ELCA presiding bishop calls for immigration reform

From <NEWS@ELCA.ORG>
Date Wed, 2 Nov 2011 12:01:55 -0500

Title: ELCA presiding bishop calls for immigration reform
ELCA NEWS SERVICE

>November 2, 2011  

ELCA presiding bishop calls for immigration reform
11-132-MRC

CHICAGO (ELCA) - In Nov. 1 letters to President Barack Obama and
members of Congress, the presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran
Church in America (ELCA) has called for comprehensive immigration reform
and support for the DREAM Act (the Development, Relief and Education for
Alien Minors Act), legislation that would provide a path for citizenship
for undocumented high school graduates.

In his letter, the Rev. Mark S. Hanson wrote that the absence of
reform has left several states to construct their own immigration laws,
which are often "shortsighted and misguided."

"The ELCA needs your leadership," wrote Hanson, urging the president
to engage Congress and U.S. citizens in the need for comprehensive
immigration reform and to explore compassionate policy reforms that
advance the common good.

Hanson is a member of the president's advisory council on Faith-
based and Neighborhood Partnerships.

The 2011 ELCA Churchwide Assembly voted to support immigration
reform and the DREAM Act. The churchwide assembly is the ELCA's highest
legislative authority serving on behalf of the ELCA's 4.2 million members.

"The biblical call to hospitality (has) inspired Lutheran
congregations across the country to discuss transforming communities into
centers of hospitality through relationship building and advocacy,"
Hanson told the president. Hanson also added that ELCA congregations are
working to lift up the experiences of undocumented youth and encourage
broader public support for the legislation.

Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service, one of the nation's
leading agencies in welcoming and advocating for refugees and immigrants
and based in Baltimore, works on behalf of the ELCA, The Lutheran Church--
Missouri Synod and the Latvian Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. In
addition, congregations of the ELCA and Lutheran social ministries
provide critical services to migrant populations, spread the word of
welcome and advocate for fair and humane immigration reform.

"As a national church body, the ELCA -- our congregations, bishops,
schools and millions of individual members -- continue to preach, teach,
advocate and work with and on behalf of (everyone)," Hanson wrote. "This
nation has achieved such greatness due to the resilience, labor and
intellect of immigrants. We will roll up our sleeves and work tirelessly
until this nation is once again a place of welcome and justice for
newcomers."

The full text of Hanson's letter is available at
http://www.ELCA.org/bishop/messages.

>---

About the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America:
The ELCA is one of the largest Christian denominations in the United
States, with 4.2 million members in 10,000 congregations across the 50
states and in the Caribbean region. Known as the church of "God's work.
Our hands," the ELCA emphasizes the saving grace of God through faith in
Jesus Christ, unity among Christians and service in the world. The ELCA's
roots are in the writings of the German church reformer, Martin Luther.

>For information contact:
>Melissa Ramirez Cooper
>773-380-2956 or Melissa.RamirezCooper@elca.org
>http://www.elca.org/news
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>Living Lutheran: http://www.livinglutheran.com