Climate justice, human sexuality and Latin America are the UMW studies offered at Mission u 2016.
Those issues are now the subjects of new resources from United Methodist Women. The books will be featured for group study and discussion at Mission u events, United Methodist Women’s transformative education program that convenes in various locations across the country throughout 2016.
The Bible and Human Sexuality by Ellen Brubaker, with a participant’s guide by M. Garlinda. Burton, invites readers and study group members to explore the complexity of the biblical text and varied understandings of it in light of human sexuality. It examines the influence of theologians and church leaders throughout thousands of years of Judeo-Christian history. Finally, it considers the influence of family systems, heritage, and changing gender roles, along with the impact of race, class, age, ethnicity, and orientation and how we were raised and instructed in our Christian faith. The good news, Brubaker says is that human sexuality “is part of who we are as human beings, created by God and called good.” Sexuality, at its best, is a divine gift meant to enhance and strengthen relationships and draw us closer to our intimate partners, she explains.
Climate Justice: A Call to Hope and Action, edited by the Rev. Pat Watkins, features essays by leading faith-based environmental justice advocates. The book invites readers to understand climate justice, to seek the right relationships with one another and the earth, and to identify that the two are key when working toward climate justice for all. Watkins, a United Methodist clergyperson and missionary, explains this concept in his introduction to the book: “Climate justice means setting right our relationships with each other and the earth, and the deeper we dig, the more we realize that we cannot do one without the other.”
Latin America: People and Faith is the geographic study written by Serna Samuel, a missionary serving in the Caribbean. Its pages present life and cultural richness from pre-Colombian civilization through the 21st century. From the struggle for independence to an exploration of the current challenges of the nations, the ongoing contributions of women is the theme. The role of religion is also woven throughout the chapters and will help the reader understand how Latin America has been influenced by various faith traditions. Photos by missionary Paul Jeffrey offer a glimpse of the work of The United Methodist Church in the region.
Joining Voices for Climate Justice: A Study for Youth by Jay Godfrey, will help youth approach the issue of climate change as both a justice and faith issue. Populations, communities, and countries least responsible for the carbon emissions that drive climate change are disproportionately impacted by it, compounding the injustices surrounding this issue. At the heart of the book are the voices of five individuals from such communities who encounter climate justice issues in a variety of contexts.
God’s Extravagant Garden: A Children’s Study on Climate Justice by Pat Hoerth provides a learning experience for children ages 5-12 in four sessions. Children are encouraged to learn more about God’s creation through firsthand experiences during each of the sessions. Every encounter leads them into a deeper understanding and appreciation of the delicate balance of the environment and how our actions impact others. Children can develop their own action plans for caring for God’s extravagant garden where they live.
Mary Cheng, director of transformative education for United Methodist Women, said “These studies encourage us to delve deeper beyond vitriolic media sound bites, to engage our understanding of Scripture, to uncover the lived experiences of those most impacted by these issues, and to invite us into a space of respectful conversation with others.”
2016 Michigan Mission u coming:
- July 14-16 Albion College, WMC
- July 16, Erie UMC, DC, includes the youth study
- Aug. 18, Lake Huron Retreat Center, DC, includes a Children’s Study
- Aug. 19-20, Lake Huron Retreat Center, DC
- October 17-18, Gaylord UMC, School of the North, Area
Registration information can be found in the Spring edition of West Michigan Highlights and the Detroit Conference UMW Mission u flyer.
Last Updated on January 11, 2023