Wildflower Church Joins Austin Interfaith

On December 7, 2008 Wildflower voted overwhelmingly, 98-1, to become a member of Austin Interfaith. The vote is a testimonial to the congregation’s strong commitment to transforming the world through acts of social justice. Wildflower’s work through Austin Interfaith is being led by the Wildflower Austin Interfaith “core team,” which meets monthly and attends citywide Austin Interfaith events.

Wildflower Core Team Members

Current Wildflower Austin Interfaith Team (WAIT) members include Jodine Alpern, Barbara Carrington, Jean Davison, Barbara Dickens, Rev. Eliza Galaher, Faye Maxwell, Judy Morgan, Kathy Murphy, and Shirley Viola, and others who participate for specific events.

Austin Interfaith Activities

As the Austin Interfaith website states: “…organizers, pastors, lay leaders, principals, and parents in IAF organizations have developed a practice of ‘institutional organizing’: using the skills of community organizing to develop leadership, identify issues, reweave relationships, and build the capacity within their institutions to act on issues which affect families.” An essential component of this model is the “individual meeting.” More organic and personal than an interview, yet more intentional and formal than a casual conversation, individual meetings are the building blocks of Austin Interfaith’s strength.

Over the first year of involvement with Austin Interfaith, the Wildflower Austin Interfaith Team (WAIT) has conducted numerous individual meetings, and has held 'house meetings' (small groups focusing on sharing experiences on a particular question) on the economic downturn,  health care, and living wage.  Weildflower has had good representation at Austin Interfaith events, including City Council hearings, accountablilty sessions in which political candidates are asked to commit to specific initatives, and regional conferences of grassroots organizations similar to Austin Interfaith in Texas. 

Contact Information

If you’d like to know more about Austin Interfaith and how you might become involved, please contact Kathy Murphy at . 

Rev. Eliza Galaher on KOOP Radio's People United focusing on Austin Interfaith

Want to find out about Austin Interfaith and Wildflower's involvement in this affiliate of the Industrial Areas Foundation? Click on this link to listen to Rev. Eliza Galaher and fellow Austin Interfaith leader Ofelia Zapata of San Jose Catholic Church, in an interview with KOOP radio's Allan Campbell.