News and Views

On Feb. 6, the Rev. Dr. Giovanni Arroyo, General Secretary of The General Commission on Religion and Race, joined Bishop Julius Trimble, General Secretary of The General Board of Church and Society, to address leaders of the denomination who gathered in Houston for quadrennial training. Below are excerpts from his remarks.

We stand together this morning at a critical juncture in our society. The continuous shifts in immigration policies directly impact the lives of God’s children—our neighbors, friends, and fellow believers. As a denomination, we are called to lead—to step into spaces that may feel uncomfortable, even risky, but where our presence is both necessary and transformative.

Since the change in Presidential administration, we have witnessed direct actions that affect our immigrant siblings. Policies have shifted, often rapidly, creating uncertainty and fear in the lives of many within our communities. As United Methodists, we need to explore how we can respond faithfully and collaboratively.

At a high level, the current landscape of executive orders around immigration has created challenges for our ministries. Some policies have increased deportations and made it harder for asylum seekers to find refuge. These policy shifts affect how we, as the church, engage with immigrant communities, provide legal and humanitarian support, and offer pastoral care. They also call us to be vigilant advocates, ensuring our voices are heard in spaces of power.

The Immigration Law and Justice Network has provided clarity on some of the laws and policies that dehumanize, criminalize, and violate the human rights of immigrants, such as:

• The Alien Enemies Act invoked via an Executive Order, the same law used to round up and imprison innocent Japanese American families during World War II. 
• The Protecting the American People Against Invasion order, which targets undocumented persons by requiring mandatory registration with the federal government—a practice reminiscent of post-9/11 policies targeting Arabs and Muslims. It also authorizes Homeland Security to use all available resources to construct and operate detention facilities. 
• Executive orders expanding agreements between local law enforcement and ICE, increasing detention capacities, and allowing ICE to raid sensitive locations—places like schools, hospitals, and houses of worship, which were once deemed off-limits. This has led to widespread fear, even in spaces that should be safe.

These are just a few of the executive orders signed within the first 24 to 48 hours of the new administration. They significantly impact how we live out our faith as United Methodists.

But friends, we are called to stand on the side of justice. We are empowered to speak and protect the most vulnerable in our midst today—our immigrant siblings. We must resist the temptation to let intellectual discourse hinder the movement of the Spirit and the church’s prophetic passion. This work requires us to engage from all possible entry points, even when we don’t have all the answers. It calls us to unity and mutual support during these challenging times.

 As we close, I invite you to reflect on The Immigrant’s Creed — a powerful affirmation of faith that aligns with our commitment to justice and hospitality. It reminds us that Jesus himself was an immigrant, fleeing danger as a child and walking alongside those on the margins throughout his ministry. As we recite this creed together, let us remember that our faith calls us not just to believe but to act—to stand with the vulnerable, to speak out against injustice, and to embody the love of Christ in all we do.

I believe in Almighty God, who guided the people in exile and in exodus, the God of Joseph in Egypt and Daniel in Babylon, the God of foreigners and immigrants.  I believe in Jesus Christ, a displaced Galilean, who was born away from his people and his home, who fled his country with his parents when his life was in danger. When he returned to his own country he suffered under the oppression of Pontius Pilate, the servant of a foreign power. Jesus was persecuted, beaten, tortured, and unjustly condemned to death. But on the third day Jesus rose from the dead, not as a scorned foreigner but to offer us citizenship in God’s kingdom. 

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the eternal immigrant from God’s kingdom among us, who speaks all languages, lives in all countries, and reunites all races. I believe that the Church is the secure home for foreigners and for all believers. I believe that the communion of saints is revealed when we embrace all God’s people in all their diversity. I believe in forgiveness, which makes us all equal before God, and in reconciliation, which heals our brokenness. I believe that the Resurrection God will unite us as one people in which all are distinct, and all are alike at the same time. I believe in life eternal, in which no one will be foreigner, but all will be citizens of the kingdom where God reigns forever and ever. Amen

May we continue to lead with courage, compassion, and conviction.

 During the address, Bishop Trimble noted:

Our call to engage in the work of immigration may lead to divisive conversations, but we are clear that our response is grounded in our biblical mandate. We are reminded of God’s heart for the stranger and the sojourner.

 In Leviticus 19:33-34, we are told, “The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt. I am the Lord your God.” This is not just a suggestion; it is a command to love, to welcome, and to stand in solidarity.

Our Social Principles on “Migrants, Immigrants, and Refugees” state: “We affirm the dignity, worth, and rights of migrants, immigrants, and refugees, including displaced and stateless people… We urge United Methodists to welcome migrants, refugees, and immigrants into their congregations and to commit themselves to providing concrete support, including help with navigating restrictive and often lengthy immigration policies, and assistance with securing food, housing, education, employment, and other kinds of support. We oppose all laws and policies that attempt to criminalize, dehumanize, or punish displaced individuals and families based on their status as migrants, immigrants, or refugees. Additionally, we decry attempts to detain displaced people and hold them in inhumane and unsanitary conditions. We challenge policies that call for the separation of families, especially parents and minor children, and we oppose the existence of for-profit detention centers for such purposes.”

Furthermore, Resolution #3331 “Stop Criminalizing Communities of Color in the United States” states: “The United Methodist Church must work to dismantle policies that assume whole groups of people are criminals and encourage public acceptance of the injustices of racial profiling (2008 Book of Resolutions, #3378), mass incarceration, and disenfranchisement of entire communities demonized as a threatening ‘other.’” This resolution invites the Council of Bishops, General Agencies, Annual Conferences, and local churches to take an active role in opposing the dehumanization and criminalization of our immigrant siblings.