Social Justice
Participating in advocacy and justice
Advocacy Work
Book Study: All Boys Aren’t Blue
Tuesdays, June 6, 13, 20, 27 | Zoom
As we celebrate Pride this June, join Pastor Brad to discuss All Boys Aren’t Blue: A Memoir-Manifesto. In a series of personal essays, prominent journalist and LGBTQIA+ activist George M. Johnson explores his childhood, adolescence, and college years in New Jersey and Virginia. All Boys Aren’t Blue covers topics such as gender identity, toxic masculinity, brotherhood, family, structural marginalization, consent, and Black joy. Please contact Pastor Brad at brad@fumcaustin.org for additional information. Zoom link sent with registration.
Movie Screening: 42: The Jackie Robinson Story
Saturday, April 15| 2:00-4:30PM | FLC Garrison Chapel
Bring your favorite movie snack and join Pastor Cathy and others to watch the movie, 42: The Jackie Robinson Story. We will watch the movie together before gathering on April 23 to discuss this film as part of our Film Series: Listen. Learn. Laugh. Love. Contact Pastor Cathy with any questions.
Film Series: LiSten. Learn. Laugh. Love.
Sunday, April 23 | 5:00-6:30PM | Stotts Dining Hall, Austin Seminary, 100 East 27th St., 78705
We will conclude this film series with a chance to explore racial justice in the film, 42: The Jackie Robinson Story. In 1947, Jackie Robinson rewrote the future of pro baseball when he broke through the racial barrier to become the first African American MLB player in modern history. Both moving and inspirational, this film follows Robinson’s trials and tribulations as he signs on to the Brooklyn Dodgers.
We will use clips to guide our conversations so participants are invited to watch the full film before we meet. This event is jointly sponsored by First UMC, St. Luke UMC, Westlake UMC, and in partnership with Education Beyond the Walls of Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary.
Bridge Building
Nurturing multigenerational friendships and community partnerships.
Constructive Disruption
Disrupting systems of power to create positive change.
Justice
Working to eradicate injustice for the excluded and marginalized.
Typically, “service” has been interpreted as works of mercy and charity; now we are expanding our emphasis on service to include works of justice. Both are good; both are essential in our culture and in our development as individuals and as the Body of Christ. And in addition to giving of ourselves to these and other works of mercy and charity (love), we believe we are called to works of justice, to go “upriver” to discover the reasons why the homeless are homeless, why the hungry are hungry, why the working poor may hold two jobs but still not have enough money–a living wage–to care for a family of three or four. That’s why we find ourselves in meetings with Austin Interfaith or Texas Impact or the Austin District’s Amos Commission, exploring the issue of homelessness or poverty, or standing with those who have no voice in our system as they ask to be heard in places of power, educating the congregation and others on social justice issues, and encouraging the congregation to participate in advocacy on social justice issues.
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AMOS COMMISSIONThe Amos Commission is a program sponsored by the Capital District of the Rio Texas Texas Conference of the United Methodist Church. The program provides training to members of the congregation so that our members can discern what our faith says about social justice issues and then how to advocate for change where change is needed. |
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Courts & Ports: Faithful Witness on the Texas-Mexico BorderOrganized by Texas Impact and the United States Christian Leadership Organization, Courts & Ports Advocacy Intensive brings pastors and other faith leaders across the International Gateway Bridge to meet with asylum seekers, and to hear from legal and policy experts about the impacts of the Administration’s policies on vulnerable migrants. Most participants had not crossed the US-Mexico border before. |
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INTERFAITH ACTION OF CENTRAL TEXAS (IACT)Interfaith Action of Central Texas participates in organization that fosters cooperation and understanding between different faiths and facilitates interreligious outreach into the community to benefit needy people. iACT sponsors various ESL classes and activities with refugees; CROP Hunger Walk, and; Hands On Housing. |
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Justice for our Neighbors (JFON)Austin RegionJustice for Our Neighbors (ARJFON), a United Methodist-affiliated immigration ministry welcomes refugees and immigrants into our communities by providing free, high-quality immigration legal services, education, and advocacy. As a part of this nationwide effort, ARJFON hosts regular legal clinics to provide affordable immigration legal services to those with limited income. ARJFON’s services are focused on family-based and humanitarian immigration law. |
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RECONCILING MINISTRIES NETWORKThe Reconciling Ministries Network is a movement of United Methodists working for the full participation of all people in the United Methodist Church. The FUMC reconciling ministries team is a sub-team of the social justice team. In addition, the FUMC Adelphi, Genesis, Epiphany, Open Door, Downtowners, and Koinonia Sunday School classes are members of the Reconciling Ministries Network. |
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TEXAS IMPACTFirst United Methodist Church is a member of Texas Impact, a statewide religious grassroots network whose members include individuals, congregations, and governing bodies of the Christian, Jewish and Muslim faiths. Texas Impact exists to advance state public policies that are consistent with universally held social principles. Texas Impact not only advocates on behalf of the weak, but also provides its members, including FUMC, with information on policy issues and effective lessons for advocacy. Those interested can sign up for the Texas Impact e-mail alerts. |
The Methodist Church formally entered into the social justice era in 1908 when the Methodist Episcopal Church adopted the first Social Creed. The creed was primarily a response to miserable working conditions for those working in mines, mills, factories and tenements.
Today, the FUMC Social Justice Team is governed by the United Methodist General Board of Church and Society. The General Board of Church and Society, which was created in 1972, is one of four international general program boards of the United Methodist Church as set out in the UMC Book of Discipline. At that time, the general conference of the United Methodist Church also adopted the church’s first Social Principles, which spell out the church’s position on specific social justice issues.
Today, the Social Justice Team strives to fulfill the mission of the United Methodist General Board of Church and Society through the celebration of Justice Days, educating the congregation and others on social justice issues, and encouraging the congregation to participate in advocacy on social justice issues.
Social Creed
We believe in God, Creator of the world; and in Jesus Christ, the Redeemer of creation. We believe in the Holy Spirit, and we repent of our sin in misusing. Read More.
Social Principles
Preface
The Social Principles are a prayerful and thoughtful effort of the General Conference to speak to the issues in the contemporary world from a sound biblical and theological foundation. Read More.
Preamble
We affirm our unity in Jesus Christ while acknowledging differences in applying our faith in different cultural contexts as we live out the gospel. Read More.
The Natural World
All creation is the Lord’s, and we are responsible for the ways in which we use and abuse it. Read More.
The Nurturing Community
We believe we have a responsibility to innovate, sponsor, and evaluate new forms of community that will encourage development of the fullest potential in individuals. Read More.
The Social Community
We affirm all persons as equally valuable in the sight of God’s sight. We reject discrimination and assert the rights of minority groups to equal opportunities. Read More.
The Economic Community
We claim all economic systems to be under the judgment of God no less than other facets of the created order. Read More.
The Political Community
We hold governments responsible for the protection of people’s basic freedoms. We believe that neither church nor state should attempt to dominate the other. Read More.
The World Community
God’s world is one world. We pledge ourselves to seek the meaning of the gospel in all issues that divide people and threaten the growth of world community. Read More.