An Announcement from OnFire

In the wake of General Conference, many United Methodist groups are in transition, trying to find where the Spirit leads in this new quadrennium. The leadership team of OnFire has discerned that our justice work can best be done by better working with MFSA and other United Methodist organizations and current partners like UM Kairos Response, Reconciling Ministries Network, as well as a myriad of other justice-oriented organizations in our own local communities that need the leadership of passionate young people.

This means that OnFire will no longer be a separate chapter of MFSA for young adults. We still support groups like Drew University OnFire's Java and Justice, but we seek to foster a movement of justice-minded folks coming together to talk about and act on diverse issues and working in coalition rather than creating competing voices.

Our blog will remain a resource for young people, and a place of connection. We believe in the transforming work that young people are doing all over the world, particularly young United Methodists, and we want this blog to continue to serve as a platform to showcase that work and inspire further work. We have found it powerful to hear from United Methodist Young Adult missionaries, from justice workers in Haiti, from local pastors and organizers, about issues ranging from the death penalty, divestment, interfaith solidarity, Occupy Wall Street, and so many others. We are always open to new posts, so please email if you have something to share. Young adult voices need to be heard, especially in this church, and especially in this new quadrennium.

We encourage young people to become involved in (or start!) local MFSA chapters to engage with local issues, local churches, and local networks. Many local chapters are seeking more involvement from young people and through participating on a local level connections can be made that foster encouragement and support. While an online presence through the blog is beneficial, the face-to-face meetings in a local setting able to form friendships that empower young people to advocate on local issues and assume leadership roles within their local chapters and churches.

As we come away from General Conference, we see that, though national and global organizing are still needed, it is in our local communities that we see important justice work happening.