The Free Methodist Church has a rich tradition of caring for the poor, widows, orphans, and foreigners. We have long been able to balance personal holiness with social justice. What, then, should be the biblical response that Free Methodists embody concerning present-day immigration concerns?
Listen to this conversation as FM Elder Chris Kaufman talks with the co-pastors of New Hope Free Methodist Church about the work they are doing in response to immigration issues.
Since the recording of this episode, New Hope FMC has joined in a lawsuit against the United States Department of Justice seeking the dismissal of a lawsuit that it filed against the City of Rochester, New York. On behalf of the city of Rochester, the Ibero-American Action League LLC (Ibero), Third Presbyterian Church, Western NY Coalition of Farmworker Serving Agencies, New Hope Free Methodist Church, and the New York Civil Liberties Union have filed a motion to intervene in the Western District of New York. New Hope FMC and the other organizations have joined the City of Rochester in asking the Court to dismiss the Trump administration’s attempt to strike down decades-old (https://www.democratandchronicle.com/story/news/2025/05/02/rochester-ny-journey-sanctuary-city-started-in-1986/83394491007/#:~:text=Rochester%20was%20first%20designated%20a,with%20new%20language%20in%202017.) sanctuary policies so that it can force Rochester’s police officers to carry out federal immigration enforcement. More information about this case can be found here: https://www.nyclu.org/press-release/new-filing-immigrant-social-services-orgs-faith-leaders-and-the-nyclu-intervene-in-doj-lawsuit-to-defend-rochesters-sanctuary-laws"
For more information about the work and ministry of the Justice Network of the Free Methodist Church, click on the link below:
https://www.justicenetworkfmc.org/
The Free Methodist Church has a rich tradition of caring for the poor, widows, orphans, and foreigners. We have long been able to balance personal holiness with social justice. What, then, should be the biblical response that Free Methodists embody concerning present-day immigration concerns?
Listen to this conversation as FM Elder Marissa Mattox-Heffernan talks with Eric Lintala and Matthew Soerens of World Relief about how the recent executive orders from the current government administration are affecting different segments of our church communities, and specifically how they impact the non-profit advocacy spaces.
For more information about the work and ministry of the Justice Network of the Free Methodist Church, click on the link below:
https://www.justicenetworkfmc.org/
The Free Methodist Church has a rich tradition of caring for the poor, widows, orphans, and foreigners. We have long been able to balance personal holiness with social justice. What, then, should be the biblical response that Free Methodists embody concerning present-day immigration concerns?
Listen in as FM Elder Marissa Mattox-Heffernan talks with Karen González about her experience growing up as an undocumented person in the United States and her current work as a public theologian and writer who seeks to elevate the discourse in the church beyond hospitality to immigrants.
For more information about the work and ministry of the Justice Network of the Free Methodist Church, click on the link below:
https://www.justicenetworkfmc.org/
The Free Methodist Church has a rich tradition of caring for the poor, widows, orphans, and foreigners. We have long been able to balance personal holiness with social justice. What, then, should be the biblical response that Free Methodists embody concerning present-day immigration concerns?
Listen in as FM Elder Marissa Mattox-Heffernan talks with Rev. Milly Silencio about her experience navigating life as an undocumented person in the United States and her current work as the founder of the organization "Hoping Greatly," where she uplifts others through her story of resilience as an undocumented immigrant.
For more information about the work and ministry of the Justice Network of the Free Methodist Church, click on the link below:
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
If you would like to leave a voice message, click the following link: https://anchor.fm/fmcjusticenetwork/message
https://www.justicenetworkfmc.org/toward-justice
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
If you would like to leave a voice message, click the following link: https://anchor.fm/fmcjusticenetwork/message
https://www.justicenetworkfmc.org/toward-justice
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
If you would like to leave a voice message, click the following link: https://anchor.fm/fmcjusticenetwork/message
https://www.justicenetworkfmc.org/toward-justice
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
If you would like to leave a voice message, click the following link: https://anchor.fm/fmcjusticenetwork/message
https://www.justicenetworkfmc.org/toward-justice
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.
If you would like to leave a voice message, click the following link: https://anchor.fm/fmcjusticenetwork/message
https://www.justicenetworkfmc.org/toward-justice
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.
If you would like to leave a voice message, click the following link: https://anchor.fm/fmcjusticenetwork/message
https://www.justicenetworkfmc.org/toward-justice
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.
If you would like to leave a voice message, click the following link: https://anchor.fm/fmcjusticenetwork/message
https://www.justicenetworkfmc.org/toward-justice
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.
If you would like to leave a voice message, click the following link: https://anchor.fm/fmcjusticenetwork/message
https://www.justicenetworkfmc.org/toward-justice
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.
If you would like to leave a voice message, click the following link: https://anchor.fm/fmcjusticenetwork/message
https://www.justicenetworkfmc.org/toward-justice
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.
If you would like to leave a voice message, click the following link: https://anchor.fm/fmcjusticenetwork/message
https://www.justicenetworkfmc.org/toward-justice
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.
If you would like to leave a voice message, click the following link: https://anchor.fm/fmcjusticenetwork/message
https://www.justicenetworkfmc.org/toward-justice
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
If you would like to leave a voice message, click the following link: https://anchor.fm/fmcjusticenetwork/message
https://www.justicenetworkfmc.org/toward-justice
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.
If you would like to leave a voice message, click the following link: https://anchor.fm/fmcjusticenetwork/message
https://www.justicenetworkfmc.org/toward-justice
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.
If you would like to leave a voice message, click the following link: https://anchor.fm/fmcjusticenetwork/message
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.
If you would like to leave a voice message, click the following link: https://anchor.fm/fmcjusticenetwork/message
