By Jason Redick, TCADP North Texas Outreach Coordinator
Since I’ve begun my work as North Texas Outreach Coordinator for TCADP, I have sought to create and sustain meaningful relationships with communities of faith and faith leaders. As a United Methodist myself, I have found many compassionate and interested United Methodists Pastors and Lay People across the state.
As this year’s Annual Conference gatherings approached, it was with great pride that I heard of several United Methodists interested in submitting resolutions to support TCADP and the abolition of the death penalty. The resolutions also encourage Pastors in those conferences to join us for our Faith Leader Advocacy Day in 2017.
We, at TCADP, worked to equip those who put forth the resolutions in the Rio Texas, Central Texas, and Northwest Texas Annual Conferences. As noted previously, similar resolutions were passed in the North Texas Annual Conference (2014) and Texas Annual Conference (2015). I’m happy to report that the Rio Texas, Central Texas, and Northwest Texas United Methodist Conferences all passed resolutions on the death penalty at their 2016 gatherings. This means that all five United Methodist jurisdictions in Texas have taken a stand on this issue.
When collective bodies pass legislation like this, they give a visual and tangible witness to the changing opinions and beliefs on the death penalty in Texas. I was able to visit the Annual Conferences of Central Texas and North Texas and am excited to follow up with many lay persons and clergy who are committed to work towards the repeal of the death penalty!
Learn more about TCADP’s Religious Outreach efforts.