Supporting Muslim Friends, Standing Against Hate

ChurchandHateLogoFriends,

Northaven is honored to be hosting an event, Sunday afternoon, supporting our Muslim brothers and sisters, in the wake of vitriolic protests last weekend in Garland.

It will be at 4 pm Sunday in our sanctuary. I know this is last minute. But our Muslims friends were eager for a quick response, so we will rely predominantly on social media, and on sharing in those platforms. Details are below.

We will obviously be eager to have as many Northaven folks as possible, and to be a welcoming and peaceful space for all who will come.

The official press statement is below….Eric Folkerth

Dallas Faith Leaders Declare Solidarity with Muslim Neighbors

Alarmed by escalating hate rhetoric aimed at Muslims in North Texas, faith leaders in Dallas have called an interfaith gathering of religious, civic leaders and community members to discuss countermeasures and to offer support to Muslims who call North Texas home. A recent Muslim conference held in Garland, Texas drew hundreds of protestors carrying signs with slogans that disparaged Islam who also told attendees they were “not welcome” in their country.

Senior Pastor Eric Folkerth of Northaven United Methodist Church who is hosting the event said, ” My Christian faith compels me to live in peace with my Muslim brothers and sisters of all religious faiths. I know many Muslims in the Dallas area and they are peace loving faithful citizens of our city and country. We look forward to standing with them on Sunday.”

According to Dr Hind Jarrah, one of the event organizers and an interfaith leader, “this meeting will affirm our respect for the dignity of human beings all faiths, all races, all ethnic groups and communities. We will emphasize that we all are neighbors living peacefully with one another, sharing common values of friendship, good will and respect for all”. The event will include comments by faith leaders, a panel discussion and live Middle Eastern music.

When: 4 PM Jan 25 2015
Where Northaven United Methodist Church
11211 Preston Road Dallas TX 75230

Sponsors: Northaven United Methodist Church, Dallas Peace Center, Texas Muslim Women Foundation, Council of American Islamic Relations- (CAIR-DFW)

Posted by

Eric Folkerth is a minister, musician, author and blogger. He is Senior Pastor of Kessler Park UMC United Methodist Church in Dallas, Texas. Previously, he was pastor at Northaven UMC in Dallas for seventeen years. Eric loves to write on topics of spirituality, social justice, music/art and politics. The entries on this blog reflect that diversity of interests. His passion for social justice goes beyond mere words. He’s been arrested at the White House, defending immigrants and “The Dreamers,” and he’s officiated at same sex weddings in his churches, in defiance of what some believe is Methodist teaching. Eric is an avid blogger and published author, and 2017 recipient of the prestigeous Kuchling Humanitarian Award from Dallas’ Black Tie Dinner. (Human Rights Campaign) Eric has led or co-led hundreds of persons on mission trips around the globe, to places such as Mexico, Haiti, Russia, and Nepal. He has worked with lay persons to build ten homes, and one Community Center, in partnership with Habitat for Humanity of Dallas. He’s a popular preacher, and often tackles challenging issues of social justice in his writings and sermons. His wife, Judge Dennise Garcia, is a State District Judge for Dallas, County. As judge of the 303rd Family District Court, she consistently gets high ratings from area lawyers, and was named “best judge” by The Dallas Observer. First elected in 2004, she was the first Latina ever elected to a county-wide bench in Dallas County, and is currently the longest service district judge in that district. She was re-elected for a fourth term in 2018. They have the world’s best daughter, Maria, and an incredible dog, Daisy. Find links to Eric’s music-related websites, at the top of this site’s navigation menu.

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