Keith Caldwell elected president of MICAH. He was elected at Micah’s February Delegates meeting on Tuesday, February 18.
I understand the critical role faith has played historically in forming meaningful social movements. When believers collectively live into our profession of faith, we are provided with a means of grace that allows us to “accept the power and freedom God gives us to resist evil, injustice, and oppression in whatever forms they present themselves.” It has been my experience that many faith organizations have chosen the low-hanging fruit of doing Charity work – a model of “doing for” rather than engaging in the transformative work of doing Justice – a model of “doing with,” one that addresses Systemic Sin. I am delighted to live into my baptismal identity by working outside the four walls of the church and holistically addressing the adverse material reality of folks who have pressed against the margins to bring about Beloved Community.
Pastor Keith Caldwell
About MICAH
MICAH (Memphis Interfaith Coalition for Action and Hope) is a coalition of community and faith-based organizations joining together to give a more powerful voice for issues of justice in our city. Our current platform concentrates on three pillar issues, economic equity, education equity, and race & class equity in the justice system. We organize and speak to our community and its leaders, always seeking to “do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with our God.” The purpose of MICAH is not to replace each congregation or community organization’s efforts, but instead to amplify the voice and the impact by working together interdependently.
MICAH follows the community organizing methodology of the Gamaliel Foundation. Gamaliel has worked successfully with communities across the country, including Nashville, where NOAH (Nashville Organized for Action and Hope) has become a force for change and an influencer of community policy on affordable housing, criminal justice, and economic equity.
About Centenary United Methodist Church
Centenary is a historic church that has been ministering to the community since 1865. Our mission is to be a diverse community of faith, committed to worship, spiritual growth, and service through Christian love. Join us for worship service every Sunday at 10:30 am online and in-person.
This Sunday, Centenary members will celebrate the rich heritage of Africa and celebrate the achievements of African Americans in U. S. history. Please wear your African attire and bring a “soul food” dish for our potluck dinner in the Family Life Center after the 10:30 a.m. service.
About Centenary United Methodist Church
Centenary is a historic church that has been ministering to the community since 1865. Our mission is to be a diverse community of faith, committed to worship, spiritual growth, and service through Christian love. Join us for worship service every Sunday at 10:30 am online and in-person.
TWK BMCR is sponsoring a workshop titled “Mental Health in the Black Church” that focuses on mental health stigmas, how congregations can support mental wellness, and how to work with local resources. Register now!
Our mission is to raise up prophetic and spiritual leaders who will be advocates for the unique needs of Black people in The United Methodist Church. Our vision is a renewed, transformed, unified body of Christ on a mission in the world. Our purpose: We call ourselves and the entire United Methodist Church to repentance, to rebuild God’s Church as a community of faith, to declare the traditions and stories of the Bible and Black culture, to reclaim the black community, and to liberate all people from racism and injustice everywhere.
According to the American Heart Association, Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains the leading cause of death in the U.S. The report notes that Black Americans suffer some of the worst CVD health outcomes, likely due to the increasing prevalence of health risk factors that lead to CVD.
CVD Prevalence: Among people aged 20 and older in the U.S., nearly 60% of Black adults have some type of CVD, including coronary heart disease, heart failure, stroke, and hypertension; that’s compared to about 49% of all U.S. adults who have some type of CVD.
Stroke Disparities: Among all adults in the U.S., the prevalence of stroke is highest among Black women (5.4%) and Black men (4.8%), compared to all women at 2.9% and all men at 3.6%. High Blood Pressure Crisis: Black adults in the U.S have some of the highest prevalence of hypertension in the world, with 58.4% of Black women and 57.5% of Black men having high blood pressure. That compares to 50.4% of all U.S. adult men and 43% of all women. Heart Failure Burden: Black adults account for over 50% of heart failure hospitalizations among U.S. adults under 50.
Females, over the age of forty, (40), years of age and past menopause, are at a high risk of having a heart attack.
The science is clear-Black communities continue to face disproportionate risks of heart disease, stroke, and other cardiovascular conditions, leading to poorer survival outcomes. But data alone won’t drive change. Real impact happens when we work directly with communities formulating ideas and creating plans and programs to create solutions that address these disparities. By advocating for equitable healthcare, fostering heart health education, providing monthly blood pressure, blood glucose, and oxygen saturation evaluations, and access to Hands-Only CPR training we, Centenary United Methodist Church, Health and Wellness Team are committed to working with the community to change the future of health.
Join Centenary Memphis as we celebrate the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on January 19th and 20th.
Labor in the Pulpit
Join us for worship service Sunday, January 19 at 10:30 am. We welcome our local laborer leaders to speak briefly on the important connection between faith and labor and on the history of the sanitation workers.
Teamsters Local 667 Scheduled Events:
8:00 am – Opening ceremony by Teamsters Local 667 Begins in the park at N. Main & SW Willis Ave.
9:00 am – MLK Memorial March from the park to the National Civil Rights Museum
12:00 pm – 2:00 pm – Mid-Day Luncheon, food, and beverages will be provided with a small program, located at Centenary UMC
5:00 pm – Join Teamsters Local 667 and all of organized labor in celebrating MLK Day with the Memphis Grizzlies as they take on the Charlotte Hornets at their annual MLK Day Game
About Centenary United Methodist Church
Centenary is a historic church that has been ministering to the community since 1865. Our mission is to be a diverse community of faith, committed to worship, spiritual growth, and service through Christian love. Join us for worship service every Sunday at 10:30 am online and in-person.
