August 2020 MFSAVoices
Dear Justice Seeker,
We continue to see the urgency of our work to make broad systemic change. Change that honors the dignity and worth of all people, puts people over money and honors the earth and all her inhabitants. COVID-19 continues to highlight the inequities in our society that has literal life or death consequences. Since 1907, MFSA has been shining a light on injustice and organizing to change it.
You make our collective work possible by your witness for justice every day in your church, community, and Annual Conference. MFSA does not receive any financial support from the United Methodist Church's giving channels. 100% of our budget is funded through your membership dues and your generosity in giving.
Welcome Kenya MFSA!
We are excited to welcome and introduce Kenya MFSA who “sensitize individuals, communities, and the whole nation on justice, peace issues and their respective roles and duties in addressing peace development, human advancement and human rights.” As emphasized by Board Chairperson, Rev. Sammy K. Kagwi, Kenya MFSA is committed to “addressing issues of human rights violations and food relief to mostly immigrant families and refugees” in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.
MFSA and UMKR present two recognized authorities on Christian Zionism, Rev. Drs Stephen Sizer and Munther Isaac. Register and join us on August 12 at 1pm ET to learn about the theology of Christian Zionism and why it is an inaccurate interpretation of Scripture that harms Palestinian Christians and the entire Middle East peace process.
Chapter Highlight - New York MFSA
In June, the New York chapter of MFSA hosted an online forum in response to the murder of George Floyd and other instances of police violence against persons of color. Titled, “Whose Streets? Police, Race and (In)Justice,” the forum featured a presentation by the Rev. Fred Davie, Executive Vice President of Union Theological Seminary in New York and Chair of the New York City Civilian Complaint Review Board.
Ubuntu: George M. Houser and the Struggle for Peace and Freedom on Two Continents
We are pleased to announce the forthcoming publication of Sheila Collins' biography of George M. Houser, a United Methodist minister whose name and groundbreaking work for social justice deserve to be more widely recognized.
George M. Houser, a white American clergyman, was one of the pivotal founders and organizers of movements for peace and racial justice in the 20th century. His tireless and principled activism spanned almost half a century and two continents. As one of the principal interpreters of Ghandism on the American Left, he pioneered as early as the 1940s the repertoire of strategies and tactics that would be taken up later by the modern Civil Rights Movement. Moving on from civil rights he turned toward transnational activism, playing a critical role in support of the anti-colonial movements throughout Africa and, again, pioneering strategies and tactics that, over time, would help, along with the efforts of a vast international network, to bring down the South African apartheid regime.
Sheila Collins’s well-researched biography, Ubuntu: George M. Houser and the Struggle for Peace and Freedom on Two Continents, recounts the events that informed Houser’s life of activism—from his childhood experiences as the son of missionaries in the Philippines to his early grounding in the Social Gospel and the teachings of Mahatma Gandhi. In light of the corruption the U.S. and the world face today, Houser’s story of faith and decisive action for human rights and social justice is one for our time.
Become a Justice-Seeking Community
Justice Seeking Communities intentionally choose "to expand its understanding of the call of the Gospel to be the inclusive, anti-racist/anti-oppressive, justice-seeking, risk-taking Body of Christ." A Justice Seeking Community consists of individuals living out the belief "that to be faithful witnesses to the Gospel of Jesus Christ is to be involved in the transformation of the world." According to these characteristics, many of our communities in MFSA are in fact already justice-seeking.
We encourage you and your church, small group, ministry group, or community to check out the JSC Covenant and consider whether your community is doing the work of seeking justice and will be taking the next step of becoming a Justice Seeking Community.
If your church, small group, ministry group, or community is interested in becoming a Justice-Seeking Community, please click the link and check out the JSC Covenant
Poor People's Campaign Jubilee Policy Platform
As a partner of the Poor People's Campaign, MFSA participated in hosting the June 20, 2020 digital Mass National Poor People's Assembly and Moral March on Washington. Click here to learn more about the event and of what's next in organizing and mobilizing.
Cry For Hope: A Call to Decisive Action
On July 1, 2020, Kairos Palestine and Global Kairos for Justice issued a Cry for Hope: a Call to Decisive Action. "Cry for Hope joins with movements of oppressed peoples around the world in taking a stand against the politics and economics of Empire, a global order of domination manifesting in racial, economic, cultural, and environmental oppression that threatens humanity and all of creation. It calls on churches, ecumenical organizations, concerned advocates from other faith traditions, and partners from all sectors of civil society to undertake these seven actions:
Initiate processes at local, denominational and ecumenical levels that lead to decisive action regarding the denial of Palestinian rights.
Confront theologies and understandings of the Bible that justify the oppression of the Palestinian people.
Support Palestinian resistance, including Boycott Divestment and Sanctions and direct political advocacy.
Demand that governments and world bodies employ political, diplomatic and economic means to stop Israel’s violations of human rights and international law.
Oppose equating criticism of Israel with anti-Semitism.
Support initiatives between Israelis and Palestinians and interfaith partnerships that oppose apartheid and create opportunities to work together for justice and equality.
Come and see the reality in the Holy Land to stand in solidarity with grassroots initiatives for a just peace.
Now's the Time for Action
Now is the time to continue to push for broad systemic change, whether that looks like filling out the 2020 U.S. Census or contacting your lawmakers! Here are a few ways you can step up and seek justice in these uncertain and difficult times:
In July, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte signed the Anti-Terrorism Law, a law that gives Duterte and his government access and legal grounds to suppress democracy and activists. Duterte's government is currently targeting and trying to silence the voices of the Philippine people and activists by trolling them on social media by finding them with the hashtag criticizing the unjust law: #JunkTerrorBill. Take action and stand in solidarity by sharing this statement and this hashtag #JunkTerrorBill.
It has been more than 4 months since the killing of Breonna Taylor, and the individuals involved in Taylor's death have yet to be held responsible. Demand action and justice for Breonna Taylor by signing the petition: #JusticeForBre
Sign the petition and join Palestinian Cry for Hope: a Call to Decisive Action, a global movement set by Kairos Response that "rouses churches to action and awakens civil society to the reality of Palestinian suffering."
Grow in your personal learning or as a community with a group study by taking advantage of free online university courses on systemic racism.
Use your voice, and vote in this November's election. Click here to make sure you're a registered voter, and check your state's election site for specific instructions on any changes to when, where, and how you can vote this year.
The Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe is currently facing the potential loss of what is left of their homelands, land that the People of the First Light have occupied for over 12,000 years, due to a recent decision made by the Bureau of Indian Affairs. The Inter-Ethnic Strategy Development Group (IESDG) has shared a Call to Action opposing the Disestablishment of the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe. Sign the petition to stand with the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe.
The pandemic marginalizes those already most marginalized in society. Host a virtual Card Writing Party to write and mail letters to immigrants in detention via The Casa Mariposa Detention Visitation Program.
Call your legislators (202-224-3121) and advocate for permanent federal paid sick leave, expanded unemployment benefits, SNAP increases, and a moratorium on evictions, utility shut-offs, and payments.
Complete the 2020 Census. It literally takes up 10 minutes of your time, but it will define public policies for the next 10 years.
So much of this country is in an economic free-fall in response to COVID-19 while many Americans were already at rock bottom before the virus hit. Use your voice and sign the petition calling on Congress for a moral response to COVID-19. The current legislation doesn't do enough to address the extent of the crisis (universal health care, living wages, worker protection, adequate income, and anti-poverty programs to name a few).
In Case You Missed It
Click here for the recording of MFSA and UMKR's webinar on Responsible Tourism in the Holy Land and additional resources.
Click here to get the recording of the MFSA and UMKR's joint call on the Israeli annexation of Palestinian land and a list of action items you can take to actively oppose the apartheid in Palestine and Israel.
Click here to watch MFSA and UMKR's joint call highlighting three Methodist Mission Workers and their experiences of COVID-19 in Palestine
An article on MFSA and ICHRP's joint call on the impacts of the Coronavirus in the Philippines.
While many states have begun to end sheltering in place orders and Trump is encouraging churches to open their doors for in-person worship, we continue to encourage you to do no harm. Many states and politicians are encouraging churches to open and worship in person. We continue to urge you to act with an abundance of caution and care for your community. We know that enclosed spaces are not safe to gather and the virus can be spread more easily by singing.
We believe that the church has an obligation to remain faithful and act with love, and in this time of pandemic, to act with love is to stay home and save lives. Closing the physical church doors does not mean that the church is closed. The Body of Christ does not dissipate because we cannot congregate together physically.
We at MFSA encourage you to be a witness and a good neighbor. Please continue to do your part in flattening the curve by practicing physical distancing and worship from home.
#MFSAVoices #JusticeSeeking #StayHomeSaveLives
