Southwest Texans attend Fort Worth conference

Representatives of at least 10 Southwest Texas congregations attended the Living Faith, Seeking Justice conference Nov. 1-4 in Fort Worth.
Two Southwest Texas United Methodists led workshops at the event, sponsored by the General Board of Church and Society.
Brian Heymans, co-chair of the Amos Commission at University UMC, Austin, and Bill Carter, co-chair of the Austin District Amos Commission, explained how their groups empowered church members to engage public policy issues consistent with the Gospel and United Methodist Social Principles.
More than 50 participants in that session went over a two-month training program for a local congregation interested in forming a commission.
Heymans, chair of the Southwest Texas Conference Commission on Christian Unity and Interreligious Concerns, led a second workshop on how an Amos Commission approaches its task.
More than 650 United Methodists from around the globe attended the Fort Worth meeting.
The Rev. Adam Hamilton, senior pastor of Church of the Resurrection, Leawood, Kan., was keynote speaker. He told of how his congregation used local news outlets to confront the Kansas City area with the realities of a declining inner city.
United Methodist efforts drew wealthy people from the suburbs to commit to helping the
inner city, he said.
The church needs to couple a clear, unequivocal social justice process with a spiritual growth strategy that transforms both individuals and the community, Hamilton said.
The Rev. Harold J. Recinos, professor of church and society at Southern Methodist University, talked about effects of racism on attitudes of Americans concerning immigration and other aspects of community life.
Workshops covered such topics as getting out voters, dealing with injustice arising from catastrophes, economic globalization and hunger.
Wanda Holcombe, Southwest Texas Conference peace with justice coordinator, was co-chair of the Fort Worth event.
Southwest Texas participants came from Asbury UMC, Austin; Bethany UMC, Austin; Simpson UMC, Austin; Trinity UMC, Austin; University UMC; Austin; The Rock UMC, Cedar Park; Grace UMC, Corpus Christi; Manchaca UMC; Pharr UMC; and St. Mark’s UMC, Victoria.