Weekly Newsletter - August 17, 2016
From Christian Vegetarian Association (CVA)

  1. Activist Feedback
  2. Motivations to Protect Nonhumans, part 2
  3. This Week’s Sermon from Rev. Frank and Mary Hoffman

1. Activist Feedback

George, who tabled at the Madison Veg Fest, writes:

My husband Jason and I tabled all day at the event. People were surprisingly receptive, especially given the event and the reputation of Madison. A number of people picked up booklets to give to a relative who is a Christian and doesn't understand why someone would be vegan or vegetarian. We answered a lot of questions about why there is such a group as Christian Vegetarians, how to answer other people's objections, etc. People took about 170 of the current booklets and about 15 of the older ones. We also sold a good deal of merchandise and we received a $3.00 donation. In addition, 19 people signed up for the email list.

Upcoming Activist Opportunities

08/20/2016 CA, San Francisco Matthew West
08/21/2016 TX, Dallas Outcry
08/24/2016 AZ, Phoenix Outcry
08/25/2016 CA, San Diego Outcry
08/25/2016 OH, Columbus Needtobreathe
08/26/2016 OH, Cincinnati Needtobreathe
08/26/2016 AZ, Phoenix Matthew West
08/26/2016 NV, Las Vegas Outcry
08/27/2016 TX, Dallas Capital Kings
08/27/2016 IN, Indianapolis Needtobreathe
08/28/2016 CA, Anaheim TobyMac
9/6-9/2016 FL, Orlando Experience Conference
09/08/2016 CA, San Jose Needtobreathe
09/10/2016 CA, Los Angeles Needtobreathe
09/11/2016 CA, San Diego Needtobreathe
9/16-17/16 PA, Philadelphia Belong Tour 2016
09/18/2016 GA, Atlanta Matthew West
09/18/2016 CT, Stamford Jeremy Camp
09/24/2016 GA, Duluth Third Day
9/23-24-16 CO, Denver Belong Tour 2016 (Loveland, CO)
9/23/2016 GA, Marietta God is On the Move Fall Tour
09/25/2016 GA, Duluth Chris Tomlin
09/29/2016 IL, Chicago Unleashed Tour, Skillet
09/29/2016 MO, St. Louis Love Life 2016 Women’s Conference
09/30/2016 MN, Minneapolis Unleashed Tour, Skillet
09/30/2016 TX, Dallas Belong Tour 2016
09/30/2016 TX, San Antonio Women of Joy
09/30/2016 VA, Roanoke Extraordinary Women Ministries
10/01/2016 TX, Dallas Belong Tour 2016
10/7-8/2016 CA, San Jose Belong Tour 2016
10/8/2016 OH, Cleveland Unleashed Tour, Skillet
10/14-15/16 FL, Florida Belong Tour 2016
10/15/2016 CA, San Diego Crowder
10/21-22/16 MN, St. Paul Belong Tour 2016
10/26/2016 OH, Cincinnati Crowder
12/16/2016 TX, Dallas MercyMe
01/02-04/17 GA, Atlanta Passion 2017

Upcoming Tabling Opportunities

10/02/2016 NJ, Morristown New Jersey VegFest
10/08/2016 CA, San Francisco World Vegan Festival
10/22-23/16 OR, Portland Portland VegFest
10/22/2016 FL, Orlando Central Florida VegFest 2016
10/22/2016 TX, Dallas Texas Veggie Fair 2016
10/22/2016 MA, Boston Boston Veg Food Fest
11/12/2016 GA, Atlanta Atlanta Vegfest 2016
11/12/2026 FL, Tampa Tampa Bay Veg Fest 2016
12/03/2016 FL, Fort Lauderdale South Florida Veg Fest
12/11/2016 OR, Portland Portland: Green Festival

2. Motivations to Protect Nonhumans, part 2

Last week, I discussed how nonhumans can resist their exploitation, and this is one reason that humans might choose to treat them with respect. Perhaps a more compelling reason is that mistreatment of nonhumans violates our principles of justice.

Nearly every religion and secular ethic teaches some variant of the Golden Rule – treat others as you would want to be treated. Indeed, Jesus said, “So whatever you wish that men would do to you, do so to them; for this is the law and the prophets” (Matthew 7:12). Jesus widened the circles of concern at this time to include widows, people afflicted with diseases, and other social outcasts. Should Christians today include nonhumans?

In the biblical accounts of Jesus’ life and teachings, there are relatively few explicit instructions to avoid harming nonhumans. Among the animal-friendly passages, Jesus said that God cares about sparrows (Luke 12:6), and Jesus declared that God wants mercy and not sacrifices (Matthew 9:13, 12:7). Keith Akers’ book Disciples makes a compelling case, based on biblical and nonbiblical texts, that Jesus and his followers were vegetarian and that they were concerned about animal welfare. Importantly, there is no good reason not to apply Jesus’ core teachings about compassion, mercy, and service to others to nonhumans.

Next week, I will consider how treating animals with compassion and respect benefits humans by improving our relations with nonhumans.

Stephen R. Kaufman, M.D.

3. This Week’s Sermon from Rev. Frank and Mary Hoffman

Heavenly Fruit Production

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