Recent Articles
Civic Engagement
600,000
On May 24, 2022, Texas held its party primary runoffs. The message from those primary runoffs is that little has changed and we’re in for more of the same: despite the fact that there are nearly 4 million more Texans of voting age than there were in 2012, the 600,000...
Unclenched Hands
This weekend, I spent some time in the Texas Hill Country at the MoRanch Women’s Conference, talking with my (mostly) Presbyterian sisters about how people of faith can be effective advocates for justice in the current political climate. It was amazing to be...
Show Us the Money
Early voting is underway for May 24 runoffs. History shows how one primary race for a state house seat can create a political tsunami for the entire legislature. Voters, however, are often frustrated at the difficulty of learning about “down-ballot races.” In...
Climate Justice
Texas Interfaith Power and Light Methane Lent Series
In the Christian tradition, Lent is a time of reflection about the ways we have missed the mark and the ways we would like to do better in the next year. Texas Interfaith Power and Light has put together a Lenten series of reflections focused on the environmental...
Pipeline Safety Agency In Process of Updating Pipeline Rules
Yesterday I pulled up to the curb in front of a music studio where one of my children takes guitar lessons and noticed for the first time a sign posted in the grass in front of the building that indicated the presence of a gas pipeline under the property. I noticed...
Why Does Texas Railroad Commission Oppose EPA Methane Rule?
While Texas Impact staff were in Dubai at COP28 we celebrated the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) announcement of new, strong methane rules. As a reminder, the new methane rule requires oil and gas producers to stop methane leaks from their...
Economic Justice
Reproductive Rights and the Dobbs Decision: History and Context
The U.S. Supreme Court issued a ruling that substantially alters the landscape of reproductive health in the United States. As most observers expected, the ruling eliminates the U.S. Constitutional right to an abortion, and allows state legislatures complete...
Carson v Makin: From “No Aid” to “No Holds Barred”
In Carson v. Makin, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down a Maine law that prohibited state funds from being used to teach a religious curriculum in its state voucher program. The Court extended a doctrinal line of cases regarding “discrimination against religion.” The...
The Unsustainable Reality of a Car-centric United States
As temperatures continued to rise across the Southwest, imposing heat watches, advisories, and warnings, so did the price at the pumps. Gasoline prices hit a record high of $5 a gallon this weekend, harming the pockets of those who rely on cars to commute. The U.S. is...
Human Rights
Reflections from El Paso: We Will Resist Summit
“Bienvenida” Last week, I had the opportunity to attend the We Will Resist Summit held in the beautiful borderlands of El Paso. As my Uber driver dropped me off at my destination, we chatted in Spanglish, and I eventually disclosed it was my first time in El...
Reflecting on the SACReD Gathering 2024
This week, I spent time in New Orleans attending the SACReD Gathering 2024. SACReD, or the Spiritual Alliance of Communities for Reproductive Dignity, is an organization “collaborating to advance Reproductive Justice through congregational education, culture change,...
International Religious Freedom: Fighting for the Common Good
Guest blog post by Rev. Mel Caraway and Rev. Phil DiekeWe had a great meeting today with a delegation from Tajikistan on "International Religious Freedom." Their visit was sponsored by the Department of State and the World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth. ...