fbpx

TEXAS IMPACT PRESENTS

WEEKLY WITNESS

WITH SCOTT ATNIP

YOUTUBE
SPOTIFY
APPLE

Weekly Witness is a weekly opportunity for Texans of faith to learn about important public policy issues through a faith lens, and find out timely opportunities to participate in the public policy process. Host Scott Atnip is Texas Impact’s Director of Public Witness. His guests come from a wide assortment of policy disciplines and faith traditions. Each week’s episode also features a “Weekly Word” reflection by a Texas religious leader.

NEWEST EPISODES

This week we are joined by Emily Bourgeois, Community Organizer of RAC-Texas, the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism—one of Texas Impact’s member institutions. We always enjoy working with Emily across a range of policy issues, including public education and religious freedom. Over the last month, we have had several episodes about the holy seasons many of our traditions have been observing. Emily will join us today to talk about Passover and the intersection with advocacy. Learn more about the work of RAC-Texas at rac.org/take-action/rac-your-state/rac-tx

This week we are joined by Emily Bourgeois, Community Organizer of RAC-Texas, the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism—one of Texas Impact’s member institutions. We always enjoy working with Emily across a range of policy issues, including public education and religious freedom.



Over the last month, we have had several episodes about the holy seasons many of our traditions have been observing. Emily will join us today to talk about Passover and the intersection with advocacy.



Learn more about the work of RAC-Texas at rac.org/take-action/rac-your-state/rac-tx

0 0

YouTube Video UExweEhlSXFoeVBrMVlxamJHSzdqQXIwczNqSmpnTTZwWi41RjU0OTVCQThDNUUwQzBD

Weekly Witness Ep. 343 Modern Plagues

Texas Impact 17 hours ago

This week we are joined by Texas Impact's Climate Action Fellow, Becca Edwards, to help prepare for Earth Day on April 22. Becca has been meeting with many congregations talking about climate change, liberation theology, how communities of faith can engage in climate issues during this election season and so much more. So we thought we would bring those conversations to you as you think about what you and your congregation can do this Earth Day and beyond. One of the ways you can continue to engage this work is by joining the Texas Impact Climate Action Team! texasimpact.org/texas-impact-climate-action-team

This video is private.

0 0

YouTube Video UExweEhlSXFoeVBrMVlxamJHSzdqQXIwczNqSmpnTTZwWi5EREU0QjZERDMzRDBGNTMz

Weekly Witness Ep. 342 No Shade to the Polar Bears

Texas Impact April 19, 2024 2:25 pm

This week we say goodbye to maybe our closest friend of the show, who has been on the program more than any other guest. Texas Impact announced last week that Advocacy Director Joshua Houston would be leaving soon to take a new position with Caritas of Austin. So we thought we needed to say goodbye (for now) with one last episode reminiscing on some of his proudest, and most hilarious, moments in his 14 years with Texas Impact. Keep the tissue box close by for this very special episode because we finally talk about feelings! Find out ore about Caritas of Austin at caritasofaustin.org

This week we say goodbye to maybe our closest friend of the show, who has been on the program more than any other guest. Texas Impact announced last week that Advocacy Director Joshua Houston would be leaving soon to take a new position with Caritas of Austin. So we thought we needed to say goodbye (for now) with one last episode reminiscing on some of his proudest, and most hilarious, moments in his 14 years with Texas Impact. Keep the tissue box close by for this very special episode because we finally talk about feelings!

Find out ore about Caritas of Austin at caritasofaustin.org

3 0

YouTube Video UExweEhlSXFoeVBrMVlxamJHSzdqQXIwczNqSmpnTTZwWi5CNEFEOUNDRUMzMjVGMjc2

Weekly Witness Ep. 341 All the Feels

Texas Impact April 12, 2024 12:32 pm

Many Christians just finished Holy Week, Passover is coming and we are in the midst of Ramadan. All of those seasons can and should inspire people of faith to love our neighbor and have some intersection with advocating on behalf of our neighbors and communities at large. This week, we have a friend of the program Usama Malik, Program Coordinator for Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary and Texas Impact Board Member, to talk with us about Ramadan and its intersection with advocacy work. Our hope is that during these holy seasons, listeners will find meaning and peace and the strength and courage to do the work necessary to create a better and more just society during what promises to be a challenging year with plenty of opportunities for advocacy and civic engagement. Find out more about the work of Muslim Space here: https://www.muslimspace.org

This video is private.

1 0

YouTube Video UExweEhlSXFoeVBrMVlxamJHSzdqQXIwczNqSmpnTTZwWi45NDIzMEVBNjk5NTFGRDZC

Weekly Witness Ep.340 Spiritual Nourishment: Ramadan and Justice Work

Texas Impact April 5, 2024 2:42 pm

This week, we follow up on the conversation from two weeks ago in advance of the Texas Medical Board meeting. More than 2,000 Texans of faith signed Texas Impact’s petition calling for a rulemaking process to define the abortion exception in Texas state law relating to the life and health of the mother. We spoke about Steve and Amy Bresnen, two Austin attorneys and lobbyists from the aptly named BresnenAssociates who submitted that official petition to the Texas Medical Board. The Board did in fact begin the rulemaking process and introduced a draft rule for public comment. This week, we are fortunate to have the two petitioners, Amy and Steve Bresnen, for a conversation about that rule, the rulemaking process, and what YOU can do to help protect the lives and health of Texas women. Find the form to submit public comments to the Texas Medical Board at https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=O894vflvjkOlKoDWloMTsTz93wATleVOiZazwD363OpUNjkxRklERzA0TVlYSVpHMkFFQ04xUE9CSS4u Sign Texas Impact's sign-on letter at txfaith.org/nogames

This video is private.

1 0

YouTube Video UExweEhlSXFoeVBrMVlxamJHSzdqQXIwczNqSmpnTTZwWi5CODNEOTFERDNCQjU2ODhE

Weekly Witness Ep.339 Not Good Enough Yet: A Status Check on Abortion Ban Rulemaking

Texas Impact March 29, 2024 11:54 am

This week we are talking about all things environment with friend of the program Luke Metzger, Executive Director of Environment Texas. Luke joins us to share the good news from the November elections related to the Centennial Parks Conservation Fund AND the EPA’s new rules related to methane emissions. Spoiler: Texas is not handling the rules well, but Luke gives us an update on those rules, solar policy, the TCEQ’s recently released “Priority Action Plan and more.  Later in the program, Texas Impact’s Climate Action Fellow, Becca Edwards, joins to give her reaction and share her Lenten project related to methane.  Find the Methane Meditations Lenten Series here: texasimpact.org/texas-interfaith-power-and-light-methane-lent-series/

This week we are talking about all things environment with friend of the program Luke Metzger, Executive Director of Environment Texas. Luke joins us to share the good news from the November elections related to the Centennial Parks Conservation Fund AND the EPA’s new rules related to methane emissions. Spoiler: Texas is not handling the rules well, but Luke gives us an update on those rules, solar policy, the TCEQ’s recently released “Priority Action Plan and more. 

Later in the program, Texas Impact’s Climate Action Fellow, Becca Edwards, joins to give her reaction and share her Lenten project related to methane. 

Find the Methane Meditations Lenten Series here: texasimpact.org/texas-interfaith-power-and-light-methane-lent-series/

0 0

YouTube Video UExweEhlSXFoeVBrMVlxamJHSzdqQXIwczNqSmpnTTZwWi40QTY5NjQzQkQzMjgwNjhD

Weekly Witness Ep. 338 Texas and Climate: One Step Forward, One Step Back

Texas Impact March 22, 2024 2:51 pm

Load More... Subscribe

ABOUT THE HOST: SCOTT ATNIP

Scott rejoined the Texas Impact staff as Engagement Director in 2012 after a stint as a Texas Impact intern in 2002-2003. Scott connects Texans of faith with opportunities to engage in the policy process through Texas Impact programs like Weekly Witness, Rapid Response, Legislative Engagement Groups and Faith in Democracy. He received his B.A. in Political Science from Sam Houston State University and an M.A. of Public Affairs from the Lyndon Baines Johnson School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas and is a Certified Lay Servant in the United Methodist Church. In his free time, Scott coaches his daughter and son’s youth soccer teams.

ABOUT

Weekly Witness was born in 2017 when one Texas pastor decided that for Lent, he would travel to Austin to meet with his state representative every Monday. The week gatherings that began in 2017 with a handful of clergy at the Capitol evolved into Weekly Witness, with thousands of Texans of faith participating in in-person events, Facebook Live and YouTube videos, and a weekly podcast series. 

Weekly Witness is unique in equipping Texans of faith for policy advocacy through a lively and varied talk-show format. Each episode includes leading faith leaders and policy experts discussing important legislative priorities through a faith lens with Texas Impact staff. During the Legislative Session, episodes include weekly Legislative Update and Action Alert segments. 

The Weekly Witness audience continues to grow, thanks to the work and dedication of mainstream Texans of faith committed to justice. Be sure to like, share and subscribe to Texas Impact Weekly Witness in your favorite medium, and let us know how Weekly Witness programming can support your ministry. 

SPONSORS

Weekly Witness is made possible in part by the generous financial support of the following contributors:

The opinions expressed on this program are those of Texas Impact, and do not necessarily reflect the views of our sponsors.