Faith and Race Podcast: Season 1
The Missouri Conference Faith and Race podcast is a great resource for anyone who wants to listen and educate themselves on topics surrounding race. Season one and its curriculum is live and available. Listen and subscribe here: www.moumethodist.org/faithandracepodcast.
Just and Resilient Community Grants
The United Methodist General Board of Church and Society is offering a special cycle of funding called Just and Resilient Communities grants. The public health, economic, and social impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic have affected communities everywhere. These impacts, coupled with discriminatory, violent practices and policies targeting marginalized and vulnerable communities, have compounded injustice and inequity on a range of issues - access to healthcare, criminal justice reform, food security, human dignity and rights, and free and fair elections, to name just a few. Given the scope and urgency of the crises, Church and Society is awarding grants to support United Methodists in building more just and resilient communities. While the goal of each proposal should address structural inequities, the design of the projects should reflect the contextual needs and assets of the community. Applications are being accepted through June 26. Apply at https://www.umcjustice.org/what-you-can-do/grants.
In the aftermath of police killings of unarmed Black people, the bishops of The United Methodist Church today called on all United Methodists to act now by using their voices, pens, feet and hearts to end racism. In a statement released by Council of Bishops President Bishop Cynthia Fierro Harvey, the bishops are urging every United Methodist to reclaim their baptismal vows to resist evil, injustice, and oppression in whatever forms they present themselves. The bishops said they are joining with other church leaders and boards and agencies of the United Methodist Church to add strength to the message that “we will no longer remain silent nor complicit but must act now!” As part of the that pledge, for at least the next 30 days, all United Methodists everywhere are asked to join in prayer at 8:46 a.m. and p.m. for 8 minutes and 46 seconds, the time the officer held his knee on George Floyd’s neck. “Pray for all persons of color who suffer at the hands of injustice and oppression. Pray for our church as we take a stand against racism.” Click here to read the full statement from the Council of Bishops.
