We are pleased to announce that Akilah S. Wallace has been appointed executive director, effective immediately. Akilah succeeds co-directors Dr. Lydia Bean and Rev. Edwin Robinson.
Dallas Faith Group Hosts Souls to the Polls Events with Reverend Jesse Jackson Ahead of Midterm Elections
For Immediate Release Contact: Lola Vinson, Faith in Texas, 972.890.1113, [email protected] More than 20 churches and community organizations across Dallas County participated in weekend events to engage their congregations in this year’s election. DALLAS – Faith in Texas over the weekend hosted the Super Soul Sunday: Rock the Righteous Vote celebration, joined by Reverend Jesse Jackson, featuring more than 20 congregations and social justice organizations from across Dallas. In partnership with Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance and African American Pastors Coalition, the multi-location event was coordinated to empower and energize the community to vote in the upcoming midterm elections and take advantage of early voting by taking their “souls to the polls” as a congregation. Rev. Jackson made appearances at several early voting locations including the Oak Cliff Sub-courthouse, Disciple Central Community Church, and the Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Center, saying, “Nothing can stop us when we appreciate our own power… It’s time for a fundamental change and we have that power.” As faith communities in the southern sector, we wanted to align our power and make a collective impact on this voting cycle,” said Faith in Texas Organizer Brittany White. “We are letting our elected officials know that we will be paying attention to the way we will be governed because the impact of this election will affect the next generation and this is the political climate our children will live in.” Souls to the Polls has a rich history in the Black community, in which churches mobilize their congregations in the last few Sundays before Election Day. The Oak Cliff Sub-Courthouse event feature a live DJ, food trucks, guided yoga and spoken word to entertain and engage voters as the group anticipates long lines for early voting. Faith in Texas is part of the broader Faith in Action network and their midterm Faith Votes program which is aiming to reach 1 million potential voters by Election Day. Faith in Texas is also engaging the Dallas community beyond the 2018 midterms as they begin to prepare for the 2019 legislative session and the mayoral and presidential elections. Participating Congregations Included: Mt. Pisgah (The Rock) Mt. Hebron Tabernacle of Praise Pilgrim Rest Mt. Tabor Missionary Baptist Church New Birth Missionary Baptist Church Concord Missionary Baptist Church St. Luke UMC St. John ELC New Jerusalem AME Highland Hill UMC Greater Bethlehem Baptist Church Antioch Baptist Church Lord Missionary Baptist Church Third Avenue Baptist Church Christ Willing Workers Koinonia Baptist Church St Paul Baptist Church Friendship West Baptist Church Greater Cornerstone Baptist Church View news coverage of Super Soul Sunday here. ### Faith in Texas is a multifaith, multiracial organization working to honor God by achieving systemic change through faith-based community organizing to create pathways of opportunity for all Texans. Faith in Texas is an affiliate of the Faith in Action network, the nation’s largest network developing civic leadership in low- and moderate-income faith communities.
In Solidarity Against Violence and Hate
We are saddened and angered by the news of yet another crime committed against humanity and the single most violent terrorist attack against Jewish Americans in the history of the United States. As members of the Faith in Texas Clergy Steering Committee, we firmly stand against anti-Semitism, and acts of violence and hatred. We mourn with the entire Jewish community. In addition to the eleven lives lost at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh, we grieve the two Black Americans who were killed in the Kentucky grocery store shooting. Enough is enough! We are tired of planning funerals for family members taken from us by violence. We must stand up and speak out against those that believe the appropriate response to their fears is to take the life of another. We read in Galatians 6:7, “Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.” We can no longer tolerate elected officials who sow animosity and pander to corporations while avoiding common sense laws that would prevent deadly weapons from falling into the wrong hands. Ending gun violence in our country is a responsibility that we all must bear. That so little has been done to protect our communities is a disgrace and a moral failure. Some elected officials tell us we must “protect” our borders from immigrants under the guise of safety, yet have ignored the fact that most of the terror plaguing our nation is the result of homegrown injustice, greed, and racism. For too long, White Christian supremacy has masqueraded as faith. Supremacy has no place in faith, for all people are created in the image of God and are inherently worthy of equality, dignity, and care. Isaiah 60:18 reads, “No longer will violence be heard in your land, nor ruin or destruction within your borders, but you will call your walls Salvation and your gates Praise.” We stand in unity with all people of faith and good will who affirm that we are better and stronger together. We recognize that the sweeping change our nation so desperately needs starts with us. We are people of resilient faith and we will not be deterred in our struggle to disarm hate. This Shabbat will be a continental Solidarity Shabbat with the Jewish community of Pittsburgh. At synagogues, community centers and homes across the country, we will come together as one people in prayer, compassion and unity. If you are in the DFW area, you can find more information via our partner congregations Temple Emanu-El and Beth El Binah. Or, find solidarity in an area near you. On behalf of Faith in Texas, we commit to the entire Jewish community, and all those affected by terror and violence, that you will have more than our thoughts and prayers. You will have our hands to help rebuild, our feet to walk alongside you, and our votes to create change in every arena of power. Shalom. Faith in Texas Clergy Steering Committee Rev. Manda Adams, Pastor, First Community Church UCC Rev. Dr. Mike Gregg, Pastor, Royal Lane Baptist Church Rabbi Kimberly Herzog Cohen, Temple Emanu-El Dr. Ray Jordan, Pastor, Central Congregational UCC Rev. Dr. Jaime Kowlessar, Senior Pastor, City Temple SDA
