Jan

10

A Word From Suzii – January 2011

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If Christmas Eve is a time of joyful anticipation, and New Years ‘s Eve is the time of hopeful celebrating, then prepare yourself for Legislative Eve as a time of enduring contradictions.

Glancing  over our shoulders back to 2009 and 2010 reveals that the Lone Star State is making it through the Great Recession in better shape than most other states. The Texas economy has avoided collapse, our population is growing, jobs are coming back, home sales have improved in all metro areas.   Texas, as some like to say, is wide open for business. Texas’ economic resilience can be chalked up to the state’s many assets and advantages: relatively low living costs, modest taxes, oil and gas wealth, great research institutions, a youthful working-age population, and an attractive business climate (Laila Assane and Pia Orrenius, “Texas Economy Shakes Off Rough Ride in 2009,” Southwest Economy – Dallas, Texas: Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, 2010).

Contradiction #1: Ok got it. If all that is true, why is Texas facing a record setting budget deficit of $27B? And why are Texas families going broke? Why are young, educated adults unemployed? Why are seriously ill seniors on an 8 year waiting list? Why are so many Texans hungry?  Isn’t a “good economy” supposed to mean  a “good econo-for-ME”, too?

Texas families, the state’s greatest economic asset,  are not riding this latest wave of success.  While the state’s economy overall is moving ahead, the state’s hardworking families are struggling to stay afloat.  Texas families have less net worth and more debt than 46 of the other states (CFED 2009-10 Scorecard – Texas and U.S. Households by Assets and Income:  2009-2010. net worth 48th/50 states; installment debt 46th/50states).

Despite our apparent needs, Texans (especially Texas’ elected officials)  are very fond of talking about Texas’ independence, and I don’t mean the Alamo.  I mean that Texas is “a whole nuther country”, unique, not subject to the same rules (environmental or otherwise) as other states. As Texas we have unique needs in food security, agriculture, energy, immigration, border security, education, roads, transportation, tax structure, family services, insurance rates, healthcare, wellness, water quality. You name it, you’ll find an association, business or advocate group to tell you that Texas is solitary and proud.

Contradiction #2:  OK got it; all that is true. Texas may be unique, but Texas is not a “whole nuther planet.” Quite the contrary, Texas is a hub to the world; full of international business and families, Texas government and Texas cities partner around the globe and Texans are in every corner of the world for business, pleasure, mission, charity and innovation. Our water, our energy, our air , our commerce, our culture, our economy, our military  and certainly our family of faith are all intertwined with the other  billions on this planet. Our Texas well-being is linked to the well-being of people everywhere. And that is just the international facet.

Texas is also (according to last week’s census release) a bigger portion of the US population than ever before. Being a leading state means being connected and cooperative with other states for the well-being of our country.  Texas is unique, but we can’t turn our message of uniqueness against the real needs of our great union, the UNITED states. Being a representative democracy is a cherished legacy, but it’s continuing health is a challenge. Ideas and words matter in every era of history and ours is no different  leadership is stewardship and as Texans, we can’t maintain the tone of a rebellious adolescent who so slander his family that he has no home.

There is no mere business interest, there is no association, there is no political institution that can, by being the beneficiary of generous policy, set the single plumb line for a stable future.   And  the inaction of  ignoring the elderly, the mentally disabled, the hungry , the poor, the abused, the economically exploited, the neglected, the dying, the recovering addict, the re-entering felon,  is a sure way to  destabilize the future of  Texas families. Although the airwaves are full of dollar signs and reality-check statistics, any principled moral voice is clear that the stepladder to a successful tomorrow will not be made out of budget cuts alone.

The Texas legislators will convene in the context of these contradictions. These are real folks who come to Austin for 140 days to sort some of this out. Speaking of contradictions – I suspect  it is common among  elected officials to close their doors after 30 days in Austin and ask themselves why they worked so hard to be elected to face such a cacophony of competing  interests – head on. While campaigning a candidate has a microphone to clarify their convictions but after election, they discover there is a crowd at the microphone clamoring  to put their priorities first. As one official said to me “ Some people mistakenly think that they elected me to a screenplay. The think I’m their dutiful actor; they are the producer, director, scriptwriter and critic rolled into one… This ain’t no play, it’s the future of Texas. ”

All too often we act like we are in a screenplay – that what is said and done will be over by midnight, and all will return to normal.  If there is one compelling message in the Bible, it is that this life is not a dress rehearsal, but according to the Word of God what we do and say and live matters – even when we tell ourselves it doesn’t.  So, as the kids say “ man-up”

  • Find your voice when it comes to important  values – they almost always come with some contradictions that need to be spoken , aloud.  What we know to be right or just may not be politically feasible – at least at first.  The great statesmen of our history called this deliberation; they fought. They talked about struggling with either/or and they talked about wanting both/and  until there was a healthy compromise and they set the world on a course to constitutional democracy.  In more modern times – in the resolution of wars, the ending of apartheid, the growth of micro-enterprise, the healing  of vast diseases, the ending of ethnic genocide, the dismantling of human trafficking – workgroups and consultations and polite and not-so-polite negotiations stayed at the helm until…until there was a step to a more just tomorrow.
  • Be honest about all the points of view – even if they are not your own.  It is honest to say that you don’t want Medicaid to bankrupt the state, but you also don’t want the fragile elderly to be kicked out of nursing homes.  It’s honest to say that you don’t want to send 12 million to get immigrants out of the US, but you also don’t want a immigration system that fails to provide adequately for  lawful workers, family unification and border security.  The rise of fact checking websites and Politi-fact  tools are one expression of a desire for some honest reflection.  Your children, your city, your state need courage and strength for honesty in citizens and elected officials to build a future for all Texans, the US and thus shape the rest of the world.
  • Borrow wisdom – Take the Achievement Test.  Op Ed columnist David Brooks posed the criteria he calls “The Achievement Test” (Jan. 3, 2011 NYTimes http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/04/opinion/04brooks.html).
    • The size of government doesn’t tell you what you need to know; the social and moral content of government action does. The budgeteers and the technicians may not like it, but it’s the values inculcated by policies that matter most.
    • The best way to measure government is not by volume, but by what you might call the Achievement Test. Does a given policy arouse energy, foster skills, spur social mobility and help people transform their lives? Over the years, America has benefited from policies that passed this test, like the Homestead Act and the G.I. Bill.
    • …it might be useful to put the Achievement Test back at the center of politics. This would help focus the national mind on the fundamental challenge: moving from a consumption-dominated economy oriented around satisfying immediate needs toward a more balanced investment and consumption economy.

We are on the eve of a new Legislature in Austin. Complicated leaders representing diverse constituents will be charting a course (or not)  on  a complex landscape . My prayer is that we begin to see signposts for this kind of achievement  – stability, health, growth, and prosperity for Texas families and putting them first.

Maybe the next apps for our Texas-sized ipads and smart phones promote reflective dialogue and bring on a shiny, new moral compass?

We value your input and suggestions.
Your comments and recommended resources are welcome in the comments box below.

Jan

10

In The News – January 2011

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ALCOHOL | ADDICTION

BUDGET

CHILDREN

CHURCH/STATE

CRIMINAL JUSTICE

EDUCATION

ENVIRONMENT

GAMBLING

HEALTH

HUMAN TRAFFICKING

HUNGER & POVERTY

IMMIGRATION

PAYDAY LENDING

We value your input and suggestions.
Your comments and recommended resources are welcome in the comments box below.

Jan

10

ISAAC Updates – January 2011

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BUA hosts ISAAC Project conference on immigrant outreach training

By Linda Cross, BUA Communications

SAN ANTONIO–The Immigration Service And Aid Center Project at Baptist University of the Américas held its first-of-a-kind training conference Dec. 3, Strangers Among Us: Reaching, Loving and Serving the Immigrant Community.

“We thought it urgent for the first conference to focus on immigration law and churches,” said ISAAC Director Jesús Romero in his opening comments.  “Providing churches an overview of what they can legally do as they love immigrants in their communities is crucial in order to dispel some of the fear and confusion associated with doing any kind of service among the immigrant population.”

The day-long event attracted 65 participants from as far away as Florida and representing several Christian denominations, to the campus of Baptist University of the Américas in San Antonio. Presentations were in English with Spanish translation available.

Romero, chair of the Department of Modern Languages at BUA, presented the first session, “Loving the Immigrant: How Churches Can Establish Federally Recognized and Accredited Immigration Service Sites,” noting, “We must do everything in our power to educate and train people of faith about immigration issues. Churches and religious organizations need to be aware of the recognition and accreditation process available to them through the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) in order to offer legal immigration services”.

He presented a guide to establishing a ministry which facilitates the process of legal immigrants becoming citizens.  The step-by-step process grew out of his experience, with his wife Elsa, founding Baptist Immigration Services of Brownwood, a BIA-recognized and -accredited nonprofit agency that offers legal services to the immigrant community of Central Texas while he was on the faculty of Howard Payne University and pastor of Iglesia Nuevo Amanecer.

There were three other workshops.

Nationally recognized immigration attorney Joe De Mott of San Antonio, explained “Filing for American Citizenship: The Nuts and Bolts” of becoming a citizen. De Mott is a board-certified immigration and naturalization specialist and leading immigration and nationality law expert.

De Mott’s colleague Ruth Lozano McChesney spoke on “Petitioning for Ministers and Religious Workers,” explaining what churches need to know about obtaining visas for nonimmigrant religious workers who come into the United States as missionaries, ministers or educators. De Mott is founding partner and McChesney is managing partner of De Mott, McChesney, Curtright & Armendariz, LLP, Immigration Attorneys, of San Antonio.

Richard Muñoz, Founding Director of the ISAAC Project and Manager of International Operations Excellence for Buckner Children and Family Services, Inc., Dallas, Texas., concluded the conference with “Don’t Slip on the ICE: A Few Things a Church Should Know About Immigration Law.” He spoke to issues of hiring, employment practice and discrimination, as well as issues such as transporting, harboring, and “safe harbor” for religious workers.

“The ISAAC Project is delighted to offer conferences for churches and organizations in Texas and beyond who care deeply about loving the strangers in our midst,” concluded Romero. “Texas Baptists should be deeply involved in this kind of effort, especially in light of the possibility of comprehensive immigration reform. As many as eleven million undocumented immigrants may become eligible to adjust their status. Government offices will be overwhelmed. Baptists and other Protestant and Evangelical Christians can join World Relief and Catholic Legal Immigration Network, Inc., in establishing legal, low-fee agencies to minister to these immigrants. Local churches and organizations can be effective in their outreach to and service among immigrant communities.”

The next ISAAC Conference is being planned for late Spring 2011 in Houston, with a conference planned for San Antonio in Autumn 2011.

For additional information about the ISAAC Project, Board of Immigration Appeals recognition and accreditation for a ministry of your church or agency, or for information about upcoming immigration ministry events, contact Romero by email, jromero@bua.edu; by mail at 8019 S Pan Am Expressway, San Antonio, TX 78224, or by phone, 210-633-6257.

The ISAAC Project is a collaborative ministry between BUA and Texas Baptists’ Christian Life Commission. BUA is a nationally-accredited, historically Hispanic institution founded in 1947.

We value your input and suggestions.
Your comments and recommended resources are welcome in the comments box below.

Jan

10

Good News Goods – January 2011

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For Christians, the Christmas season held more than just parties, gifts, food, and shopping.  It was the season of Advent—the time of waiting in anticipation of the Messiah, the incarnate miracle who brings the hope of heaven to earth.   Our hope and redemption in Christ continues into the New Year, and what an appropriate time to take inventory of our lives and habits, humble ourselves to change the things that do not honor God, and lean on his understanding to shape us into people of love, peace, reconciliation, and justice.

Perhaps a first step would be to commit to making at least ONE Fair Trade purchase each month from goodnewsgoods.com so that our neighbors around the world may experience the hope and love of Emmanuel—God with us—through simply having dignified work that restores not only their material poverty, but their spiritual poverty and poverty of self-worth.  Better yet, you could sign up for Hungry for Change and receive a monthly basket of Fair Trade goodies delivered right to your door step.  It’s convenient, tasty, and can change a life or an entire community in the developing world.

After hosting a Fair Trade Market at his church, Mike Fanning, Associate Pastor of The Fellowship of San Antonio said “I love the fact that by doing this Fair Trade market we are putting what we say and believe into practice.”

In 2010, 12 churches and 5 Baptist universities throughout Texas partnered with Good News Goods through a Fair Trade market, the JUST ONE card program, and/or an on-going Trading Post as a means of living out the gospel way as a congregation, and extending the hope of the Incarnated Christ.

Because of Christians throughout Texas making Fair Trade purchases in 2010, an estimated 8,434 hours of dignified employment was created through missional businesses for women, men and children living in extreme poverty and oppressive conditions all over the world.  Moreover, an estimated $4,217 will be contributed by our partner, Trade as One, to the Texas Baptist Offering for World Hunger, which supports numerous relief and development ministries throughout Texas, the United States of America, and the uttermost parts of the world.

Read what other ministers and church members have to say about Good News Goods:

“Good News Goods is a ministry of Highland Park in a number of ways, and it links our community to other communities around the world through Fair Trade practices that benefit people groups who are vulnerable and poor.   It addresses our inclination of over-consumption, allows us to make purchases that reflect our faith values and reminds us to actually think about what we purchase and why we buy it.”

-Marcus McFaul, Senior Minister, Highland Park Baptist Church, Austin

“It has been a great program for our children at Highland Park to be educated in the ways that their purchases make a difference around the world.  They have been able to personally learn about the artisans that create each of the products and they have been a part of re-telling the artisan’s stories and selling their products to church members at our monthly Good News Goods Trading Post, and so it has been a really important learning process for our children.”

-Cheryl Kimble, Associate Pastor for Children & Family Life, Highland Park Baptist Church, Austin

“One reason why The Fellowship decided to host a Good News Goods Fair Trade market this year is because I felt it was a win-win for our community here and the people who made the products.  People are already buying gifts for the holiday and they can buy high-quality goods here, and yet at the same time with their purchase, they can help someone else around the world pull themselves out of poverty.  I love the fact that by doing this market we are putting what we say and believe into practice.  We are trying to help people—not give them a hand out, but a hand up—and it works for us as well, so we’re going to do this every year!”

-Mike Fanning, Associate Pastor, The Fellowship of San Antonio

“This is a brilliant business model and mission.  It is not asking folks to give more money away, it is just about redirecting our dollars on what we were already spending to help people in need.  I love it!”

-Member & Business Development Consultant, The Fellowship of San Antonio

Go to http://goodnewsgoods.com for more information and to get involved in one of our Fair Trade ministries, or contact charlotte.bumbulis@texasbaptists.org.

Other Related Articles:

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Your comments and recommended resources are welcome in the comments box below.

Jan

10

TBOWH Updates – January 2011

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Looking back over 2010, so many blessings emerge.

It is a blessing… to witness God’s hand in the growth of hunger awareness in our state…to the point that the U,S. government is watching what is going on in Texas!

It is a blessing… that more than 350 everyday Texas Baptists have stated publicly that Texas hunger statistics are unacceptable and signed up to be a Hunger Advocate for the Hunger Offering.

It is a blessing… that many of you put your extra change in a Texas-shaped hunger bank, and God multiplies it into thousands to feed hungry people all over the world.

It is a blessing… to visit with missionaries and ministry providers of the Hunger Offering hearing about their tireless work 7 days a week to “bring good news to the poor”.

It is a blessing… to read the reports that come in everyday from these ministries and hear their stories.

I’ll pass one of those many blessings on to you. This report came in recently from Center of Hope in Mineral Wells:

“Small miracles happen every day as we help people who come in for groceries and assistance.  A woman came in for help, recently divorced and receiving no child support from her ex-husband.  She had desperately wanted her marriage to work but because of his drinking and violence, she had to flee for the safety of herself and children.  She was working, staying with her elderly mother and barely making enough to feed the family.  She wept and wept as we witnessed to her about the love Jesus had for her.”

“Sometimes we ask, how do people end up at places such as ours? For the same reasons this lady came…they need the love of Jesus shown by his followers.  Please pray for those who are hurting and in desperate need of a Savior.  If we don’t help them, who will?”

Proverbs 31:8 says, “Speak out for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of ALL (not just some, but all) of the destitute.”

May God truly bless each of you during this time of year when we remember the birth of Jesus.

As we think of Him, may we also remember those all around us who are hurting and in desperate need of a Savior.  If we don’t help them, who will?

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

from your Hunger Team of the Texas Baptist Offering for World Hunger,

Marilyn Davis, Alicia Enriquez, Ferrell Foster, Joyce Gilbreath, and Suzii Paynter

MAKE A DONATION IN MEMORY/HONOR OF SOMEONE
Would you like to remember or honor someone special this year? Instead of a gift that will just collect dust why not make a donation in their name to the Texas Baptist Offering for World Hunger. Let your gift go much further in doing good work for those who are less fortunate.
Donate now!

Next 5th Sunday Emphasis for World Hunger – January 30, 2011.
Download 5th Sunday video, Feeding the Hungry in Del Rio.

We value your input and suggestions.
Your comments and recommended resources are welcome in the comments box below.

Jan

10

Substance Abuse – January 2011

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During the spring, the Substance Abuse Ministry will be one of the sponsors partnering with Texans Standing Tall to sponsor regional college forums to address the issue of underage drinking.  Among Texas college students, alcohol is the primary drug of choice.  Alcohol use is linked to poor class attendance, low academic performance, unwanted sexual activity, depression, suicide and alcohol poisoning.  This issues effects parents, students, college professionals and communities.

The regional forums will provide opportunities for campuses and communities to equip themselves with information and tools to effectively collaborate for change at the local, regional and state levels.  Experienced professionals will equip participants tools and strategies to help prevent and reduce underage alcohol use among college students.

Dates:
February 16:  Lubbock
March 25:  San Antonio
April 8:  Baytown
April 14:  Arlington
TBD:  Nacogdoches

Check out the Addiction Ministry Education Network page on Facebook.
Become a fan and you will receive updates about events and links to important news articles.
CLC Substance Abuse Ministry Podcasts
Pathways to Prevention: A Substance Abuse Resource
www.hazelden.org

We value your input and suggestions.
Your comments and recommended resources are welcome in the comments box below.

Jan

10

Living the Christian Life – Top Public Policy Issues for 2011

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The Texas Legislature convened for the 82nd Legislative session on January 11, 2011. In many respects, our elected officials face the most difficult session in recent memory. The state comptroller has reported that the state will have $72.2 billion in general revenue to spend on the budget for the next two years. According to experts, in order to maintain the current level of state services and account for inflation and population growth, the state would actually need nearly $99 billion. Closing that nearly $27 billion gap will be a difficult task for legislators. The results of the 2010 census also call for legislative redistricting. The drawing of the boundary lines for the Texas House, Senate and U. S. Congressional districts among others, is always a contentious, political process.  The state will also be looking to understand what effects the new federal health care laws will have on this state and some will be searching for ways Texas can combat illegal immigration. We will also be welcoming a large number of new lawmakers to Austin who are unfamiliar with the legislative process.

In the midst of all of this, the Citizenship and Public Policy office in Austin has been hard at work. We have been researching, writing, talking to pastors and church members, meeting with legislators and their staff, and working with numerous coalition partners. We’ve met with our commission members and sought their guidance in formulating our priorities for the upcoming session.  The entire list of legislative priorities was published in our last enewsletter and can be found here (pdf).

Based on these conversations, a study of the political landscape and our own history, the following four priorities have emerged as our top concerns heading into this legislative session. Below you will find a short summary of each issue area. In the “Ethics in Action” article you can find numerous links to resources that will help you become even more familiar with each issue. Remember, the Citizenship and Public Policy office seeks to be a resource as we speak to and with Texas Baptists on matters of public policy. Should you want to meet with an elected official about these or another issue of which you’re passionate about, please let us know so we can help make your visit a success. We will also be sending out occasional “Public Policy Alerts” at times in the legislative process when your voice can be most influential. If you are a Facebook user, please “Like” the Texas Baptist Christian Life Commission as we will be utilizing this powerful social media resource to keep people informed.

This legislative session will be difficult, but by selecting our issues carefully, having an informed voice, a strong message, focusing on policy, not politics, with your help, and with our Christian ethical values, we can make a positive difference for the people of Texas.

Top Issues for the upcoming legislative session

Gambling Expansion

Opposing gambling expansion efforts has been a hallmark of the CLC’s efforts in Austin for years. We are proud of that history, and still believe that the state partnering with a predatory business that plays our fellow citizens for suckers in exchange for a little bit of tax revenue is bad public policy. The CLC, through Weston Ware and Phil Strickland opposed paramutual horse racing and the Texas lottery. Neither venture has fulfilled the promises in the eyes of the public. As our state faces another revenue shortfall, some would like to turn to gambling again. We will fight these efforts by pointing out the failed efforts of the past, calling for a true cost/benefit analysis of any proposal and challenging our lawmakers to find better solutions to our problems.  We will also point to promises unmet, and problems created by gambling expansion in other states particularly in regards to Native-American casino expansion. Such a drastic change in the character of our state should be debated on the merits of the proposal, not just to gain revenue in lean times or as a reaction to the actions of neighboring states.

While we still believe that any expansion efforts will face long odds at the capitol, the pressure of the budget deficit will be immense. The gambling industry has donated generously to campaigns and will once again spend millions of dollars on lobbyists. Fighting these proposals will take a great deal of time and energy by the CLC staff and to succeed we’ll need your help.

Predatory Lending

A loophole in Texas law allows predatory lenders, such as payday and auto title lenders, to take advantage of low and moderate income Texans with no limits on the fees they can charge. The Texas finance code already has laws in place to govern these lenders with regard to interest rates, fees along with other protections that allow lenders to make a profit but help prevent borrowers from being trapped in debt. The CLC is working in coalition with other organizations not to advance a new onerous regulatory scheme that puts these lenders out of business, but to simply close this loophole so they have to abide by laws already in place. A bipartisan group of legislators has introduced legislation to do just that.

This is a multi-billion dollar a year industry in Texas that has already begun a vigorous defense. It will take a public outcry to help give legislators the strength they need to enact these reasonable protections.

As part of our efforts, the CLC has partnered with Texas Impact and the Texas Catholic Conference to reach out to the faith community in Texas. Please visit our new website www.texasfaithforfairlending.org to learn more and sign the petition to lend your voice to our efforts.

Hunger and Poverty

Since the last legislative session, the CLC has greatly increased our advocacy around the issue of hunger and food insecurity. In partnership with the Baylor School of Social Work we created the Texas Hunger Initiative to attack the problem of hunger on a community, grassroots level. In Austin we convened a new coalition called the Texas Food Policy Roundtable and we are excited as we work to promote our legislative priorities this session.

The budget deficit makes proposing legislation a difficult task. It is widely understood among advocates that any bill calling for additional general revenue spending will not pass. Fortunately, there are many cost-neutral measures the state can take to help combat the growing problem of hunger in Texas. The coalition has compiled a list of our top priorities that can be found here (pdf). It is vitally important that the state protect the recent advances it has made in timely processing applications for SNAP (formerly known as food stamps) benefits. Such benefits help Texas families make it through lean times and have the additional benefit of pumping millions of Federal dollars into the retail outlets in our communities constituting vital economic development.

Environment and Clean Energy

In recent years the CLC has increased our advocacy in the environmental arena. We’ve done so in response to what we see as God’s call for us to be good stewards of his creation. In 2006 the BGCT passed a resolution calling on the CLC to advocate for sound environmental policies in the public square. Since then, we’ve worked on a number of creation care issues including, renewable energy, electronics recycling and energy efficiency.

This session we are supporting legislation that will increase the amount of renewable energy in the state, provide houses of worship with economically viable avenues to increasing their efficiency & promote the proper recycling of electronic waste.  Texas has the opportunity to become a leader in renewable energy that will not only benefit the environment, but will also spur economic development in local communities. Energy efficiency measures save churches and families money while reducing their energy use.  We expect there to be legislation that would encourage rooftop solar installations, call for more energy efficient building standards, and protect state funding that helps low-income households with their energy bills.  It is also important to note that every major state agency overseeing energy and environmental policies will be undergoing the Sunset review process, an opportunity for positive change.

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Your comments and recommended resources are welcome in the comments box below.