Author Archives: Vince Gonzales

About Vince Gonzales

United Methodist Laity, married to a recent Seminary graduate seeking ordination. Active at all levels of the Church, from the local congregation to sitting on the Board of The General Commission on Religion and Race of The United Methodist Church, one of our 13 UMC Agencies. I also am the Chair of the Racial and Social Justice Task Force of Churches Uniting in Christ, an ecumenical group of communions, dedicated to the reconciliation of ministries and fighting racism. My polity pendulum often swings to both extremes so one never knows what they might find on this page!

Today I went to Church!

Posted on April 28, 2017

I went to church today. Even though I was attending the GCORR Open-Space Summit, it wasn’t at this morning’s worship service. As I walked into our worship area at the Albuquerque convention center I saw signs posted with directions to … Continue reading →

Posted in Central Texas Conference, Central Texas Conference of the United Methodist Church, christ, Christian Churches Together, Christian Unity, Churches Uniting In Christ, General Commission on Religion and Race, Hope, Immigrant, Immigration, Inclusiveness, Justice, law, Marginalized, Migrant, Office of Christian Unity and Interreligious Concerns, Peace, Race and Religion | Leave a comment

Thoughts on Easter, 2016…and 2017

Posted on April 26, 2017

Originally posted on Walking with The Wesleys.:
I saved this for after Easter Sunday. So often, after the anthems are finished, our special meals are cleared off the tables and our friends, family and guests have returned from whence they…

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The Parable of the Good Terrorist

Posted on February 22, 2017

Yesterday, I delivered the devotional to open our daily work of The General Commission on Religion and Race’s CORR Action Fund.  I had intended to talk about Christian Unity but, early in the morning, the blueprint  to the new Presidential Executive … Continue reading →

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When Systemic Racism Hits Home

Posted on February 22, 2017

This posting was written last year.  It is worth repeating. If we are to celebrate Black History Month as a people of faith, we should make sure that history is accurate. Where it is inaccurate, we are obliged to correct … Continue reading →

Posted in Central Texas Conference, Central Texas Conference of the United Methodist Church, christ, Churches Uniting In Christ, CUIC, General Commission on Religion and Race, implicit bias, Inclusiveness, Jesus Christ, Justice, Race and Religion, United Methodist, Wesleyan | Leave a comment

An Open Letter to The Council of Bishops

Posted on November 23, 2016

Today, Bishop Bruce R. Ough, the President of the Council of Bishops released the following statement: To the People Called United Methodist: Grace and peace in the name of Jesus Christ! On the eve of Advent and in the post-election … Continue reading →

Posted in christ, Christian Churches Together, Christian Unity, Churches Uniting In Christ, Civil Rights, Council of Bishops, CUIC, General Commission on Religion and Race, Hispanic/Latino ministries, Hope, implicit bias, Inclusiveness, Justice, Marginalized, North Texas Conference of the United Methodist Church, OCUIR, Office of Christian Unity and Interreligious Concerns, Peace, Race and Religion, Social Principles, Uncategorized, Unity, Wesleyan | Leave a comment

Looking Death in the eye…in the Courtroom.

Posted on October 30, 2016

Well, the jury has been selected, the witnesses sworn in, the defense team has had its last minute meetings to tie up loose ends.  And tomorrow, the trial begins.  The State of Texas is seeking to kill one of its … Continue reading →

Posted in capital punishment, christ, Civil Rights, death penalty, guns, implicit bias, Justice, law, Marginalized, Police, school-to-prison, Social Principles, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Four Little Girls

Posted on September 15, 2016

Every year, since 2012, I have posted this piece I wrote.  In light of today’s racial unrest, particularly from the campaign trail, we need to hear these words more today than  ever. By Vince Gonzales, September, 2012   Four little … Continue reading →

Posted in Balm in Gilead, Baltimore, Birmingham Church bombing, Charleston, christ, Christian Churches Together, Christian Unity, Churches Uniting In Christ, Civil Rights, Council of Bishops, CUIC, Emanuel A.M.E. Church, Ezell Ford, Ferguson, General Commission on Religion and Race, Global AIDS Fund, Good Samaritan, guns, Hispanic/Latino ministries, Hope, implicit bias, Inclusiveness, Jesus Christ, Justice, law, Marginalized, Martin Luther King, mass shootings, Michael Brown, MLK, OCUIR, Office of Christian Unity and Interreligious Concerns, Peace, Police, Race and Religion, SC, school-to-prison, Uncategorized, United Methodist, Unity, Wesleyan | Leave a comment

From the ruins and ashes, much was raised.

Posted on September 10, 2016

September 11, 2001. As was my practice, I was watching the Today Show that Tuesday morning. At about 7:50 am, the coverage changed. There were dramatic scenes of the North Tower of the World Trade Center, with smoke billowing from … Continue reading →

Posted in 9/11, christ, Christian Unity, Inclusiveness, Jesus Christ, Justice, OCUIR, Office of Christian Unity and Interreligious Concerns, Peace, Race and Religion, St. John's UMC Lubbock, Unity | 2 Comments

Churches Uniting In Christ Responds to Violence in Orlando and Multiple Police

Posted on August 2, 2016

In June and July of this year, Churches Uniting In Christ has responded to the pandemic of gun violence that has rocked our Nation.   Churches Uniting in Christ is a covenant relationship among eleven Christian communions that have pledged to … Continue reading →

Posted in Baltimore, Central Texas Conference, Central Texas Conference of the United Methodist Church, Charleston, christ, Christian Churches Together, Churches Uniting In Christ, Council of Bishops, CUIC, Dallas, Emanuel A.M.E. Church, Ezell Ford, Ferguson, General Commission on Religion and Race, guns, Hispanic/Latino ministries, implicit bias, Jesus Christ, Justice, law, mass shootings, Michael Brown, North Texas Conference of the United Methodist Church, Northwest Texas Conference of the United Methodist Church, OCUIR, Office of Christian Unity and Interreligious Concerns, Peace, Police, Race and Religion, SC, Uncategorized, United Methodist, Wesleyan | Leave a comment

Hispanic/Latin@ millennials and the Church

Posted on July 31, 2016

This past April, I attended a gathering of Hispanic/Latin@ church leaders with the intent of discussing how to reach Hispanic/Latin@ millennials for the church.  There was great diversity of denominations, national origin, language and polity among this group.  I was … Continue reading →

Posted in Central Texas Conference, Central Texas Conference of the United Methodist Church, christ, Christian Churches Together, Churches Uniting In Christ, Council of Bishops, CUIC, General Commission on Religion and Race, Hispanic/Latino ministries, implicit bias, Inclusiveness, Jesus Christ, Justice, Marginalized, North Texas Conference of the United Methodist Church, Northwest Texas Conference of the United Methodist Church, OCUIR, Office of Christian Unity and Interreligious Concerns, Race and Religion, United Methodist | Leave a comment