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Rio Texas Annual Conference

Open Letter

Rio Texas Annual Conference
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An open letter from Bishop Robert Schnase, the Rio Texas Conference Cabinet, and the undersigned lay and clergy members of the Rio Texas Conference of the United Methodist Church.

June 1, 2022

To Whom It May Concern:

We mourn the recent killings of 21 school children and teachers in Uvalde, Texas; 10 persons at a grocery store in Buffalo, New York; and other similar mass shootings that have occurred before and since. Armed citizens of our country have targeted and torn through too many innocent lives, particularly in schools, communities of color, and congregations of different faiths.

We acknowledge and confess that we have been slow to respond to the suffering of communities of color and to take steps to protect the lives and wellbeing of the most vulnerable among us. We recognize that our national public discourse on gun safety is at a standstill, endangering us all and prompting a narrative that nothing productive can be done. We as United Methodists are not all of one mind on how best to resolve this crisis.

Yet we boldly claim our identity as God’s Pentecost people, formed in love by the Holy Spirit, a power infinitely greater than our own. We claim the vision of our savior, Jesus Christ, who taught, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.” And our hearts ring with the sung prayer that calls us to action: “Save us from weak resignation to the evils we deplore.”

Therefore, we call upon our elected governmental representatives at every level to put the common good above the interests of partisan disagreement and to cooperate on passing measures that will effectively protect our communities from gun violence, including but not limited to universal background checks, “red flag” laws, and regulation of high-capacity magazines and assault weapons.

Furthermore, we call upon all United Methodists of every political perspective to commit themselves to serving as active agents of reconciliation in their local communities. Our life of faith must include fervent prayer that transforms us in love and turns us to serve the world as disciples of Jesus Christ.

Signed,

Bishop Robert Schnase
Rev. Laura Brewster
Rev. Marcus Freeman
Rev. Greg Hackett
Rev. Karen Horan
Rev. Robert Lopez
Rev. Laura Merrill
Rev. Diana Phillips
Rev. Andy Smith
Rev. Kendall Waller


Una carta abierta del Obispo Robert Schnase, el Gabinete de la Conferencia Río Texas y los miembros laicos y clérigos abajo firmantes de la Conferencia de la Iglesia Metodista Unida de Río Texas.

1 de junio de 2022

A quien le interese:

Lamentamos los recientes asesinatos de 21 escolares y maestros en Uvalde, Texas; 10 personas en una tienda de comestibles en Buffalo, Nueva York; y otros tiroteos masivos similares que han ocurrido antes y después. Ciudadanos armados de nuestro país han atacado y destrozado demasiadas vidas inocentes, particularmente en escuelas, comunidades de color y congregaciones de diferentes religiones.

Reconocemos y confesamos que hemos tardado en responder al sufrimiento de las comunidades de color y en tomar medidas para proteger las vidas y el bienestar de los más vulnerables entre nosotros. Reconocemos que nuestro discurso público nacional sobre la seguridad de las armas está estancado, lo cual nos pone en peligro a todos y genera una narrativa del cual no se puede hacer nada productivo. Nosotros, como metodistas unidos, no estamos todos de acuerdo sobre la mejor manera de resolver esta crisis.

Sin embargo, afirmamos audazmente nuestra identidad como el pueblo pentecostal de Dios, formado en el amor por el Espíritu Santo, un poder infinitamente mayor que el nuestro. Reclamamos la visión de nuestro salvador, Jesucristo, quien enseñó: “Bienaventurados los pacificadores, porque ellos serán llamados hijos de Dios”. Y nuestro corazón resuena con la oración cantada que nos llama a la acción: “Sálvanos de la débil resignación a los males que deploramos”.

Por lo tanto, hacemos un llamado a nuestros representantes gubernamentales electos en todos los niveles para que pongan el bien común por encima de los intereses de los desacuerdos partidistas y cooperen en la aprobación de medidas que protejan efectivamente a nuestras comunidades de la violencia armada, incluidas, entre otras, verificaciones universales de antecedentes, leyes de “bandera roja”, y regulación de cargadores de alta capacidad y armas de asalto.

Además, hacemos un llamado a todos los metodistas unidos de todas las perspectivas políticas para que se comprometan a servir como agentes activos de reconciliación en sus comunidades locales. Nuestra vida de fe debe incluir una oración ferviente que nos transforme en amor y nos vuelva a servir al mundo como discípulos de Jesucristo.

Firmado,

Obispo Robert Schnase
Rda. Laura Brewster
Rdo. Marcus Freeman
Rdo. Greg Hackett
Rda. Karen Horan
Rdo. Robert Lopez
Rda. Laura Merrill
Rda. Diana Phillips
Rdo. Andy Smith
Rdo. Kendall Waller

Show your support - sign the letter

 

  • Home/
  • About/
    • The United Methodist Church
    • Nuestra Conferencia
    • Our Conference
    • Our Churches
    • Our Bishop
    • Staff Directory
    • District Directory
  • Resources/
    • Responding to the Dissolution of Sensitive Locations
    • Lighthouse Congregations
    • Anti-Racism
    • Child/Youth Safety Policy
    • Board of Ordained Ministry
    • Leadership
    • Leadership Pool
    • Mission, Service, & Justice Ministries
    • Intergenerational Ministries
    • New People, New Places Grant
    • We are UMC
    • Training
  • News & Events/
    • Obispo Harvey
    • Unidos Online
    • Annual Conference 2025
    • 2025 Appointments
    • 2025 Clergy Convocation Pictures
    • Pictures from Bishop Harvey December 7 Celebration
    • General Conference 2024
    • Pictures from Annual Conference 2024
    • Clergy Convocation 2024
    • May 6, 2023 Special Called Session
    • December 2, 2023 Special Called Session
    • rightstart
    • News
    • Conference Calendar
    • Stories from the Mission Field
    • Videos
    • United Methodist News
    • Employment
  • Bishop's Corner/
  • Ministries/
    • Disaster Response
    • Project Transformation Rio Texas
    • Archives and History
    • Considering a Call to Ministry?
    • Youth Ministry Council
    • Emmaus
    • Campus Ministry
    • Faith Formation Leadership Academy
    • Spiritual Formation
    • Rio Texas United Methodist Historical Society
    • Other Ministries
  • Admin Services/
    • Administrative Resources
    • Pre-Conference Report
    • Annual Conference Journal
    • Forms and Reports
    • Property and Liability
    • Pensions and Benefits
    • Employment Opportunites
    • 5-Star Advance Special Information
    • Employment Form
    • Archives
    • Clergy Wellness Program
    • Privacy Policies
    • Presentations

Rio Texas Annual Conference

The United Methodists of The Rio Texas Conference are focused on reaching out to the people of South Texas. Some of our churches are located in some of the fastest-growing areas of the country. Others are located in areas where people are struggling with issues of poverty, lack of affordable housing, and a loss of hope. We are committed to providing vital missions, vital congregations, and strong leaders to connect our churches to the people.  

Our mission field spans South Texas. Our churches are in large cities and small towns from Austin to McAllen, from San Angelo to Victoria in vibrant cities, historic small towns and struggling communities.

Rio Texas Annual Conference
The United Methodist Church
16400 Huebner Road  |   San Antonio, Texas 78248   |   210-408-4500