Mike DuBose Photo by Mike DuBose, UM News
Vaccine access
Walter Hand III receives a COVID-19 vaccination from EMT Archie Coble during clinic at St. Mark’s United Methodist Church in Charlotte, N.C. The United States is well on its way to having 70 percent of the population vaccinated against COVID-19, but developing nations are having a much harder time gaining access to vaccines. The International Association of United Methodist Schools, Colleges and Universities is calling for vaccines to be more readily available worldwide. (Photo by Mike DuBose, UM News.)
Since the Crisis Watch column began over a year ago, we’ve emphasized the importance of fulfilling our baptismal vows as Christians as a way to respond to the many social inequities uncovered by the coronavirus pandemic.
Now, Discipleship Ministries has developed an ongoing webinar to help United Methodists learn how to engage their communities to bring about genuine, lasting social change.
In a press release on the Discipleship Ministries website, Bryan Tener writes:
“Events over the last year and a half have continued to highlight systemic inequality and poverty that are perpetuated by power structures of politics and economics. From access to adequate health care, to financial hardships, to racial injustice – the challenges that we face are daunting and can be overwhelming. But as followers of Christ, we trust in God’s life-giving good news that is proclaimed in the cross and Resurrection and that makes itself known in tangible ways as lives and communities and creation are transformed to be more like the beloved community.”
The faith and intention expressed in this paragraph alone gives us hope that the new course, “Engaging the Community for Social Transformation,” will equip disciples both to foster social change and help to integrate the idea that following Jesus requires both personal piety and social holiness, as Methodism’s founder John Wesley taught the earliest Methodists. No longer are social engagement and personal faith devotion to be separated from one anoher.
The first webinar June 24 will feature Dan Billingsley, Chief Strategy Officer at Community Service Council in Tulsa, Oklahoma. According to Tenner’s aannouncement, “Dan has twenty-two years of experience in the non-profit world with the focus areas of institutional advancement, leadership positioning, and public policy change in community services, education, and the arts as well as in diversity, equity and inclusion, mental health, and civic engagement. With a strong faith background, Dan offers insight from a non-profit lens on how the local church can engage the community and build relationships in ways that bring about tangible change.”
The webinar series will be offered monthly through the end of 2021 at 11 a.m. Central Time. Dates are June 24, July 22, Aug. 19, Sept. 23, Oct. 28, Nov. 18, and Dec. 16. There is no charge for the training. Click here to register.
Recommended Reading: IAMSCU Declaration on Global Vaccine Equity
From UM & Global:
“While the United States is quickly reaching the point of having inoculated as many adults against the COVID-19 virus as are willing and able to get vaccinated, in many countries, especially in the developing world, access to COVID-19 vaccines remains very limited. Thus, there is a significant vaccine inequality between wealthy nations and developing nations. This inequality presents a host of moral, ethical, political, and public health challenges.
“One Methodist group has now responded to that vaccine inequality by issuing a statement calling for greater access to COVID-19 vaccines around the world. IAMSCU, the International Association of Methodist Schools, Colleges, and Universities, along with the Ecumenical Consultation on Protocols for Worship, Fellowship, and Sacrament, Candler School of Theology at Emory University, and the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry of The United Methodist Church, has issued a "Declaration on Global Vaccine Equity." The statement calls on Methodist-related college, universities, and health institutions to work with government and other partners to accelerate global access to vaccines.
“In addition to the IAMSCU statements, Bishop Ivan Abrahams, General Secretary of the World Methodist Council, has signed on to a joint statement with other world faith leaders calling for more equitable access to vaccines and health care, both with regard to the current COVID pandemic, but also extending into other areas of public health.”
Focus on relationships and resources
The COVID-19 pandemic has taught an important lesson to two United Methodist churches in Lafayette, Ind.: ministry today should focus on relationships and resources; in other words, value people over programs. Read Jessie Schmit’s story on the Indiana Annual Conference website to learn more.
Sign Up for Webinar on Critical Race Theory
Here is Texas and also north of us in Oklahoma, the teaching of “critical race theory” has been banned in public schools. These short-sighted laws make it difficult for young people to get a full picture of the impact that racism has had on the United States. To understand the situation better, join PRRI and Religion News Service on Wednesday June 9 at 7:00 PM for a conversation between PRRI CEO Robert P. Jones and Kristin Kobes Du Mez, author of Jesus and John Wayne: How White Evangelicals Corrupted a Faith and Fractured a Nation. Jones, the author of White Too Long: The Legacy of White Supremacy in American Christianity, and Du Mez will be joined by Adelle M. Banks of Religion News Service, who will moderate the discussion.
Media Mentions as of June 3, 2021
Tulsa pastors honor ‘holy ground’ 100 years after massacre – Peter Smith, The Associated Press
The meaning of Tulsa – Cheryl Townsend Gilkes, Religion News Service
3 Documentaries You Should Watch About The Tulsa Race Massacre – NPR
Hundreds gather at historic Tulsa church's prayer wall – Religion News Service
Opinion: It was much more than Tulsa – by Eugene Robinson, Washington Post*
From grandfather to grandson, the lessons of the Tulsa race massacre – by Gregory B. Fairchild, The Conversation
100 years later, Black church leaders seek reparations for Tulsa massacre – Religion News Service
Shot 55 years ago while marching against racism, James Meredith reminds us that powerful movements can include those with very different ideas – by Aram Goudsouzian, University of Memphis, The Conversation
Taking a stand; Holston Conference UMW adopts policy for racial equality – The Daily Times
How a faith-based conservative group you've never heard of is impacting American politics – Deseret News
Understanding QAnon’s Connection to American Politics, Religion, and Media Consumption –Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI)
How George Floyd finally made us see the link between systemic racism and colonialism – Religion News Service
Study: More churches closing than opening – Religion News Service
Gift from 'an angel' gives hope to small church – Bristol Herald Courier
*Paid subscription required
Cynthia B. Astle serves as Editor of United Methodist Insight, which she founded in 2011.