, Love: Opening Message from East Ohio MFSA Chapter Program
On January 21, 2023 the East Ohio Chapter of MFSA presented a program entitled “SEEKING PEACE with JUSTICE…In Our Time.” This event was an enriching and challenging event for Lay and Clergy who seek to find ways to implement the totality of Jesus’ message concerning justice issues.
You can find the opening message by Rev. Dr. Jack Jullivan Jr., Executive Director of Ohio Council of Churches, entitled “PEACE: JUSTICE, UNITY, LOVE…” including an overview and the video of the entire message within the article.
A Summer Reflection from Executive Director Bridget Cabrera
I recently had the pleasure of preaching on the feeding of the 5,000 in the book of John at the East Ohio AC gathering of Reconciling United Methodists and East Ohio MFSA. In that sermon, I focused on our need as a Church and a society to move beyond being bogged down by fear and scarcity. The hearts of the people gathered on that mountain were softened and opened even in the midst of all the fear and scarcity that they experienced in their time. The crowd already had everything they needed. They just needed to share what they had instead of hoard it.
The Work of the Wear Orange Campaign Continues
Every day, 120 Americans are killed by guns. During the weekend of June 2-4th, Americans honor the victims and survivors of gun violence by wearing orange. MFSA Board members, staff, and Program Council members participated in the Wear Orange campaign to raise awareness of gun violence within their communities. The work of raising awareness is only one side to advocacy work. We also need to take action. MFSA has put together a list of fives actions that you and your congregations can do today to take action on advocating for gun control within your communities.