Meet our Church and Society Fellows

Meet Maria Penrod

Hello internet world! My name is Maria and I’m from Overbrook, Kansas (pop. 1,042 no stoplights). I graduated in December 2016 from Kansas State University with a Bachelor of Science in journalism and mass communications with an emphasis in public relations and a minor in political science (Whew, that’s a mouthful).

This past summer, I was a Micah Corps intern in the Great Plains Conference. Micah Corps is based on Micah 6:8 which says: “He has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” (Micah 6:8 is also displayed in the entrance of the United Methodist Building) During Micah Corps, I learned about combining faith and social justice and shared with churches in Kansas and Nebraska how they can engage in justice work. Not only did Micah Corps give me amazing friends (Hi Micah friends!) it taught me about how we are showing our love for God and love for our brothers and sisters when we labor to create a more equitable society for all people. Justice had been important to me for a long time, but I had never considered justice as part of my faith until last summer.

Reminders for justice advocates

I wanted to be a Church and Society Fellow to advocate for justice in these turbulent times. I am working with Communications and Civil and Human Rights. As I started this week, nearly everyone here reminded me of the need for rest and self-care. Justice work can be emotionally taxing, frustrating and exhausting. Nurturing ourselves is essential if we want to be effective as change-makers. As you resist oppression, here are some ways you can care for yourself:

• Read a book (for fun!)
• Take a walk
• Drink coffee slowly
• Pet a dog
• Talk to a little kid
• Take a nap (my personal favorite)
• Spend time with a friend
• Actually cook something for yourself
• Listen to your favorite music
• Pray
• Read your Bible
• Eat cookie dough

Week 2

Moving past the polarization and labels of today

One of my topics while being a church and society fellow is immigration. If you have been following the news in the past month or so, you know that a lot has been going on with immigration. On February 16, there was actually a strike of immigrants across the United States, and many restaurants and other businesses across Washington, D.C. are closed.

Through the presidential campaign, election, inauguration to today, it is becoming more and more obvious how polarized our country has become on immigration and many other issues. We have typed those who disagree with us as “others.” We hurl labels at them, but have we ever talked to them one-on-one? As humans? As brothers and sisters in Christ?

My prayer has been that God will allow me to see others as God sees them, and to love unconditionally as God has shown us. Even people who voted for someone else. I pray that God will allow all of us to recognize that every human being has inherent value and is worthy of dignity and respect. I pray that God will give us empathy to see things through the views of others. Finally, I pray for our leaders, that they will make good choices, not just for their personal interests or party, but for everyone.

Meet Caroline Mutsago

Caroline I am Caroline Mutsago and I am from Zimbabwe, where I am a member of St Mark United Methodist Church in Harare. I hold a Bachelor of social science honors degree in Political Science and 2 post graduate certificates in Community Development and Monitoring and Evaluation. I have worked For the General Board of Global Ministries Global Mission Fellows program serving as a community development worker in the Philippines and also the Unites Methodist Ministry with Women Children and Youth in Zimbabwe. As I continue to serve my church I have joined the Church and Society as a Fellow working on women and children projects. I have always been passionate about working with women and children especially coming from a patriarchal society and it is my vision to see an emancipated society that values the equality of all persons. Genesis 1:26-28: God created all human beings in God‘s own Image to be partners in stewarding God‘s creation. No one is above the other!

Creating resources for my home country

I am so excited to journey here as this will help me to gain more advanced strategies, networks, shared information in my work back home. My first project is to develop and compile pastoral resources on ending child marriages, human trafficking, domestic violence, sexual violence, HIV/AIDs and reproductive health. These resources are intended to be used in Zimbabwe through ministry with women, children and youth and by local churches as well. Through this work I hope to transform my community and church back home. I am excited as I look forward to learn more about Church and Society through my supervisor Susan Burton who holds extensive experience on women and children advocacy.

Week 2

Over the weekend I visited the White house I got so disappointed to see that they had put a long fence along the front of the building. The fence was so distracting that I couldn’t take beautiful pictures of it. We (my roommate and I) decide to go the back instead where there was no long fence finally I got to take the pictures I wanted to. But as we were walking towards the White House there were so many different groups protesting and demonstrating against The United States, President Trump’s Muslim Ban.

These words reassure me

When I got home I read this bible verse 1 Corinthians 15:58, therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

As I reflected on it, the current situation and my experiences especially working on social justice. I have definitely had a time where I grew weak and faint-hearted and I could think that my efforts and energy for social justice and truth were being wasted but that was not so! This verse came as an encouragement and reassurance at the right time when I needed it. Most people need this reassurance, that their work to raise awareness, protest and the demonstration are not in vain because it’s for the Lord. These efforts will be rewarded and there will be a resurrection only if we continue to be steadfast and unmoved.