Beth Bentley - EIGHTH EPISCOPAL DISTRICT https://8thdistrictcme.com Christian Methodist Episcopal Church Sun, 02 Nov 2025 21:25:31 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.8.3 https://8thdistrictcme.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/cropped-cropped-purple-180x60-1-32x32.png Beth Bentley - EIGHTH EPISCOPAL DISTRICT https://8thdistrictcme.com 32 32 205857886 RESOURCES FOR FURLOUGHED FEDERAL EMPLOYEES  https://8thdistrictcme.com/resources-for-furloughed-federal-employees/ Fri, 31 Oct 2025 18:46:20 +0000 https://8thdistrictcme.com/?p=18225 RESOURCES FOR FURLOUGHED FEDERAL EMPLOYEES (*Shared by Pastor Deb, a community friend of Sis. Beth Bentley in McKinney, TX; *Please contact the resource directly for current status) RESOURCES FOR FURLOUGHED FEDERAL EMPLOYEES  (*Shared by Pastor Deb, a community friend of Sis. Beth Bentley in McKinney, TX;  *Please contact the resource directly for current status)  For […]

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RESOURCES FOR FURLOUGHED FEDERAL EMPLOYEES 

RESOURCES FOR FURLOUGHED FEDERAL EMPLOYEES
(*Shared by Pastor Deb, a community friend of Sis. Beth Bentley in McKinney, TX; *Please contact the resource directly for current status)

RESOURCES FOR FURLOUGHED FEDERAL EMPLOYEES 

(*Shared by Pastor Deb, a community friend of Sis. Beth Bentley in McKinney, TX;  *Please contact the resource directly for current status) 

For any federal employee needing assistance: 

Bank of America: announced assistance available to furloughed Federal  employees. Call the priority assistance line 844.219.0690. 

Chase Bank: Chase today announced efforts to help its customers who are  U.S. government employees affected by the U.S. government shutdown.  Here’s the special line they set up 1-888-356-0023. 

Congressional Federal Credit Union: For more information on our Relief Line  of Credit or any of our assistance programs, contact our Member Service  Representatives at 800-491-2328 or stop by one of our branch locations. 

Fed Choice: They’re offering quite a few different options to assist – for  existing and new members. 

Interior Federal Credit Union: They’re offering a special loan for both  member and non-member furloughed Federal workers. Net paycheck up to  $15,000, interest free up to 30 days. Members may apply for a limit up to the  equivalent of 2 net paychecks. More offers are available on the site or call  800-914-8619 

Navy Federal Credit Union: These guys are offering a special loan program.  Read the FAQs PDF from this link to see if you qualify or call 1-888-842-6328 

PayPal: PayPal has made a very generous offer. They’ve allocated $25 million  to fund interest-free cash advances to our furloughed Federal workers that  need assistance right now. This is for both new and existing PayPal Credit  customers. Minimum loan is $250 with a maximum cash advance of $500.  Your account does need to be in good standing if you’re an existing PayPal  Credit customer. Existing customers call 1-877-689-1975. For new accounts,  apply here first, then after approval call 1-877-689-1975.

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U.S. Bank: Will waive all late fees if you miss a mortgage payment due to the  shutdown. Also mentioned they will defer first payment dates for new  mortgages. 

U.S. Employees Credit Union: USECU is also offering shutdown loans, but  only until Tuesday, January 15th. Call (312) 922.5310 to get help. 

SunTrust: SunTrust didn’t make a specific offer, but they did make a public  announcement that they have programs in place to help clients affected by  the shutdown. 

Synchrony Bank: These guys handle store cards for Amazon, Lowes,  Walmart, JCPenney, Chevron/Texaco, and many other large nationwide  companies that you might do business with on a day-to-day basis. They are  allowing affected customers to defer payments until after the shutdown.  Contact them for more information. 

Union Plus: For union members, there are a great number of options available  if you’re with Union Plus. Call them at 800-472-2005 to ask about these offers:  $300 Furlough Grant for eligible Union Plus credit card holders, Mortgage  Assistance Loan & $300 Grant: payment grace period for your Union Plus Life  and Accident Insurance, payment grace period for Union Plus Auto Insurance,  and payment grace period for Union Plus Life and Accident Insurance. 

Wells Fargo: Here’s a full list of all shutdown assistance lines at Wells Fargo.  They’ve got a few different options to help depending on the services you have  with their bank.

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Furlough Grants: 

FEEA-NARFE: This is an awesome offer that every furloughed Federal worker  needs to take advantage of. FEEA-NARFE fund is offering $100 grants to active  federal employee members who are not receiving a paycheck during the  current shutdown due to being furloughed or working in excepted status. To  apply, visit the FEEA website. 

Thrift Savings Plan: 

TSP Plan News and Announcements: TSP allows for the suspension of loan  payments when you go into non-pay status. They do not require  documentation about your furlough currently. Missing one or two payments  will not cause your loan to go into default. Log in to your account to check your  status or simply call the Thrift Line at 1-877-968-3778. 

Toyota Financial Services & Lexus Financial Services: Affected lease and  finance customers in good standing with their accounts may be eligible to  take advantage of up to two months of finance contract payment extensions  or lease deferred payments. Toyota Financial Services call 800-874-8822 and  Lexus Financial Services call 800-874-7050. 

Hyundai Capital: Hyundai will extend all Hyundai Capital auto loans and  lease payments for 30 days for current Hyundai owners who are federal  government employees furloughed during the shutdown. Impacted  consumers should contact Hyundai Motor Finance at 1-800-523-4030 to take  advantage of this offer. 

Kia Motors Finance: Kia has announced they’re offering deferred payments of  30 days. If you’ve been affected by the current Government Shutdown and  need assistance from Kia Finance, please contact us at 1-866-331-5632. 

Ford Credit, GM Financial, & Mercedes-Benz Financial Services: It has  been reported that these companies are among those providing qualified  customers options such as payment deferrals, late fee waivers and special  care lines to address their individual problems, though official  announcements from these companies have not been released online.

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Mobile Telephone Service Providers: 

AT&T: Will assist with adjusting late fees, providing extensions, and revising  payment schedules. 

Sprint: Will provide short-term payment solutions. Call 1-888-211-4747 

T-Mobile: Offering short-term assistance and can spread out service  payments over time. Call 1-877-746-0909 or 611 from a T-Mobile device. 

Verizon: Offering flexible payment options and has a Promise to Pay program  to set payments for a future date. Call 1-866-266-1445. 

Rental Home Assistance: 

National Rental Home Council: Represents many of the nation’s largest  operators of single-family rental homes. They’re offering deferred rent  payment options with no late fees to any renter who has been furloughed. 

OPM Sample Letters for Creditors and Mortgage Companies: OPM created  these sample letters for Federal workers to contact their landlords, mortgage  lenders, and utilities, to request help during the shutdown. 

National Food Resources & Advice: 

Feeding America: These guys have a nationwide network of 200 food banks.  From those food banks, they have 60,000 partner pantries from which they  can serve every community across the United States. This is an awesome  resource, and they have already begun serving Federal employees affected by  the government shutdown. 

Your School District: To save on food and ensure your kid eats breakfast  and/or lunch free (less stress and worry for you), notify the district of your  furlough. No income is an emergency and normally qualifies you for the free  meal program.

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Home, Auto & Life Insurance Relief: 

MetLife: For those not receiving a paycheck from the federal government  because of the current shutdown, MetLife Auto & Home may grant a one-time,  30-day grace period on your payment of premium on a MetLife Auto & Home  policy. Members must request this one-time allowance by calling 1-800-GET MET8. Certain restrictions apply, and premium remains due after delay  expires. 

Fidelity & Guaranty Life Insurance Company: To help the nearly 27,000  AFGE members who currently have a policy with the company during this  government shutdown, the company “will keep the policy-in-force by waving  the cost of insurance charges for the next 30 days.”. Policies beginning with  the letter “Y” call: 844-800-9146, all other policies call: 888-513-8797 

Other Notable Mentions for Relief & Assistance: 

Rent-A-Center (Benefits Plus Membership): If your account was up to date  at the time of furlough and you are a part of benefits plus you may be eligible  for a payment waiver based on your state: “Involuntary Unemployment  Payment Waiver: Losing a job is hard and making payments while unemployed  is even harder. Fortunately, your Membership waives your payments when you  are involuntarily unemployed. Whether you were fired, laid off, suspended, or  are out of work due to a labor dispute or strike, your payments are covered for  up to four (4) months, up to $1,000, or when you’re able to return to work.” 

National Freebie Offers: 

U.S. Office of Personnel Management: Their fact sheet states that federal  employees may be eligible for unemployment compensation administered by  state unemployment insurance agencies. So, eligibility is determined by state  law, not on the Federal level, which may work in your favor. 

USAA Are offering deferments for all loans and credit card payments.

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Church Resources & Funding Opportunities 2025 https://8thdistrictcme.com/church-resources-funding-opportunities-2025/ Sun, 07 Sep 2025 01:08:15 +0000 https://8thdistrictcme.com/?p=17882 September 6, 2025 Community Update Beth Bentley Episcopal District Coordinator of US Mission Engagement Please find attached information regarding three funding opportunities from the following organizations: the National Preservation Trust Fund, Feeding America, and the Heirs Property Program. These programs are designed to support various community needs: National Preservation Trust Fund: This fund provides grants […]

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September 6, 2025

Community Update

Please find attached information regarding three funding opportunities from the following organizations: the National Preservation Trust Fund, Feeding America, and the Heirs Property Program.

These programs are designed to support various community needs:

  1. National Preservation Trust Fund: This fund provides grants to help preserve historic sites, including churches with significant historical value. It’s a fantastic opportunity for communities looking to maintain their cultural heritage and ensure these landmarks are preserved for future generations.

  2. Feeding America: This initiative offers resources through its extensive Food Bank Network to assist those facing food insecurity. By supporting food banks across the country, Feeding America helps ensure that no one goes hungry and that communities have access to nutritious food.

  3. Heirs Property Program: Offered through the Federal Home Loan Bank, this program aims to assist families in maintaining ownership of inherited property. It’s an essential resource for promoting generational wealth and stability, providing legal assistance and financial support to ensure families can keep their homes and land within their lineage.

We encourage you to review the attached documents for detailed information on how to apply for these opportunities and the specific benefits each program offers.

National Trust Preservation Fund for churches with historical significance.

Resources from Feeding America Food Bank Network for those experiencing food insecurity

Heirs property program through Federal Home Loan Bank.

Feel free to share this link with others who might be interested in these funding opportunities. We hope these resources will be beneficial to our community and help address some of the pressing needs. If you have any questions or require further assistance, please don’t hesitate to reach out. Your engagement and efforts are greatly appreciated as we work together to support and uplift our community.

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Community Update https://8thdistrictcme.com/community-update/ Wed, 09 Nov 2022 19:53:09 +0000 https://8thdistrictcme.com/?p=10630 Faith Forward Dallas at Thanks-Giving Square is a diverse coalition of Dallas’ faith leaders, dedicated to service, hope and a shared vision of peace and justice for our North Texas community. Faith Forward Dallas leads this virtue initiative and serves as a moral compass for the community.

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November 3, 2022

Submitted by

Beth Bentley

November 3, 2022

Community Update

Submitted by Beth Bentley
St. James CME Church McKinney, TX 75069

As requested, additional information regarding Faith Forward Dallas (FFD) has been gathered. Through personal interviews with the Race, Justice and Equity Chair, Mr. Collin Packer, please accept the following update:

 

 

Faith Forward Dallas was birthed out of the crisis stemming from 5 Dallas Police Department Officers being shot and killed on July 7, 2016 and on the heels of the death of Philando Casteel, killed by a police officer, on July 6, 2016 in Minnesota.

Faith Forward Dallas at Thanks-Giving Square is a diverse coalition of Dallas’ faith leaders, dedicated to service, hope and a shared vision of peace and justice for our North Texas community. Faith Forward Dallas leads this virtue initiative and serves as a moral compass for the community.

The mission is to foster and sustain the multi-faith fabric of our community by celebrating diversity and building strong relationships. They offer support, solidarity and a voice for those without a voice through civic engagement and educational partnerships.

When our community needs them the most, they provide crisis management to maintain structured communication and assist in the grieving and healing process. They are currently developing Character Building 101, a curriculum to help foster virtue. They also engage international visitors and welcome them into an atmosphere of hospitality, belonging and compassion.

3 key leaders who started FFD:

  • Rabbi Nancy Kasten – Rabbi (wife of main Rabbi at Temple Emanuel) – STILL ENGAGED – NOW LEADS “FAITH COMMONS”
  • Omar Suleiman – NOT ACTIVE
  • Pastor Dr. Michael (and Elise) Waters – NOT AS ACTIVE

The Clergy Organization is made up of individual members in these categories:

  • Faith Leaders:authorized by ordination, commissioned by faith community, or involved in congregational leadership.
  • Friends:welcome to attend large group meetings and participate on committees.

 

ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP

Faith Leaders: Dues of $90 annually (90 is a multiple of 18, the Jewish meaning for life).

Friends: Donations are welcome, but not mandatory.

STRUCTURE

Executive Committee: Convener, Convener-Elect/Treasurer, Executive Director, CEO of The Thanks-Giving Foundation.

Leadership Council: Made up of 14 to 15 members who are appointed by the Executive committee, responsible for decision-making as needed.

Committees: Each chair will nominate a Chair-Elect.

  • Civic Engagement Committee
    Task Forces: Each coordinator will nominate a co-coordinator
    • Housing Solutions (Homelessness)
    • Equal Justice (Law Enforcement)
    • Migrant Status (Refugees and Immigrants)
    • Gun Sense (Gun Control and Gun Violence)
  • Crisis Management Committee
  • Communication Committee
  • New Members & Relationship Committee

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

  • Rabbi Andrew Paley – Former Chair
  • Rev Neil Thomas – Current Chair
  • Almas Muscatwalla – Executive Director
  • Kyle Ogden – President & CEO, The Thanks-Giving Foundation

Pastor George Mason – recently retired

While FFD is organized around the interfaith community and diverse partnerships, there has been somewhat of a struggle of trying to figure out who they are now apart from their original pastors:

  • what are we being asked to do;
  • we show up when needed;
  • moral compass or voice for religious leaders;
  • sign on to statements;
  • legislative voice

 

Next monthly meetings – November 14th – 10-11:30am at Thanksgiving Square 
(1627 Pacific Avenue; Dallas, Texas 75201)

Opportunities:

  • Form their own 501c3
  • Dallas – passed Racial Equity Plan
  • Interested in conversations in Collin County
  • Not aware of involvement with NAACP, which would be helpful
  • # of churches – FFD is hesitant to share the list of those involved; online – 35-50 on the Zoom calls – various denominations and cultures – not many Black leaders involved

With the meeting on November 14, 2022 and the change in leadership for 2023, this should offer an opportunity for participation and direction for the 8th Episcopal District moving forward.

Submitted by Beth Bentley

St. James CME Church

McKinney, TX 75069

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