Podcasts about faith rooted organizing mobilizing

“They're fighting their way through this crazy immigration system that is ineffective, illogical, and inhumane. … There's a wideness in God's mercy. Since when has anybody said mercy for some and not for all? … Fixing immigration is really different than blowing it up.  … This is not an impossible crisis to solve. … We need to not be divided by our political affiliations. As Christians, we stand with Christ, who critiques all human institutions.” (Alexia Salvatierra, from the episode) The immigration crisis on US borders reveals a deeper crisis of humanity—another example of democracy at a turning point. What should be the Christian response to the current immigration crisis? How can the individuals and small communities take effective action? And who are the real people most affected by immigration policy in the United States? In this episode, Mark Labberton welcomes theologian, pastor, and activist Alexia Salvatierra. She shares stories from the front lines of immigration justice. Alexia Salvatierra is an ordained Lutheran pastor and a leading voice in faith-based social justice movements. She serves as assistant professor of integral mission and global transformation at Fuller Theological Seminary and has been a key organizer in immigrant advocacy for over four decades. She co-authored Faith-Rooted Organizing: Mobilizing the Church in Service to the World and works extensively with grassroots organizations to address the intersection of faith, justice, and policy. Together they discuss: Personal testimonies and policy insights based on stories of real people facing the immigration system in the United States The challenges immigrants face under an increasingly unforgiving system How faith communities can respond with faithful courage and productive grief, instead of outrage The global nature of the immigration, refugee, and foreign-aid crisis The width of God's mercy and the effectiveness of immigration and refugee public policy A call to action for Christians to become “gracious disrupters” and stand with the vulnerable Helpful Links and Resources World Relief – Christian organization supporting refugees Lutheran Social Services – Organization falsely accused of money laundering Show Notes Immigration policy and the church's response The impact of executive orders on deportation and asylum seekers Faith-based advocacy for immigrants The role of Latino churches in immigrant support How Christians can move from outrage to courageous action Immigration reform Faith-based activism ICE raids on churches Asylum seekers and deportation Christian response to immigration crisis Latino churches and advocacy Political fear versus Christian courage The role of the church in justice Broken immigration system Policy changes under different administrations Immigration Today: Stories and Case Studies An Assemblies of God pastor from Guatemala, facing deportation despite three qualifying cases for legal residency—South Los Angeles “ That's what we mean by a broken system, is there's all these little wrinkles in the system that don't work.” Detention at a deportation facility called Adelanto ”They're fighting their way through this crazy immigration system that is ineffective, illogical, and inhumane.” Asylum, ankle bracelets, and “legitimate fear” “ They said he was a criminal because he had entered without authorization twenty years before when he was a teenager.” ICE agents attempting to detain a man during a worship service ICE and “sensitive locations”—Is a church an ICE “sensitive location”? Hispanic Theological Education Association Latino Christian National Network “That arrest has  provoked intense fear. …  they're terrified to go to church.” The impact of anti-immigration policies on church attendance and spiritual care A desperate mother of a special-needs child preparing legal custody papers in case of deportation The economic and moral contradictions in mass deportation efforts “Cities that have municipal sanctuary laws are threatened with suit by the new administration.” The Global Immigration and Refugee Crisis “All around the world immigration is in crisis.” 1980 Refugee Act “All the countries who signed the Universal Declaration of Human Rights have to take refugees.” The concept of “Refoulment”—”which means that you're sending someone back to die.” “Not only are all refugee programs stopped, but current refugees are not getting the support that they need.” “ Costa Rica is a five-million-person  country and they've taken two million refugees.” American Immigration During the Trump Administration Elon Musk saying “ that Lutheran Social Services was a money-laundering machine.” Current administration's policies as “ bold, unilateral, and so comprehensive and unnuanced” “If the Trump administration is successful at deporting ten million people, many of whom have been here over twenty years, thirty years, um, where will we find the labor that we need?” Policy and Legal Discussion The end of Deferred Deportation under the Trump and Biden administrations Executive orders eliminating prioritization of deportation The freezing of USAID and refugee support programs “All foreign aid has always been strategic. It's never not.” “Global warming refugees” “The current president of Venezuela loves gangs.” “Fixing immigration is really different than blowing it up. …  this is not an impossible crisis to solve.” The bipartisan immigration bill that Trump advised Republicans to block Historical immigration policies and their effectiveness “Policy does make a difference.” Objection to open borders: What about mercy for Americans? A false dichotomy. God's mercy is wide. “We have a number of believers in Congress who are acting out of fear right now and not out of faith.” Call to Action How faith communities can support immigrants “Immigrant churches are taking the brunt of this.” Why outrage doesn't help the process Ways to engage with legislators and advocate for reform The importance of standing with immigrant churches in this moment Supporting organizations like World Relief and Lutheran Social Services “The bulk of the people in the United States, the majority, have not had to grieve on this level. Not had to grieve with this intensity, with this constancy. Our spiritual muscles are weak—in terms of knowing how to grieve and keep going and trust God. ‘Though he slay me, I will worship him.'” “Encourage literally means ‘to get more courage.' You know, to give courage, to get courage. And so I just would want everybody to stop being outraged and start being courageous.” Production Credits Conversing is produced and distributed in partnership with Comment magazine and Fuller Seminary.

This month, the Academy Podcast features a word from Alexia Salvatierra. The content comes from her lecture at last December's online Academy Day Apart retreat called, “Hope in a Time of Despair.” Alexia explores the immigrant and refugee experience through the lens of hope, likening it to the hope of a woman in labor. They have faith that on the other side of the hardship, there is new life that is a fulfillment of God's dream for their lives—a life where they not only survive but thrive. Rev. Dr. Alexia Salvatierra is the Academic Dean of Centro Latino and the Associate Professor of Integral Mission and Global Transformation at Fuller Theological Seminary.  She has over forty years of ministry experience, including as a missionary in the Philippines, in Spanish-speaking and English-speaking congregations, as a legislative advocate, as the founder and director of multiple non-profit organizations and as an international speaker/training/consultant.  She was the co-founder of several national initiatives in the arena of engaging the Church in the immigration crisis. She is the co-author of "Faith-Rooted Organizing: Mobilizing the Church in Service to the World" and "Buried Seeds: Learning from the Vibrant Resiliency of Marginalized Christian Communities." Show notes: Episode tracks: “Far Side of the Sea,” “Versailles,” and “Fearless” by Amy Stroup, used with permission. For more information and resources visit: academy.upperroom.org/resources SUPPORT OUR WORK If the Academy Podcast or any of the ministries of The Academy for Spiritual Formation have benefited your life and spirituality, please consider making a one-time or monthly donation to show your support. You can do so and learn more about how your gifts make a difference at https://academy.upperroom.org/donate/

In this final episode of season two I continue discussing the relationship between the Bible and organizing. I begin by talking to Keisha Krumm, who opened the first episode of season one (you can hear more about her journey there). Here she gives a reading of Luke 18, or what she renames the parable of the tenacious widow, and reflects on what Scripture means to her in her work. I then talk to Alexia Salvatierra. Alexia shares something of her background, her formation as an organizer, and of her work with predominantly Evangelical churches.  I was keen to talk to Alexia as she has developed a compelling vision of the specific role and gifts of churches in broader social movements and democratic coalitions.  Scripture is central to her vision of the meaning and purpose of democratic politics. Alexia also gives a reading of the tenacious widow, one that compliments and amplifies Keisha's, as well as the story of David and the prophet Nathan in 2 Samuel 12. She situates her readings within a broader account of what she calls serpent and dove power, a framework derived from the exhortation in Matthew 10.16: "See, I am sending you out like sheep into the midst of wolves; so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves."GuestsKeisha Krumm is lead organizer for Greater Cleveland Congregations, a nonpartisan community organizing coalition in Cuyahoga County, Ohio. Since 2001, she has previously organized and built community organizations in Los Angeles, Seattle-Tacoma, and Milwaukee. Her work entails developing leaders within congregations, educational associations, nonprofits, and labor unions to tackle issues ranging from job creation, quality education, affordable health care, mental health, to racial justice. Keisha has a master's degree from the Mennonite Brethren Biblical Seminary in Christian Community Development. She is a devoted wife and mother who has committed her life to justice seeking.Rev. Dr. Alexia Salvatierra is a Lutheran Pastor with over 40 years experience in combining congregational ministry with community organizing. She is currently the Academic Dean of the Center for the Study of Hispanic Church and Community at Fuller Theological Seminary and the Assistant Professor of Integral Mission and Global Transformation. She is the author with Peter Heltzel of Faith-Rooted Organizing: Mobilizing the Church in Service to the World (Intervarsity Press) and Buried Seeds: Learning from the Resilience of Vibrant Marginalized Christian Communities with Rev. Brandon Wrencher (Baker Academic, 2022). In addition to her academic work, she coordinates the Ecumenical Collaboration for Asylum Seekers and serves on the leadership team of Matthew 25/Mateo 25––a bipartisan Christian network to protect and defend families facing deportation in the name and spirit of Jesus.  She has been a national leader in the areas of working poverty and immigration for over 25 years, including co-founding the national Evangelical Immigration Table in 2011, the 2007 New Sanctuary Movement, the Guardian Angels project for unaccompanied migrant minors in 2014, and Matthew 25/Mateo 25 in 2016. From 2000 to 2011, she was the Executive Director of Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice in California—a statewide alliance of organizations of religious leaders who come together to respond to the crisis of working poverty by joining low-wage workers in their struggle for a living wage, health insurance, fair working conditions, and a voice in the decisions that affect them.Scriptures discussed: 2 Samuel 11-12; Matthew 10; Luke 18.  For more information & relevant updates follow me on Twitter: @WestLondonMan For readings to download relevant to or discussed in an episode visit: https://ormondcenter.com/listen-organize-act-podcast

On this episode, we sit down with Dra. Alexia Salvatierra to discuss community development between Californios and recent immigrants, asking questions about how she manages to develop mutuality between the immigrant and citizen.Support the Mestizo Podcast by giving today.Have a question you want answered on the podcast? Leave us a message at 312-725-2995. Leave us a 30 second voicemail with your name, city, y pregunta and we'll discuss it on the last episode of the season. You can also submit a question using the form on this page.Merch: Whether you want a t-shirt, hoodie, baby onesie, journal, mug, or sticker, tenemos un poquito de todo. My favorite is the recently released "Product of Abuela's Prayers" crewneck, celebrating the theology we inherit from nuestras Abuelitas. Check out our New merch store by visiting our store. Courses: Want to take courses that prepare you to face the challenges of doing ministry in the hyphen? Visit learn.worldoutspoken.com today and enroll in one of our newest courses. About Dra. Salvatierra Rev. Dr. Alexia Salvatierra is the Academic Dean of the Centro Latino and the Assistant Professor of Integral Mission and Global Transformation at Fuller Theological Seminary. She has over 40 years of experience in ministries of community transformation, in the US and internationally. She is the co-author of Faith-Rooted Organizing: Mobilizing the Church in Service to the World and Buried Seeds: Learning from the Vibrant Resilience of Marginalized Christian Communities. Her favorite title is Madrina, given to her by the rising leaders whom she mentors.

Click here to keep up with the latest Goose News: http://wildgoosefestival.org/signup/ Sarah Heath interviews Alexia Salvatierra about what is really happening at the border. What is the difference between refugee and asylum, who do children belong to once parents are deported, and how do we find hope? Rev. Alexia Salvatierra is the author with Dr. Peter Heltzel of Faith-Rooted Organizing: Mobilizing the Church in Service to the World (Intervarsity Press). She is a Lutheran Pastor with over 40 years of experience in congregational and community ministry, including church-based service and community development programs, congregational and community organizing and legislative advocacy. She is an affiliate professor at Fuller Theological Seminary and adjunct at four other academic institutions. In addition to coordinating the Guardian Angels Project and assisting at Hope Lutheran Church, she serves as a consultant (training, facilitating, organizing and leading strategic planning) for a variety of national/international organizations, including World Vision, Intervarsity Christian Fellowship and the Christian Community Development Association. She is a national leader in immigrant justice, co-founder of the New Sanctuary Movement, the Evangelical Immigration Table and M25 (Matthew 25/Mateo 25).   Rev. Sarah Heath currently serves First United Methodist Church in Costa Mesa California, where she is the lead pastor for a church re-start and revitalization. Along with being a pastor Sarah is a speaker and a writer. She is the author of “What’s Your Story? Seeing your life through God’s eyes” and “The Authenticity Challenge: 21 days to a more content life.” She is the host of Sonderlust the podcast. You can hear Sarah featured on the litrugists podcast, Homebrewed Christianity, A tiny Revolution with Kevin Garcia and other podcasts or catch her on youtube with buzzfeed for ask a pastor anything. www.revsarahheath.com

Rev. Alexia Salvatierra is the founder and “madrina” of the Faith-Rooted Organizing UnNetwork. She is a Lutheran Pastor with over 35 years of experience in community ministry, including church-based service and community development programs, congregational and community organizing, and legislative advocacy. She is the author with Dr. Peter Heltzel of Faith-Rooted Organizing: Mobilizing the Church in Service to the World. She has been a national leader in the areas of working poverty and immigration for over 20 years, including the co-founding of the national Evangelical Immigration Table. In this episode of RePlacing Church, she joins me to discuss: What is faith-rooted organizing How to be wise as serpents and gentle as doves Why organizers need to appeal to more than people’s self-interest for social change Why faith-rooted organizing needs to be open sourced The compassion of Jesus The questions we must ask as we pursue “justice in the process” *Get your free RePlacing Church Resource List, a guide to being and becoming the church in the neighborhood. SUBSCRIBE, RATE, and REVIEW the RePlacing Church Podcast on iTunes, or listen on Stitcher, Google Play, or Podbean. Sign up for RePlacing Church updates at www.replacingchurch.org. Like on Facebook, Follow on Instagram. Episode Song Credits: "Another Wrong to Right" and "You Won't Walk Alone" by Mercir. "Closed" by Zadok Wartes. Used with Permission. Production Assistance by Nate Tubbs.

“The Compassionate Justice of Jesus” Alexia Salvatierra coordinator Welcoming Congregations Network of Southern California ELCA | co-author Faith-Rooted Organizing | adjunct faculty Fuller Seminary, New York Theological Seminary Alexia Profile PicRev. Alexia Salvatierra spoke at our 2014 VJN conference, and her engaging stories and winsome approach to “dove power” challenged us all. She is the author with Dr. Peter Heltzel of “Faith-Rooted Organizing: Mobilizing the Church in Service to the World” (Intervarsity Press). She is a Lutheran Pastor with over 35 years of experience in community ministry, including church-based service and community development programs, congregational and community organizing, and legislative advocacy. She currently serves as a consultant (training, facilitating, organizing and leading strategic planning) for a variety of national/international organizations, including World Vision USA/World Vision International/Women of Vision, Intervarsity Christian Fellowship and the Christian Community Development Association. She has been a national leader in the areas of working poverty and immigration for over 20 years, including the co-founding of the national Evangelical Immigration Table (a very broad coalition of moderate and conservative evangelical leaders and institutions advocating for immigration reform). She is adjunct faculty at the New York Theological Seminary, Fuller Theological Seminary and New Theological Seminary of the West, and has taught at Vanguard and Biola Universities as well as lecturing at a variety of academic institutions, including the University of Southern California and UCLA.

Join Peter E Matthews this week as he talks with special guests Alexia Salvatierra, author of "Faith Rooted Organizing: Mobilizing the Church in Service to the World" and Melinda Sanchez, national programs training coordinator for Esperanza, plus artist in residence Alina Ortiz.

Our Special Guest Speaker, Dear Sister and Mentor, Rev. Alexia Salvatierra, spoke to our River City family. You can read Rev. Alexia's book titled "Faith-Rooted Organizing": Mobilizing the Church in Service to the World, available on amazon. With so many injustices, small and great, across the world and right at our doorstep, what are people of faith to do? Since the 1930s, organizing movements for social justice in the U.S..have largely been built on assumptions that are secular origin—such as reliance on self-interest and having a common enemy as a motivator for change. But what if Christians were to shape their organizing around the implications of the truth that God is real and Jesus is risen? Alexia Salvatierra has developed a model of social action that is rooted in the values and convictions born of faith. Together with theologian Peter Heltzel, this model of "faith-rooted organizing" offers a path to meaningful social change that takes seriously the command to love God and to love our neighbor as ourself.