Toward Justice

The Justice Network
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  • CHRISTIANITY
  • UPDATED SEMIWEEKLY

A podcast by the Justice Network, a volunteer organization whose mission is to extol and deepen the Free Methodist Church’s historic commitment to oppose oppression and restore God’s wholeness to those who have been disenfranchised both in society and within the church. https://www.justicenetworkfmc.org/toward-justice

  1. 06/13/2025

    The Biblical Response to Immigration Concerns: The Co-Pastors of New Hope FMC

    The Free Methodist Church has a rich tradition of caring for the poor, widows, orphans, and foreigners. We have long been able to balance personal holiness with social justice. What, then, should be the biblical response that Free Methodists embody concerning present-day immigration concerns? Listen to this conversation as FM Elder Chris Kaufman talks with the co-pastors of New Hope Free Methodist Church about the work they are doing in response to immigration issues. Since the recording of this episode, New Hope FMC has joined in a lawsuit against the United States Department of Justice seeking the dismissal of a lawsuit that it filed against the City of Rochester, New York. On behalf of the city of Rochester, the Ibero-American Action League LLC (Ibero), Third Presbyterian Church, Western NY Coalition of Farmworker Serving Agencies, New Hope Free Methodist Church, and the New York Civil Liberties Union have filed a motion to intervene in the Western District of New York. New Hope FMC and the other organizations have joined the City of Rochester in asking the Court to dismiss the Trump administration’s attempt to strike down decades-old (https://www.democratandchronicle.com/story/news/2025/05/02/rochester-ny-journey-sanctuary-city-started-in-1986/83394491007/#:~:text=Rochester%20was%20first%20designated%20a,with%20new%20language%20in%202017.) sanctuary policies so that it can force Rochester’s police officers to carry out federal immigration enforcement. More information about this case can be found here: https://www.nyclu.org/press-release/new-filing-immigrant-social-services-orgs-faith-leaders-and-the-nyclu-intervene-in-doj-lawsuit-to-defend-rochesters-sanctuary-laws" For more information about the work and ministry of the Justice Network of the Free Methodist Church, click on the link below: https://www.justicenetworkfmc.org/

    47 min

  2. 05/16/2025

    The Biblical Response to Immigration Concerns: Eric Lintala and Matthew Soerens of World Relief

    The Free Methodist Church has a rich tradition of caring for the poor, widows, orphans, and foreigners. We have long been able to balance personal holiness with social justice. What, then, should be the biblical response that Free Methodists embody concerning present-day immigration concerns? Listen to this conversation as FM Elder Marissa Mattox-Heffernan talks with Eric Lintala and Matthew Soerens of World Relief about how the recent executive orders from the current government administration are affecting different segments of our church communities, and specifically how they impact the non-profit advocacy spaces. For more information about the work and ministry of the Justice Network of the Free Methodist Church, click on the link below: https://www.justicenetworkfmc.org/

    44 min

  3. 05/02/2025

    The Biblical Response to Immigration Concerns: Karen González

    The Free Methodist Church has a rich tradition of caring for the poor, widows, orphans, and foreigners. We have long been able to balance personal holiness with social justice. What, then, should be the biblical response that Free Methodists embody concerning present-day immigration concerns?Listen in as FM Elder Marissa Mattox-Heffernan talks with Karen González about her experience growing up as an undocumented person in the United States and her current work as a public theologian and writer who seeks to elevate the discourse in the church beyond hospitality to immigrants.For more information about the work and ministry of the Justice Network of the Free Methodist Church, click on the link below:https://www.justicenetworkfmc.org/

    39 min

  4. 04/11/2025

    The Biblical Response to Immigration Concerns: Miluska E. Silencio

    The Free Methodist Church has a rich tradition of caring for the poor, widows, orphans, and foreigners. We have long been able to balance personal holiness with social justice. What, then, should be the biblical response that Free Methodists embody concerning present-day immigration concerns? Listen in as FM Elder Marissa Mattox-Heffernan talks with Rev. Milly Silencio about her experience navigating life as an undocumented person in the United States and her current work as the founder of the organization "Hoping Greatly," where she uplifts others through her story of resilience as an undocumented immigrant.  For more information about the work and ministry of the Justice Network of the Free Methodist Church, click on the link below: https://www.justicenetworkfmc.org/

    47 min
  5. GC23 Resolution on Dignity and Worth of Persons - Sexual Orientation: Rev. Derik Heumann and Elijah Drake

    07/10/2023

    GC23 Resolution on Dignity and Worth of Persons - Sexual Orientation: Rev. Derik Heumann and Elijah Drake

    The Free Methodist Church is committed to the dignity and worth of all humans and articulates its view in the Book of Discipline, but what does that mean in terms of LGBTQ persons? Listen in as FM Elder Marissa Mattox-Heffernan discusses a resolution to include the words "sexual orientation" into the Book of Discipline, with FM Elder Derik Heumann and Asbury Seminary student and Conference Ministerial Candidate Elijah Drake. Click the following link to read about all of the proposed GC23 resolutions: ⁠https://www.gc23.org/resolutions⁠ If you would like to leave a voice message, click the following link: https://anchor.fm/fmcjusticenetwork/message https://www.justicenetworkfmc.org/toward-justice

    41 min
  6. GC23 Resolution on Capital Punishment: Rev. Dr. Bruce N. G. Cromwell

    06/26/2023

    GC23 Resolution on Capital Punishment: Rev. Dr. Bruce N. G. Cromwell

    Should Christians, specifically Free Methodist, reject the death penalty (capital punishment) and actively work to urge its elimination from all criminal codes?  In this episode, Rev. Marissa Heffernan discusses with Rev. Dr. Bruce Cromwell the resolution submitted by the FM Study Commission on Doctrine, written by Rev. Cromwell, on the principles underlying this resolution and the realities of criminal justice in the U.S. Click the following link to read about all of the proposed GC23 resolutions: ⁠https://www.gc23.org/resolutions⁠ If you would like to leave a voice message, click the following link: https://anchor.fm/fmcjusticenetwork/message https://www.justicenetworkfmc.org/toward-justice

    35 min
  7. GC23 Resolution on our Criminal Justice System: Rev. Dr. Benjamin D. Wayman and Dr. Kent Dunnington

    06/12/2023

    GC23 Resolution on our Criminal Justice System: Rev. Dr. Benjamin D. Wayman and Dr. Kent Dunnington

    The Free Methodist Study Commission on Doctrine is encouraging Free Methodists to pursue criminal justice reforms that "recognize and protect the dignity of all persons." In this episode, Rev. Marrissa Heffernan discusses the biblical foundations of this position with authors Dr. Ben Wayman and Dr. Kent Dunnington and the different types of justice (retributive, restorative, procedural, and economic) and the alignment with Christian worldview. Click the following link to read about all of the proposed GC23 resolutions: ⁠https://www.gc23.org/resolutions⁠ If you would like to leave a voice message, click the following link: https://anchor.fm/fmcjusticenetwork/message https://www.justicenetworkfmc.org/toward-justice

    29 min
  8. GC23 Resolution on Creation Care: Dr. Howard Snyder

    05/29/2023

    GC23 Resolution on Creation Care: Dr. Howard Snyder

    In this episode, Rev Marissa Heffernan interviews Dr. Howard Snyder about the resolution put forth by the FM Study Commission on Doctrine regarding creation care and the affirmations affirming the goodness of God’s creation, the value—physical, emotional, social, and spiritual—of engagement with it, and our responsibility to care for it as an integral part of our Christian discipleship and God’s Creation mandate .  Click the following link to read about all of the proposed GC23 resolutions: https://www.gc23.org/resolutions If you would like to leave a voice message, click the following link: https://anchor.fm/fmcjusticenetwork/message https://www.justicenetworkfmc.org/toward-justice

    35 min
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Ratings & Reviews

4.7
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

A podcast by the Justice Network, a volunteer organization whose mission is to extol and deepen the Free Methodist Church’s historic commitment to oppose oppression and restore God’s wholeness to those who have been disenfranchised both in society and within the church. https://www.justicenetworkfmc.org/toward-justice

Information

  • Creator
    The Justice Network
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2025
  • Episodes
    25
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © The Justice Network
  • Show Website
    Toward Justice