wfn.org | Christian leaders press immigration reform

[Worldwide Faith News <wfn@igc.org>]

> Embarking on a 'shared Lenten journey,'
> Christian leaders press immigration reform

New York, Feb.19, 2010 -- Responding to a "divine mandate" and as a
"patriotic act," the chief executives of Church World Service and the
National Council of Churches are pressing "comprehensive immigration
reform" in the United States.

In a letter to the leaders of the 36 communions that compose their
organizations, the Rev. John L. McCullough, CWS Executive Director and
CEO, and the Rev. Dr. Michael Kinnamon, NCC General Secretary, said the
urgent need for immigration reform must be a shared Christian concern in
the season of Lent.

"As in years past, we are at a significant moment of convergence where
our faith commitments and values and the needs of millions of
disenfranchised people converge," McCullough and Kinnamon said in a
February 16 letter to heads of communion.

"We join together in stating our commitment to advocate for
comprehensive immigration reform that is humane, effective and that
upholds the human and civil rights of immigrants."

The letter expressed concern for the 12 million immigrants living in
the U.S. who "find themselves without the hope of becoming citizens,
reuniting with family members or enjoying the legal protections that
most of us take for granted. Yet many of these people have lived and
worked in our communities for years, becoming our friends and family,
and often performing the daily tasks that enhance our quality of life."

The two executives said in their letter that they joined with the U.S.
Conference of Catholic Bishops, National Association of Evangelicals,
National Hispanic Leadership Conference "and millions of other people of
faith" in calling for immigration reform that "will improve and protect
the lives of millions of people."

They called on heads of communion to consider the following actions:

1.) Host a prayer vigil or community event to pray for immigrants and
call for immigration reform, inviting your members of Congress and local
media to attend

2.) Dedicate a sermon, Bible study theme, or series of Sunday school
lessons to Christ's teachings to welcome the stranger, love our
neighbors, and work for justice

3.) Call, write, and meet with your members of Congress - individually
and as a community group - to urge them to support immigration reform

4.) Organize members of your community, or send representatives, to
Ecumenical Advocacy Days (EAD) March 19th - 22nd and a rally for
immigration reform on March 21, both in Washington, D.C.

5)  Get connected to and utilize resources related to your
denominationâ??s efforts on immigration reform.

> The full text of the letter follows:

> February 16, 2010

> Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ:

As Christian leaders, we write to you on the eve of our shared Lenten
journey about an issue of urgent concern to all of us in this nation:
Comprehensive Immigration Reform.

Today, more than 12 million immigrants living in the United States find
themselves without the hope of becoming citizens, reuniting with family
members or enjoying the legal protections that most of us take for
granted.  Yet many of these people have lived and worked in our
communities for years, becoming our friends and family, and often
performing the daily tasks that enhance our quality of life.

Unless there are major policy changes enacted by the U.S. Congress,
many of these people will continue to languish in the shadows and be
subjected to abuse, discrimination and hardships that are contrary to
the Gospel values of love, unity and the affirmation of the dignity of
all people.

The preamble to the "Resolution on Immigration and a Call for
Action" adopted by our member churches at the 2008 General Assembly
of the National Council of Churches USA and Church World Service states

"In a world fragmented by fearfulness, Christians proclaim a divine
love that casts out fear (1John4:18) and binds even those the world
calls enemies (Matthew 5:44).  In a society still divided by race and
increasingly divided into haves and have nots, Christians affirm a
vision of community in which every neighbor is valued as a child of God
(Genesis 1:27) and all neighbors have enough (Luke 6).

In a world fractured by suspicion of those who are â??other,â??  Christians have
heard a command to welcome strangers (Genesis 18, Hebrews 13:2), even as
Christ has welcomed us (Romans 15:7).â??

These words remind us that as Christians we are called to affirm our
interrelatedness and interdependence with every child of God, and are
called not only to come to the aid of one another, but are commanded to
rise to support those who are marginalized in our society.

In response to this divine mandate, and as a patriotic act in the
spirit of our nationâ??s best values and traditions, we join together
with our brothers and sisters from the U.S. Conference of Catholic
Bishops, National Association of Evangelicals, National Hispanic
Leadership Conference and millions of other people of faith throughout
the country in calling for comprehensive immigration reform that will
improve and protect the lives of millions of people, in accordance with
the U.S. Constitution and international agreements.

We understand that change of our immigration system will not be easy.
Yet we also believe change is possible. We are encouraged that President
Obama and key leaders from both the Democratic and Republican parties
have agreed that reform is needed, that key legislation, such as
Representative Gutierrezâ??s " Comprehensive Immigration Reform for
Americaâ??s Security and Prosperity" bill (CIR ASAP) has already been
introduced, and that additional reform legislation from Senator Schumer
and others will be introduced in the weeks ahead.

We also know that for humane immigration reform to be enacted, your
faithful witness as to the importance of comprehensive immigration
reform will be needed.  We ask you to be present, be connected and help
organize immigration reform efforts in your local community.   Actions
to consider include:

1.) Host a prayer vigil or community event to pray for immigrants and
call for immigration reform, inviting your members of Congress and local
media to attend

2.) Dedicate a sermon, bible study theme, or series of Sunday School
lessons to Christâ??s teachings to welcome the stranger, love our
neighbors, and work for justice

3.) Call, write, and meet with your members of Congress - individually
and as a community group - to urge them to support immigration reform

4.) Organize members of your community, or send representatives, to
Ecumenical Advocacy Days (EAD) March 19th - 22nd and a rally for
immigration reform on March 21.

5)  Get connected to and utilize resources related to your
denominationâ??s efforts on immigration reform.
Many congregations have already hosted prayer vigils, met with their
members of Congress, are coordinating bus loads of congregants to attend
Ecumenical Advocacy Days, and are ready to provide help to other
congregations who want to act now. Resources for hosting a prayer vigil
and meeting with Congress, policy positions and electronic postcard for
individuals to sign, and a community calendar to post events, can be
found at www.interfaithimmigration.org .

Information on EAD can be found

at http://advocacydays.org , and additional resources can be found at
www.ncccusa.org/immigration or by contacting Jen Smyers, Associate
for Immigration and Refugee Policy, Church World Service.  Jen can
reached at 202.481.6935 or jsmyers@churchworldservice.org .

As in years past, we are at a significant moment of convergence where
our faith commitments and values and the needs of millions of
disenfranchised people converge.  We join together in stating our
commitment to advocate for comprehensive immigration reform that is
humane and effective and that upholds the human and civil rights of
immigrants.

Our prayer and hope is that you will invite your fellow believers to
join you in advocacy for justice in this crucial and historic time.

> Many Blessings,

> Michael Kinnamon,

John L. McCullough

NCCCUSA General Secretary                                       CWS
Executive Director and CEO

Archbishop Vicken Aykazian

Ecumenical Officer, Armenian Church in America

The Rev. Geoffrey Black

General Minister and President, United Church of Christ

> The Rev. Peg Chemberlin
> President of the National Council of Churches
> and Executive Director of the Minnesota Council of Churches

The Rev. Dr. David J. Fekete

President, Swedenborgian Church in North America

> Bishop Johncy Itty
> Episcopal Church
> Chair, Church World Service Board

> Bishop Charles Leigh
> Apostolic Catholic Church

The Rev. Michael Livingston

Executive Director, International Council of Community of Churches

The Rev. Dr. A. Roy Medley

General Secretary, American Baptist Churches USA

> Stanley J. Noffsinger
> General Secretary, Church of the Brethren

> The Rev. Gradye Parsons
> Stated Clerk, Presbyterian Church (USA)

> Bishop Sharon Zimmerman Rader
> Ecumenical Officer, United Methodist Church

The Most Rev. Katharine Jefferts Schori

Presiding Bishop and Primate of the Episcopal Church

The Rev. Dr. Stephen J. Sidorak, Jr.

General Secretary, General Commission on Christian Unity
and Interreligious Concerns, United Methodist Church

The Rev. Herman Weinlick

Ecumenical Officer, Moravian Church in America

Bishop John R. White, Sr.

Ecumenical Officer, African Methodist Episcopal Church

> David L. Wickman
> Head of Communion, Moravian Church in America

> For more information:

> www.churchworldservice.org/immigration
> www.ncccusa.org/immigration

CWS Media Contacts:

Lesley Crosson, 212-870-2676, media@churchworldservice.org
Jan Dragin, 781-925-1526, jdragin@gis.net

> CHURCH WORLD SERVICE
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> New York, New York 10115
> (212) 870-2061