How does the Christian

doctrine of grace relates to

prophetic discipleship?

Prevenient Grace

Justifying Grace

Sanctifying GraceHow does the

Christian doctrine of

grace relates to prophetic

discipleship?

Prevenient Grace

• God’s mercy goes before us.

Justifying Grace

• Through God’s mercy we are justified.

• This is what God has done for us.

Sanctifying Grace

• What God does in us.

What is DIKAIOMA?

“A ministry that runs parallel with diakonia is the church’s activity asadvocate for justice and peace. It is what the New Testament callsdikaioma, which literally means ‘a just action’ (cf. 2 Cor. 9:8-15; I John3:10; Rev. 22:11). According to the prophetic tradition, this is the kindof endeavor that is the guarantee of shalom. In worship the churchproclaims the gospel of justice and peace, in communion itdemonstrates its first-fruits, and in dikaioma it incarnates its love. Inthe ministry of justice and peace the church bears witness to thepower and grace of the Kingdom of God as a new order of justice andpeace in the public realm.”(Orlando E. Costas, Liberating News: A Theology of Contextual Evangelization).

What does the Bible say?

Hebrew Testament

Proverbs 31:8-9

Isaiah 1:16-20

Jeremiah 8:8Jeremiah 21:12

Jeremiah 22:3-4, 13-16 Micah 6:8

What does the Bible say?

Christian TestamentMatthew 22:34-40 John 15:9-14 Romans 13:10 I Peter 1:13-16Romans 12:9-21 I Peter 1: 22-23Luke 1:52-53; 6:20; 7:22 I Peter 2: 9-10Luke 4:14-19 I John 3:1-3, 7-11, John 14:15 14-17, 18-19, 23-24

“This love of God, however, is not only something we receive, or something we must praise. It is also something we must imitate, for if God is love, life without love is life without God; and if this is a sharing of love, such as we see in the Trinity, then life without sharing is life without God; and if this sharing is such that in God the three persons are equal in power, then life without such power sharing is life without God.”- Justo González, Mañana: Christian Theology from a Hispanic

Perspective, Traducion mia

Moving Toward Full Participation of Women in the Life of the United Methodist Church

Advocate - on behalf of women & girls Catalyst - for change Monitor - for inclusiveness

You Can …Advocate for…

Inclusion of women in leadership roles in your local church by encouraging their nomination to serve on, and chair, church committees and councils.

Use of gender-inclusive language in printed and spoken word. Most official UMC publications use NRSV translations of the Bible which uses inclusive language about humanity.

You Can …Be a Catalyst or Change Agent by…

Asking, “what are the needs of women in our church and community that are not being met?”

Seek ways to meet these needs and encourage women to participate and lead in these efforts

Examples: Bible study, Fellowship, Day Care, Computer or Job Training, Small Business Workshops, ESL Training, Domestic Violence Awareness, Food & Clothing Pantry

You Can …Monitor for inclusiveness by…

Paying attention to how gender-inclusive language and imagery are used in worship and media. Ex. “brothers and sisters” addressed, “humankind” rather than “mankind”

Compare the number of men and women in leadership & participation in the church. Are women & men represented in all committees and ministries? Who holds the power seats? Chair of Church Council, Finance, Trustees, etc..

You Can …

Be intentional about including

women’s voices and experiences

in the life & ministry of your church!

HOW

BIG

IS THE

HEART

Of the

Texas Annual

Conference?

CAN WE

REACH?

HOW

FAR

HOW

WELL

DO

WE

H E A R?

HOW

FAR

CAN

WE

GO?IS

OUR

PATH?

HOW

LEVEL

HOW

OPEN

OUR

EYES?

ARE

Almost one in five among

non-institutionalized

Americans has

a disability

49.1

Million

People

Of those, half have

disabilities classified

as “severe”

24.1

Million

People

17.5%

of all non-

institutionalized

people

age 15 and over

have a

functional

disability

Read a

newspaper

even with

glasses

Hear a

normal

conversation

Walk ¼

mile

Get

around

outside

the

house

Have one’s own

speech

understood

Climb a

flight of

stairs

Carry

something

as heavy as

a bag of

groceries34.2

Million

People

People 15 & over with

functional disabilities

Texans

who use

wheelchairs

83,638Texans

unable to

read

newspaper

print

117,861

Texans

having

difficulty

reading

newspaper

734,438

Texans with

difficulty

hearing

normal

conversation

670,925

Texans

unable to

hear normal

conversation

56,587

Texans

who use

canes, crutc

hes, or

walkers

216,899

Texans who

are blind or

severely

sight-

impaired

571,000

Texans with

developmental

disabilities

325,000

Texans with

mild to moderate

mental retardation

531,000

The people

who make a

difference

are not the

ones with the

credentials,

but the ones

with the

concern

-- Max Lucado

If one member suffers,

all suffer together with it;

If one member is honored,

all rejoice together with it.

Now you

are the body of Christ …

Very truly, I tell you,

the one who believes in me

will also do the works that I do,

and greater works than these,

because I am going to the Father.

Immigration Reform and Health Care Reform: Where the Two Issue Have Come Together

What is the meaning of the gospel for our time?

"We believe that the resources of creation are God's gift for all people.” (2004 Book of Resolutions, ¶119)

“We affirm all persons as equally valuable in the sight of God. We therefore work toward societies in which each person’s value is recognized, maintained, and strengthened.” (BOD, ¶162.III, The Social Community)

We recognize, embrace, and affirm all persons, regardless of country of origin, as members of the family of God. (BOD, ¶162.III.H – Rights of Immigrants)

Immigration Reform and Health Care Reform: Where the Two Issue Have Come Together

What is the meaning of the gospel for our time?

“We pledge ourselves to seek the meaning of the gospel in all issues that divide people and threaten the growth of world community.” (BOD, ¶165, The World Community)

Immigration Reform and Health Care Reform: Where the Two Issue Have Come Together

VISITING PEOPLE IN LEADERSHIP

Visit with your leaders

How frequently should we visit?

How many people should be in the visit?

How to visit.

Steps to follow when visiting people in leadership. First Step: Make an appointmentSecond Step: PrepareThird Step: The visit

Take the initiative (take the lead).Thank the leader for his/her disposition to meet.Mention to him/her any statement made regarding the issue

for which the meeting was called for.Present briefly the reason for the meeting including the

information that sustains your case.Ask for a concrete action.

Steps to follow when visiting peopleFourth Step: “De-Brief”

Impressions (feelings, hunches)What went well?How did the leader respond to the group visit? What did we learn about the leader?Which should be our next step?Who is going to write the follow-up letter?

Steps to follow when visiting peopleFifth Step: Follow-up after the meetingWrite the letter to the leader.If you made a commitment to do something, do it!Keep your church or caucuses informed about the results

of the meeting. (If necessary) Spread the word, to anyone who would

listen about the results of the meeting (media outlets,other caucuses, etc).

Disability Concerns

“GIANT HEART” located at:The Franklin Institute Science Museum

222 North 20th Street

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103

Statistics: ACCESS TO DISABILITY DATA

http://www.infouse.com/disabilitydata/disability

Thank you to The Reverend Cynthia T. Hinson & Texas Conference

Committee on Disability Concerns, Copyright April 24, 2005