WASHINGTON, DC – After 18 months of strategic reflection and visioning, the Methodist Federation for Social Action (MFSA) has reactivated its search for an executive director and announced plans to move its office from the nation’s capital to Detroit, Mich.
A Jan. 29 press release from the organization said the 110-year-old social justice network seeks an executive who can “lead MFSA in its purposeful work of dismantling white supremacy within the organization, the church, and the world.”
“We believe God is about to bring someone to this role who is passionate and prophetic,” said MFSA Board member, Rev. Lydia Muñoz. “MFSA’s mission is to mobilize, lead and sustain a progressive United Methodist movement, energizing people to be agents of God’s justice, peace and reconciliation. We are eager to find the next leader to join us on this journey.”
For the past 18 months, guided by the leadership of an intentional interim director, Deaconess Darlene DiDomineck, the Board of Directors and Program Council have been on a journey of strategic reflection and will be refocusing their work on grassroots intersectional organizing as well as antiracist analysis and intervention within the progressive United Methodist movement.
“Any organization, agency or entity that claims a connection to the gospel cannot be faithful without serious self-examination, repentance and re-commitment,” shared Rev. Vicki Flippin, Co-President of the MFSA Board. “As a historically white dominant organization, we can and will be more accountable to people of color and more engaged in advocacy that seeks to confront and dismantle white supremacy in our organization, the church, and communities.”
In June, MFSA will move its offices from Washington, DC to Central UMC in Detroit, MI. This move reflects the organization’s commitment to creative and collaborative partnerships with local United Methodist churches and community-led grassroots organizing.
In response to questions from United Methodist Insight, Ms. DiDomineck said in an email: “The MFSA offices are currently at the Lutheran Church of the Reformation. We are on Capitol Hill but a few blocks away from the United Methodist Building. We've had a historic witness on national policy for 110 years although our offices have been located in Washington for only the last 20 years. We believe this move will increase our witness by modeling the importance of grassroots activism at the local, state and national level. Central UMC is a sanctuary congregation and a member of the Reconciling Ministries Network. Its witness like MFSA's is intersectional and this move will model our values by recommitting to local church and community-led grassroots organizing.”
“Our move to Central UMC in downtown Detroit embodies our intention to link ever more closely with justice-seeking UM congregations and MFSA annual conference units to confront deeply embedded supremacist-serving practices in church, society, and our very souls,” said Rev. George D. McClain (D. Min.), MFSA Program Council Co-Convener and Executive Director Emeritus.
For more information about MFSA Executive Director Position, email jobs@mfsaweb.org or find the job description and process at this link.