Online Archives

A different kind of weather is brewing

BY JON MELEGRITO

As winter approaches, I can’t help but recall last year’s blizzard, which dumped five feet of snow on this region. Weather in the form of heat waves, floods and tornadoes shape our daily living in a variety of ways.

But recently, I’ve noticed a kind of storm brewing that feels even more alarming. It’s what Matthew Yglesias calls “a surge in xenophobia.”

A fellow at the Center for American Progress, Yglesias notes that political temperatures are rising because the “us-versus-them controversies are proliferating” and politicians are “stoking a groundswell of public hostility towards outsiders.” He cites as examples the political furor over the building of an Islamic cultural center near the site of the World Trade Center in New York, the call for hearings to overturn the 14th Amendment in order to strip citizenship for babies born to undocumented immigrants, and the increasing attacks on immigrants, who are the new scapegoats when the economy goes bad.

As Yglesias explains: “This hostility is a consequence of the economic downturn. When personal incomes stop growing, people become less broadminded, and suspicion of foreigners and other ethnic groups grows. The loss of a job, or the worry that one might be lost, raises anxiety. This often plays out as increased suspicion of people who look different or come from different places.”

The hate-filled rhetoric against outsiders and their families is growing more harsh and shrill with each passing day. Under pressure by these conservative forces, the feds have upped the rate of deportations. The Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency in the Department of Homeland Security, reports that in 2006, the U.S. deported 288,834 persons who entered the country without proper papers. The number dramatically increased in 2007 to 343,041, and in 2008 to 356,739.

Meanwhile, in Maryland and Virginia, candidates for state legislatures called for more crackdowns on undocumented immigrants and tougher measures similar to those passed by Arizona recently. Indeed, xenophobia is playing well, politically. And politicians have no shame in pandering to hysteria and fear.

The controversy over the Mosque at Ground Zero is very instructive because it is precisely “the fear of the other” that’s fueling all the hatred against Muslims.

Julie Clawson, author of “Everyday Justice: The Global Impact of Our Daily Choices,” says that “this fear of the other prevents us from seeing the world clearly. Our belief in our own rightness clouds how we see the other.” She goes on to say that we judge Muslims by the actions of a few of its members, and that the fear and hatred sparked by the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001 still inform the average American’s opinion of Muslims.

Immigration is profoundly changing the contours of this country, dotting America’s landscape with churches, synagogues, temples and, yes, mosques. Hundreds of thousands of people of diverse cultural and religious identities stream into this land every year. Due in large measure to these immigrants, their sons and daughters and their grandchildren, the United States has become the richest nation on earth.

But its real treasures are not its bombs or banks but its people who come from different places, bringing with them the faith of their fathers and the songs of their mothers, further enriching this country with their beauty, brawn and brains.

We wish for a different kind of weather, not the extremes fueled by hatred and fear but for the kind that leads us to a common ground of love of God and of neighbor, one that allows us – regardless of race and religion – to live together in peace.

Embracing multi-colored unity

BY ELIEZER VALENTÍN-CASTAÑÓN

In January, Discipler Groups will discuss immigration. Below are excerpts of a presentation they will hear on the role faith plays in this issue.

When speaking about immigration one cannot avoid remembering the words of Martin Luther King, Jr. In one of his sermons, Rev. King shared with his congregation: “It really boils down to this: that all life is interrelated. We are all caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied to a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly affects all indirectly. We are made to live together because of the interrelated structure of reality.” I believe human migration is a demonstration of this reality.

Today we are engaged in an acrimonious debate over immigration; especially the issue of illegal migration. As Christians, we must address this issue from our biblical, theological, and moral traditions. Our political responsibilities in the United States are not limited by our responsibility to honor and obey our civil authorities. We, as Christians, respond to a higher authority, and to that authority we must turn.

The message of God registered throughout the Bible compels us to reject any political or ideological agenda where people are excluded because of their immigration status, place of origin, language, gender or any other socio-economic or political characteristics. Our call for inclusion is not only on the realm of the church, but also in the social order because people of faith do not live in a vacuum. We are called to welcome the foreigner who is in our midst, we are called to receive all into God’s family.

To embrace the Kingdom’s logic is to embrace the presence of God that is present in every living soul over the face of the earth. We must accept that God is present and acting in every human being, and accepting that every human being is a reflection of God’s image (Genesis 1:26). God does not tolerate discrimination among human beings because of their status in society, be they rich or poor, or because of their immigration status. Neither should we.

For disciples of Christ, illegal immigration is not merely a political or a legal issue, but a fundamental human and moral issue. That is why we bring into the debate our faith, our moral principles, and our long experience of working with immigrant communities.

As chosen people, as royal priesthood, as a holy nation, we advocate for the acceptance of our immigrant brothers and sisters in our land; to Congress we urge for the passage of comprehensive immigration reform.

Rev. Eliezer Valentín-Castañón is pastor of Mountain View-Pleasant Grove Charge in Monrovia.

Dirty your hands for justice

BY BETH REILLY
BWC LEGISLATIVE ADVOCATE

As United Methodists, “we urge the Church and Society to recognize the gifts, contributions, and struggles of those who are immigrants and to advocate for justice for all.” (Book of Discipline, para. 162 H) We encourage each church to make plans for the following:

1. Plan a time to study, reflect, and learn about immigrants. The Southwest Conference has produced a Study Guide which uses the principles of the Wesleyan Quadrilateral to facilitate a study of Scripture, tradition, reason and experience in an effort to discern a Christian response to immigrants in our country. Consider using “Immigration: A United Methodist Perspective” as a resource during Sunday School classes, in group meetings or in a sermon series during worship. To access the study, go to http://www.umc-gbcs.org.

2. Be prepared to take action to support or oppose upcoming legislation in the Maryland General Assembly and in Congress. Become a Conference Advocate or designate someone in your church to connect with our Advocacy Team. Send e-mail contact information to Beth Reilly at , so you will be notified about opportunities to take action.

In Maryland, United Methodists will join other faith groups who will seek passage of legislation that will set in-state tuition rates for youth who attend two years of high school in Maryland, pay state taxes and go to college within three years of graduating. We will oppose bills that deny public benefits to all non-citizens and that prohibit local communities from passing sanctuary protections. Through letters, e-mails and phone calls we will let our legislators know that United Methodists support justice for immigrants and that we oppose anti-immigrant campaigns.

In West Virginia, there is no immigration legislation proposed at this time, but there are other opportunities to engage in immigrant advocacy and ministry.

Nationally, we will continue to support comprehensive immigration reform and the DREAM Act, legislation allowing illegal immigrants brought to the United States as children to earn legal status, if they attend college or serve in the U.S. military. Contact Beth Reilly for additional information.

3. Attend our UMW Legislative Day in Annapolis on Feb. 17. This will be an opportunity to learn more about immigration bills in the Maryland General Assembly. After a time of orientation and training at Asbury UMC in Annapolis, groups will meet with key legislators to ask for their support. Everyone is invited to join our advocacy efforts on Feb. 17.

Contact Ann Price at for additional information and a registration form.

Becoming multicultural

BY MIGUEL BALDERAS

In 2011 our church, Oxon Hill UMC, will celebrate 200 years of preaching the word of God in the Oxon Hill community. Recently, God has moved us to be a church that was made up of white people, to a church with African Americans and whites. Diversity is a word that now defines us.

We are a great family made up of Filipinos, Africans, African Americans, Caribbean, Latinos and whites. Our numbers tell our story. We are 35 percent white and 65 percent non-white; 77 percent adults and 23 percent kids.

We have become a great family in which together, in a multicultural model, we continue being disciples under the direction of the power of the Holy Spirit. Our decision to be multicultural has been intentional and it has produced fruit.

God has prospered us. Our attendance has grown; our average attendance has increased over the past three years: 2007: 120; 2008: 127; 2009: 135; 2010: 149. The same increase is seen reflected in our reception of new members: 2008: 10; 2009: 3; 2010: 19. Now we have three services (contemporary at 9:15 a.m.; traditional at 11 a.m., Spanish at 6 p.m.), a Disciple class in Spanish, and a Sunday school class in Tagalog, the language of the Filipinos. We do not do what we want to do, but instead what we need to do by the direction of our God.

Rev. Miguel Balderas serves Oxon Hill UMC in Oxon Hill.

Welcome the sojourner

The Bible tells us we are all sojourners, and should welcome one another with radical hosptiality as we work to create justice for all, said Sandy Ferguson, director of missions for the Baltimore-Washington Conference. Ferguson and the BWC Board of Church and Society offer the following information for those thinking the about topic of immigration.

Statistics

There are currently an estimated 12 to 14 million undocumented immigrants currently in the United States; between 2 and 3 million of these immigrants are children.

Deporting 8 to 9 million undocumented immigrants would cost more than $200 billion over five years – more than double the annual budget for the entire Homeland Security Budget.

73 percent of Americans, in May 2010, reported believing that hiring an illegal immigrant should be an illegal offense.

33 perent of Americans think churches should be required to report illegal immigrants.

Resources

The United Methodist Council of Bishops has endorsed a national campaign to contact U.S. Congress members and pray daily for reform that “reunified families and provides a pathway to legal status for undocumented immigrants.”

Justice for Our Neighbors Legal Clinics

“Call for Comprehensive Immigration Reform,” UM Book of Resolutions, 2008

“They Take our Jobs!” and 20 other Myths about Immigration,” a book by Aviva Chomsky

Contacts

BWC Advocacy Consultant – Beth Reilly,

Board of Church and Society Chair - Sharon Leatherman,

BWC Director of Missions – Sandy Ferguson,

A prayer for unity

In July, Bishop John Schol delivered the invocation before President Barack Obama’s Immigration Reform Policy address at American University. Below is an excerpt from his prayer.

Creator God, before human life began, you reached around the globe to gather rich red clay, fertile black soil, white sand, tan and brown earth and created humanity; people of every hue, every culture and of every nation and called them good. We praise you because you embrace diversity. Through all of us, you ran red blood in our veins and breathed into us the same breath. We praise you because you love unity.

Redeemer God, forgive us when we allow color, culture and boundary to become the enemy of hospitality and dignity. In the midst of life’s complexities let us never give up or give in to quick fixes but to be the innovators, creators following your example of loving diversity and embracing unity.

Sustainer God and protector of all, sustain and strengthen us for the journey ahead. As leaders of our nation and leaders of our nation’s communities, schools, organizations and faith communities, give us courage and humility to lead people toward security and justice, toward prosperity and righteousness.

Help us to be innovative citizens so that security and hospitality are preserved, so that diversity and unity live side by side. God, we also ask you to watch over those who protect our borders and those who seek a new life by crossing our borders. Bless those born within our borders and those who have found a new home by crossing our borders. May your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Amen.