The Oregon-Idaho Chapter of the Methodist Federation for Social Action http://www.oimfsa.org an independent movement of progressive United Methodists taking action on issues of Justice, Peace, and Liberation Tue, 08 Jun 2010 06:00:13 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.1 en Recommendations for Annual Conference Legislation http://www.oimfsa.org/2010/06/07/recommendations-for-annual-conference-legislation/ http://www.oimfsa.org/2010/06/07/recommendations-for-annual-conference-legislation/#comments Tue, 08 Jun 2010 06:00:13 +0000 jnelson http://www.oimfsa.org/2010/06/07/recommendations-for-annual-conference-legislation/ At our May meeting, the chapter executive committee evaluated the legislation that will come before the Annual Conference session June 10 - 13. We considered the amendments and recommendations of the Legislative Assembly that met in April and then made our own recommendations. They can be downloaded from here or you can pick up a copy from the MFSA table at the Ministry Marketplace.

]]> http://www.oimfsa.org/2010/06/07/recommendations-for-annual-conference-legislation/feed/ Proposed legislation for 2010 Annual Conference http://www.oimfsa.org/2010/04/05/proposed-legislation-for-2010-annual-conference/ http://www.oimfsa.org/2010/04/05/proposed-legislation-for-2010-annual-conference/#comments Mon, 05 Apr 2010 18:56:38 +0000 jnelson http://www.oimfsa.org/2010/04/05/proposed-legislation-for-2010-annual-conference/ Our chapter has submitted three pieces of legislation for consideration by this year’s conference meeting in Salem June 10 - 13.

Our proposed standing resolutions are:

  • Call to Civility (SR5)
  • National Health Care Reform (SR7)
  • Seeking Peace and Justice in the Holy Land (SR23)

All legislation that has been submitted for this year can be downloaded at this location on the Conference website.

All proposed legislation will be considered by the Legislative Assembly which will be held April 16 - 18 at First UMC in Portland. The assembly is made up of clergy and laity from all 5 districts. Observers are welcome. More information about the Legislative Assembly is available here.

]]> http://www.oimfsa.org/2010/04/05/proposed-legislation-for-2010-annual-conference/feed/ Time to Kill the Death Penalty? http://www.oimfsa.org/2010/03/12/time-to-kill-the-death-penalty/ http://www.oimfsa.org/2010/03/12/time-to-kill-the-death-penalty/#comments Sat, 13 Mar 2010 01:08:02 +0000 jnelson http://www.oimfsa.org/2010/03/12/time-to-kill-the-death-penalty/ The annual Spring Event of the chapter was held on Saturday, March 5. Those who were there came away with new energy to help abolish the death penalty in Oregon. Whether you were there or not, you can learn more in several ways.

Aba Gayle shared her personal story of how murder and the death penalty has impacted her life. You can read her story at this website or you can contact her at abagayle33@aol.comAba Gayle

Naseem Rakha is the award-winning author of The Crying Tree. You can learn more or order a copy of her book at her website.

Clarence Pugh from Oregonians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty presented information about actions we can take. Learn more about OADP at their website.

Since our conference and our chapter have members in Idaho as well as Oregon, we would like to post information about an Idaho group parallel to OADP. Unfortunately, we are not aware of any active group in Idaho working on this issue. If you know of one, please contact us.

]]> http://www.oimfsa.org/2010/03/12/time-to-kill-the-death-penalty/feed/ February newsletter http://www.oimfsa.org/2010/03/10/february-newsletter/ http://www.oimfsa.org/2010/03/10/february-newsletter/#comments Thu, 11 Mar 2010 01:22:41 +0000 jnelson http://www.oimfsa.org/2010/03/10/february-newsletter/ The latest chapter newsletter is now available by clicking on the link here. If you did not receive it in the mail or you want to share it with a friend, this is for you.

Chapter newsletter February 2010

]]> http://www.oimfsa.org/2010/03/10/february-newsletter/feed/ 2010 Spring Event http://www.oimfsa.org/2010/02/23/2010-spring-event/ http://www.oimfsa.org/2010/02/23/2010-spring-event/#comments Tue, 23 Feb 2010 22:03:00 +0000 jnelson http://www.oimfsa.org/2010/02/23/2010-spring-event/ Time to Kill the Death Penalty? That is the theme of the 2010 spring event. The event will be held Saturday, March 6, at First United Methodist Church in Portland. Registration begins at 8:30 am with the event beginning at 9:00. Closing worship will end by 3:00 pm. We will share stories, wrestle with our convictions, and be informed of ways we can work together to abolish the death penalty in the State of Oregon.

Our featured speakers will include Aba Gayle, one whose life was changed forever by a horrific murder in her family, and Naseem Rakha, award-winning author of The Crying Tree. Our opening worship and theological grounding will be led by Rev Lowell Greathouse of Portland First UMC. Clarence Pugh, chair of Oregonians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty, will lead us in a time of discussion of what we can do with what we have learned.

The fee for the day is $25 for MFSA members and $30 for non-members if registered by Feb. 26. After that date the fee is $35. Your registration fee includes lunch. Send your check with the registration form from the brochure to MFSA, PO Box 134, Salem, OR  97308. You can register at the door, but please contact us at jannelson515@msn.com so we can include you in the lunch count.

Spring Event Brochure 2010

]]> http://www.oimfsa.org/2010/02/23/2010-spring-event/feed/ 2010 Chapter Goals http://www.oimfsa.org/2010/02/23/2010-chapter-goals/ http://www.oimfsa.org/2010/02/23/2010-chapter-goals/#comments Tue, 23 Feb 2010 22:01:25 +0000 jnelson http://www.oimfsa.org/2010/02/23/2010-chapter-goals/ In addition to supporting the national priorities of MFSA, the chapter Executive Team has identified several priorities for 2010:

  • Heighten awareness of the issue of abolishing the death penalty and work with the Bishop’s Task Force to promote education and action.
  • Promote just and comprehensive immigration reform.
  • Promote a more just and universal healthcare system.
  • Promote reduction fo defense spending in favor of domestic uses.
  • Grow the membership of our Oregon-Idaho chapter.

We invite everyone to join us in working on these goals.

]]> http://www.oimfsa.org/2010/02/23/2010-chapter-goals/feed/ January Newsletter http://www.oimfsa.org/2008/02/06/january-newsletter/ http://www.oimfsa.org/2008/02/06/january-newsletter/#comments Wed, 06 Feb 2008 21:59:04 +0000 david http://www.oimfsa.org/2008/02/06/january-newsletter/ The January Newsletter is now available for download.  Just click on the link below.  It is a large file, so it may take a few moments to load.mfsa-newsletter-january-2008.pdf

]]> http://www.oimfsa.org/2008/02/06/january-newsletter/feed/ August Newsletter http://www.oimfsa.org/2007/09/12/august-newsletter/ http://www.oimfsa.org/2007/09/12/august-newsletter/#comments Wed, 12 Sep 2007 17:16:07 +0000 david http://www.oimfsa.org/2007/09/12/august-newsletter/ Click here to read the August edition of the Witness newsletter. This is a large file and may take a few moments to load.

]]> http://www.oimfsa.org/2007/09/12/august-newsletter/feed/ New Website http://www.oimfsa.org/2007/08/20/new-website/ http://www.oimfsa.org/2007/08/20/new-website/#comments Mon, 20 Aug 2007 21:48:40 +0000 david http://www.oimfsa.org/?p=3 Welcome to the new website of the Oregon-Idaho chapter of the Methodist Federation for Social Action. This site is still under construction, so have patience with us as we get things going. Thank you.

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