By james art 
United Women in Faith (Earlier known as United Methodist Women) is one of the largest denominational faith organizations for women in the United States. Since 1987, the Texas Conference of United Women in his faith has partnered with Texas an influence-member political network-to host their annual legislative event that prepares female leaders of faith to meet with MPs to advocate for policies to raise marginalized society.
This year, women participating in the annual event came from a number of traditions of faith. While the vast majority is from the United Methodist Church, other represented traditions of faith include the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, the Presbyterian Church of the United States, the Baptist Alliance, the Cooperative Baptist Society, the Roman Catholic Church, the United Church of Christ, the Universalist Universalists, the disciples of Christ. Jesus Christ of the Saints of the Last Days, Non -Denomial, Judaism, Buddhism and None.
This year’s event, which takes place on January 26-28, comes at a particularly favorable moment in the United States. Just last week, two very great versions of Christianity in the public sphere were exhibited during the opening events.
Women preparing for intercessive work in Austin, Texas.
The first brand of Christianity – What many consider to be a form of Christian nationalism – was emphasized by pastors like Franklin Graham. Before offering his prayer, Graham began, saying, “Mr. President, the last four years have had times, I’m sure you thought it was quite dark, but see what God did. We praise him and give him glory. “Then Graham offered a prayer stating that the president was somehow elected by God and was delivered by his” enemies ” – a reference to the other half of the country that voted against the president four years ago.
The next day, a very different brand of Christianity of the Prayer Service at the National Cathedral in Washington was exhibited. Faith leaders from a number of religions have offered prayers before Bishop Marian Edgar Bude to give Homilia and give a petition directly to the president to have mercy on those who fear for his policies and rhetoric. The resonance of a bishop attractive to Scripture and the summoning for mercy was intense.
It was in the shadow of these two events that the Texas Head of United Women in Faith and Texas influence approached the Texas Capitol in Austin.
On Sunday and Monday, 350 participants attended seminars in key areas of politics, including public education (overlapping religious freedom for all students), immigration, climate change and reproductive health (including mother and children health). The speakers included Bishop Cynthia Fierro Harvey (Texas and Rio Texas Conferences of UMC), Giovanna Oaksaka (ELCA Program Director), Amanda Tyler (CEO of the Joint Religious Freedom Committee), Beaman Floyd (Texas (Texas. Council) and Charlie Brown (Legislative President, District XI of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecologists).
The marathon information sessions were accompanied by training on how to talk to legislators on these topics – everyone in preparation for intercession day on Tuesday. Today, participants will meet with their state senators and representatives. Some will also be checked in the hearing of the Education Committee (K-16), called the Senate Committee (K-16).
For the strangers with the political tactics of Texas state legislation, committees tend to announce on Friday night that public comments for a particular bill will occur four days later. In order to testify, the public must register personally in the Capitol building on the day of the hearing, so often these “public” hearing fails to allow the public to participate. It just happens that the Senate Education Committee announced last Friday that it will hear the Senate Bill 2 while the women in Texas in the faith are in the city.
SB-2 is the banknote from the voucher school Governor Greg Abat has been trying to pass for years.
Bee moorhead
Bee Moorhead, CEO of Texas Impact, commented on this event, the biggest legislative event of United Women in Faith/Texas Impact from its launch:
The amazing about the legislative event of the United Women in the Faith in Texas is that it started in someone’s cuisine. It started in the kitchen of some Methodist ladies in Austin who said, “We live here. We have to go to Capitol when we want. We have to share this with our sisters. ”
The first year they had 70 participants, all of them united Methodist, most of them without understanding the legislative process. There are 350 participants today, including a whole bunch of online. These include mostly women, several men, and we have more than a dozen denominations and traditions.
This is the perfect incarnation of what it means to live our faith in a public place and I can never overcome how impressed and proud I am that these women had this vision to do it 38 years ago and have been doing it every year.