Social Justice

Tucson Historic Marriage Equality Rally at St. Philip’s

equals signThe Supreme Court has just ruled that the Constitution requires all 50 states to legally recognize and perform same-sex marriages. On Monday, June 29, at 5:30pm, Tucson will hold a Decision Day Rally at St. Philip’s In The Hills Episcopal Church. The event is sponsored by the Wingspan Multifaith Working Group and the 7th Annual Multifaith Pride Service, and hosted by St. Philip’s LGBTQ-A ministry. TIHAN, SAAF, PFLAG, the LGBT Jewish Inclusion Project, and the Culture of Peace Alliance are providing community outreach support.

Faith and community leaders will share prepared statements about this historic case and the long-fought struggle for LGBTQ rights in America and here in Arizona. Three elected officials — Congressman Ron Barber, State Representative Victoria Steele, and Tucson City Councilwoman Karin Uhlich — will speak at the event. Rabbi Thomas Louchheim of Congregation Or Chadash, Rev. Greg Foraker of St. Philip’s, and the Rev. Mike Smith and Sylvia Thorson-Smith from St. Mark’s Presbyterian Church will share perspectives on the decision from the Judeo-Christian Tucson community. Scott Blades, Executive Director of TIHAN, Ann Yellott from the Culture of Peace Alliance will also give their reflections. This will be an occasion for faith communities to join together to mark this historic time. The Monday date for the rally was to allow Jewish community participation in this program.

St. Philip’s is located at 4440 North Campbell Avenue at River Road. There is ample parking in the north parking lot or under the solar structure on the east side. The statements will take place in the Church, and a reception will follow in the Murphey Gallery. Both spaces are fully accessible. Questions regarding this event may be addressed to Marc Paley, organizer, at 520-306-0157. Cameron Rau (520-440-2240) will serve as the St. Philip’s liaison for this event.

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Sunday Forum: Prison Issues in America and Arizona

On Sunday, February 8, at 10:15 a.m., the Prison Ministry at St. Philip’s In The Hills Episcopal Church will host a forum entitled “Prison Issues in America and Arizona.” We will gather in the East Gallery to address the following (and other) questions:

prison 2Why does the U.S. have the world’s highest incarceration rate? Why is the State of Arizona sixth in prison population but only fifteenth in total population? Who are the winners in the prison industry? Why is solitary confinement such a big problem? Why are 32% of current Arizona inmates there for parole/probation violations? Why do we in the church need to know about all this? What can ordinary citizens do to help?

Our presenter is Rebecca Fealk with “Read Between the Bars,” a volunteer-based Tucson organization that gets free books directly into the hands of incarcerated women and men in Arizona and advocates for prison reform.

 

prison 3St. Philip’s Prison Ministry is exploring ways to live up to the words of Jesus in Matthew 25: “’For I was hungry, and you gave me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave me something to drink; … I was sick, and you visited me; … I was in prison, and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry, and feed you, or thirsty, and give you something to drink? … When did we see you sick, or in prison, and come to you?’ The King will answer and say to them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of mine, even the least of them, you did it to me.’”