February 11, 2022

It is called the “boyfriend loophole.” Our law prohibits domestic abusers from having guns, but only if they have been married to, lived with, or had a child with the victim. It doesn’t prohibit an abusive dating partner from having a gun. This gap in the law is known as the “boyfriend loophole” and has become more and more deadly. The number of homicides committed by dating partners has been rising for three decades, and now women are as likely to be killed by boyfriends as by husbands.

On Wednesday, a bipartisan group announced they had finally reached a deal to renew the Violence Against Women Act, a landmark legislation that expired in 2018. The legislation, however, was unable to pass with a provision that would have closed this “boyfriend loophole.” The National Rifle Association strongly opposed it, threatening to crater the GOP support. And so, women’s lives have been supplanted again, this time by abusive boyfriend’s rights to bear arms.

As a little girl, I was told that I could be and do anything. I know now that that isn’t true. What I have experienced in 37 years could fill a book. And today, an adolescent victim of rape or incest would be unable to terminate a pregnancy in the state of Texas. What’s more, anyone who might try to help a girl in such distress could face prosecution. We live in one of the most progressive countries in the world, and yet, not one of our 46 presidents has been a woman. Women’s Rights, however, are not a political issue. They have to do with justice, equality, and yes, faith.

If we believe that each human being was indeed created in the image and likeness of God as we read in Genesis -- if we remember that Jesus touched, included, and upheld women -- then we know what our sacred calling here is. It is not to protect the rights of the abusive boyfriend to own a gun. Our call is to continue to protect the widow, the orphan, the persecuted, the alien, the abused.

Friends, I know you are tired. We have had so much pain laid at our own doorsteps these past two years that it’s hard to conjure up concern for the other. It is only through Love for the other, however, that we can ever lift ourselves out of darkness and build the kin-dom of God.

Rev. Anna

Ministry Minute
February 4, 2022
 
To my friends who like to feed hungry people,

We have so many new members who are not familiar with some of our long-standing social justice efforts and are probably wondering what this Austin CROP Hunger Walk is all about.  Let me try to explain.  The Austin CROP Hunger Walk is part of bigger effort around the country which includes over 1300 local walks to raise money for Church World Service (CWS) and selected local agencies which reflect the same values as CWS. United Christian Church was the sixth largest fundraiser for the Walk in Austin last year and the Austin Walk is always in the top 10 Walks around the country.

In pre-pandemic times, between 500-1000 people joined together at a selected site - recently Camp Mabry - to walk with folks from 5-7 different religious traditions in a community effort to relieve hunger.  Many years ago, Church World Service began as a way to connect US farmers with surplus crops to hungry people around the world.  Now, they have expanded into all sorts of arenas such as building schools and water wells, teaching people how to grow or raise food/animals, assisting refugees, helping during natural disasters, and much more. In the last few months, they have resettled 5000 Afghan refugees as an approved agency by the US government.  Our Disciples Refugee organizations have assisted them in this goal.  If you would like to learn more about Church World Service, go to https://cwsglobal.org/.

Twenty-five percent of the money raised at the WALK stays right here in Austin and will help our local partners with their missions.  This year’s recipients are Central Texas Food Bank, Refugee Services of Texas, Sustainable Food Center, Manos de Cristo, Bread for All Food Pantry, Hope Food Pantry, and Mt. Olive Baptist Church Food Pantry.  To see videos from some of our local recipients, go to the Austin CROP Hunger Walk YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCT9HZYUiEvSaVWYXRhuQ1XA.  If you would like to see a video about Manos de Cristo and how their dental clinic has adapted during Covid times, go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lM_LS4cpwdM.

We hope to have an in-person Walk at Camp Mabry this year on March 6th with protocols in place to make the Walk as safe as possible during these times.  A decision about the in-person walk will be made in mid-February and will depend on the community Covid levels at that time.  We are offering an open start to reduce crowding, so folks can come and start walking anytime between 1 -2:30 pm.  While some things will have changed about the walk for safety, there will be a new route which goes through a beautifully wooded part of the property and there will be a scavenger hunt designed by First United Methodist Church, refreshments, and RESULTS letter writing.  No matter whether we have the in-person walk or not, all are invited to participate in their own way by walking in their neighborhood park, dancing in your home, practicing your favorite sport, or working on the grounds of UCC like our youth group did last year.  To join our team, go to https://events.crophungerwalk.org/2022/team/united-christian-church-of-austin.  If you would like to go the traditional route with a donation of cash or check, make the check out to Church World Service and write Austin Walk/United Christian Church in the memo line and give it to Diane Baker or any of our team members.  You can also donate through any of UCC’s methods and write “Austin CROP Walk” in the memo line.  Thank you for your support.

Diane Baker
Social Justice Team Lead