The Intersection of Church and Society
by Megan Hale
I first learned of MFSA when studying to be a deaconess in the United Methodist Church. Our professor, Rev. Dr George McClain, was the former Executive Director for MFSA.
In the 10+ years since becoming a deaconess, I’ve learned more about the rich history and intersection of the Social Gospel Movement, the Deaconess Movement, and MFSA (formerly MFSS). It seems fitting and right that our professor would be so deeply connected to all these movements, as all three have been at the intersection of church and society for over a century. In the early days of MFSS, deaconesses served on staff. Both deaconesses and the Federation used the power of writing to educate and advocate for change related to justice issues of the day. They shared publications across the connection to raise awareness to topics that were not being addressed in the church or by society at large.
Today, I continue this legacy by being both a deaconess and involved in MFSA, and I am not the only one! Many deaconesses and home missioners across the UMC serve in both lay vocational ministries of love, justice, and service, while also serving as leaders with MFSA. We can utilize both platforms to raise awareness, educate, and equip our communities, churches, and conferences on the justice issues affecting our world today.
In our current times, I often say community is resistance. Being together in a community with fellow justice-seekers from MFSA gives me hope. As people of faith, we can be counter-cultural to the narrative that often hijacks Christianity and the real message of Jesus.
As an MFSA community, we come together both in-person and virtually to take a stand against injustice, to learn together, and to be agents of change, doing our best to be bearers of God’s peace and justice to the world around us.
Deaconess Megan Hale (she/her/hers) is a member of the New York annual conference and has been a part of the MFSA steering committee of the New York Chapter since moving to NY in 2018. She was consecrated as a deaconess in the United Methodist Church in 2014. Before moving to the Northeast, Megan lived in Texas and was a member of the Central Texas Conference where she was the chair of the Reconciling Ministries Team and a founding member and chair of Advocates for Social Justice of her home church in Arlington, TX. She graduated from Texas Tech University in 2005 with a degree in Multidisciplinary Studies. Megan is a member of the Church of St. Paul and St. Andrew in Manhattan.