Toward Justice
By The Justice Network
www.justicenetworkfmc.org/toward-justice
Toward JusticeJul 10, 2023
GC23 Resolution on Dignity and Worth of Persons - Sexual Orientation: Rev. Derik Heumann and Elijah Drake
The Free Methodist Church is committed to the dignity and worth of all humans and articulates its view in the Book of Discipline, but what does that mean in terms of LGBTQ persons? Listen in as FM Elder Marissa Mattox-Heffernan discusses a resolution to include the words "sexual orientation" into the Book of Discipline, with FM Elder Derik Heumann and Asbury Seminary student and Conference Ministerial Candidate Elijah Drake.
Click the following link to read about all of the proposed GC23 resolutions: https://www.gc23.org/resolutions
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https://www.justicenetworkfmc.org/toward-justice
GC23 Resolution on Capital Punishment: Rev. Dr. Bruce N. G. Cromwell
Should Christians, specifically Free Methodist, reject the death penalty (capital punishment) and actively work to urge its elimination from all criminal codes? In this episode, Rev. Marissa Heffernan discusses with Rev. Dr. Bruce Cromwell the resolution submitted by the FM Study Commission on Doctrine, written by Rev. Cromwell, on the principles underlying this resolution and the realities of criminal justice in the U.S.
Click the following link to read about all of the proposed GC23 resolutions: https://www.gc23.org/resolutions
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https://www.justicenetworkfmc.org/toward-justice
GC23 Resolution on our Criminal Justice System: Rev. Dr. Benjamin D. Wayman and Dr. Kent Dunnington
The Free Methodist Study Commission on Doctrine is encouraging Free Methodists to pursue criminal justice reforms that "recognize and protect the dignity of all persons." In this episode, Rev. Marrissa Heffernan discusses the biblical foundations of this position with authors Dr. Ben Wayman and Dr. Kent Dunnington and the different types of justice (retributive, restorative, procedural, and economic) and the alignment with Christian worldview.
Click the following link to read about all of the proposed GC23 resolutions: https://www.gc23.org/resolutions
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https://www.justicenetworkfmc.org/toward-justice
GC23 Resolution on Creation Care: Dr. Howard Snyder
In this episode, Rev Marissa Heffernan interviews Dr. Howard Snyder about the resolution put forth by the FM Study Commission on Doctrine regarding creation care and the affirmations affirming the goodness of God’s creation, the value—physical, emotional, social, and spiritual—of engagement with it, and our responsibility to care for it as an integral part of our Christian discipleship and God’s Creation mandate . Click the following link to read about all of the proposed GC23 resolutions: https://www.gc23.org/resolutions
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https://www.justicenetworkfmc.org/toward-justice
A Multicultural Church: A Conversation
Hear this discussion with Marissa Mattox Heffernan, Eric Logan, and Dr. Michael Traylor as they follow up on the last episode (featuring Benjamin Robinson) as they talk through the vision of the multicultural church and racial issues.
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https://www.justicenetworkfmc.org/toward-justice
A Multiethnic Church: Benjamin Robinson
Benjamin Robinson was born and raised in Oakland, California, surrounded by the seductions of the inner city. But early in his life, God set him apart by calling him to the ministry when he was eleven years old. From that day forward, he had one dream: to preach the gospel around the world before multitudes of people. In 2004 he and his wife, Sunhee, planted Lineage Church out of a deep sense of calling to raise up sons and daughters who burn to see Jesus, reflect his glory and enlarge his kingdom. With this as their core passion, the Robinsons travel the world, reproducing the revelation that God has placed in them in other pastors and churches, and establishing the body of Christ in truth wherever they go. They have a 13-year-old daughter named Alethia, and they reside in Concord, CA.
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Racial Trauma and Healing: Gina Elliott
On this episode, join us as we hear Dr. Gina Elliott explain racial trauma and how find healing. Gina Elliott is a semi-retired speech-language pathologist who holds a Doctor of Theology in Christian Counseling. She has been doing workshops and trainings for the past two years on the topic of Racial Trauma and Healing. She has also taught on the topics of Inner Healing and The Relationship between Emotional Development and Spiritual Maturity, focusing on root issues of the heart that prevent Christian growth.
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https://www.justicenetworkfmc.org/toward-justice
Buried Seeds: Alexia Salvatierra
Rev. Dr. Alexia Salvatierra urges listeners towards principles of the past that can be reclaimed and reused in order produce vibrant and authentic minority-led Christian communities. Rev. Dr. Salvatierra is the Academic Dean of the Center for the Study of Hispanic Church and Community at Fuller Theological Seminary and Assistant Professor of Integral Mission and Global Transformation. She is the co-author Faith-Rooted Organizing and Buried Seeds, as well as a Lutheran Pastor with over 40 years of experience in congregational (English and Spanish) and community ministry.
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https://www.justicenetworkfmc.org/toward-justice
Mercy to Justice: Alexia Salvatierra
In this episode, Rev. Dr. Alexia Salvatierra elaborates on the journey from mercy to justice and how the entire church body needs to be engaged in God’s mission, while also highlighting the spiritual gift of justice. Rev. Dr. Salvatierra Academic Dean of the Center for the Study of Hispanic Church and Community at Fuller Theological Seminary and Assistant Professor of Integral Mission and Global Transformation. She is the co-author Faith-Rooted Organizing and Buried Seeds, as well as a Lutheran Pastor with over 40 years of experience in congregational (English and Spanish) and community ministry.
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https://www.justicenetworkfmc.org/toward-justice
Interview with Jon Sato
Listen in to our interview with Jon Sato as he shares more of his experience of the Free Methodist Church and his vision for the future.
Sato is the Superintendent of the Free Methodist Church in Southern California Conference. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Azusa Pacific University, a Masters of Divinity from Azusa Pacific Graduate School of Theology, and a Masters in Business Administration from Boston University. Jon has been married to his wife, Jenn, since 2013 and they have three daughters; Adeline, Charlotte, and Eleanor.
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https://www.justicenetworkfmc.org/toward-justice
My Experience with the Free Methodist Church: Jon Sato
Jon Sato shares his experience with and assessment of the Free Methodist Church while also calling his denomination towards its God-given identity.
Sato is the Superintendent of the Free Methodist Church in Southern California Conference. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Azusa Pacific University, a Masters of Divinity from Azusa Pacific Graduate School of Theology, and a Masters in Business Administration from Boston University. Jon has been married to his wife, Jenn, since 2013 and they have three daughters; Adeline, Charlotte, and Eleanor.
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https://www.justicenetworkfmc.org/toward-justice
Pain and Suffering in the Body: Soong-Chan Rah
Join us as we hear Dr. Soong-Chan Rah share about why we need more lament, especially as it relates to acts of justice by the body of Christ.
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Justice Summit Preview
Eric Logan and Kathy Callahan-Howell preview our upcoming Summit, happening in Asuza, California September 8-10, 2022.
To register for in-person or virtual attendance of the Justice Network Summit, visit: https://www.justicenetworkfmc.org/justice-summit
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https://www.justicenetworkfmc.org/toward-justice
Vision and Challenges with Fraser Venter
Rev. Dr. Fraser Venter, the FMC's new strategic catalyst for Love-Driven Justice, is interviewed and lays out the vision and challenges related to his newly created position. Venter is the Free Methodist Strategic Catalyst for Love-Driven Justice and in this position he will encourage FMCUSA conferences, churches, networks, pastors and leaders to both know and demonstrate God’s heart for justice. Before accepting this new role, he served as Lead Pastor of Cucamonga Christian Fellowship for 25 years, a multi-site and multi-lingual congregation. In addition to his former pastoral role in the Rancho Cucamonga area, he also served as one of the Southern California Free Methodist Superintendents.
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https://www.justicenetworkfmc.org/toward-justice
If We Were Free, Part II: Amelia Cleveland-Traylor
In this episode we ask some follow-up questions to Rev. Dr. Amelia Cleveland-Traylor concerning what has transpired since she issued her challenge about freedom and pondered what true freedom would look like in the church. Rev. Dr. Cleveland-Traylor is a obstetrician/gynecologist and the current chair of the Free Methodist Board of Administration Diversity and Justice Committee. She has previously served as a pastor and superintendent.
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If We Were Free: Amelia Cleveland-Traylor
Rev. Dr. Amelia Cleveland-Traylor shares her perspective as a woman of color in the church and reflects on how it would be different if we were not afraid. Rev. Dr. Cleveland-Traylor is a obstetrician/gynecologist and the current chair of the Free Methodist Board of Administration Diversity Committee. She has previously served as a pastor and superintendent.
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Pastors of Color Panel
In this episode we will hear a panel of clergy women of color discussing the barriers they have encountered. The panelists, Rev. Dr, Amelia Cleveland-Traylor (an obstetrician/gynecologist and the current chair of the Free Methodist Board of Administration Diversity Committee), Soo Ji Alvarez (pastor of The Avenue, a Free Methodist Church in Riverside, CA), Marianne Peña (recently moved to Houston, TX to start a new work) and Marissa Mattox Heffernan (Discipleship Pastor at New Hope Free Methodist Church in Rochester, NY) offer up this critical conversation about the experiences of women in the church.
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The hiSTORIES That Shape Us: Junia Howell
Dr. Junia Howell, Ph.D, discusses how we remember history and its effects on our present realities. Howell, a member of Cincinnati's Winton Community Free Methodist Church, is an urban sociologist and race scholar who researches how federal housing and disaster policies impact racial inequality. Her work is routinely featured in national news outlets, cited in congressional hearings, and used as justification for congressional bills and White House initiatives.
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Subversive Witness: Dominique DuBois Gilliard
Dominique DuBois Gilliard is the Director of Racial Righteousness and Reconciliation for the Love Mercy Do Justice initiative of the Evangelical Covenant Church. In this talk he uses the principles from his book Subversive Witness: Scripture’s Call to Leverage Privilege to demonstrate how Biblical characters demonstrate justice and mercy.
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A Methodist Ethic of Justice: Jaymes Lackey
Jaymes Lackey, a pastor from The Table Church in Oroville, California, describes a Methodist ethic of justice and challenges a people called Free Methodist to live into their historic gifts and convictions. Jaymes, who comes from a background of poverty and has a fresh perspective to share, journeys back to examine John Wesley and discovers that Wesley preferred acts of justice and mercy to piety.
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The Justice Network Origin Story
Listen to Katherine Callahan-Howell and Joshua Canada, both co-chairs of the Justice Network Board, as they tell the origin story of the Justice Network and the reason for its mission to "extol and deepen the Free Methodist Church’s historic commitment to oppose oppression and restore God’s wholeness to those who have been disenfranchised both in society and within the church."
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