Immigration Teleconference for Clergy

Want to engage with your congregation on the issue of immigration? Wondering how to address the matter biblically and pastorally? Join “Faithful Perspectives: A Conversation on Immigration and Your Congregation,” a national conference call hosted by Sojourners and Christians for Comprehensive Immigration Reform, on Thursday, June 24, at 1 p.m. EDT. Featured speakers will include Rev. Jim Wallis, Rev. Gabriel Salguero (Lamb's Church of the Nazarene, New York), Rev. Rich Nathan (Vineyard Church of Columbus, Ohio) and Angela Kelley (Center for American Progress).

+Sign Up for the Call Here

Recent legislation in Arizona and protests around the country have thrust immigrants and border security into the spotlight and our national psyche. But the conversation is often filled with fear-based misinformation. As faith leaders, we have the responsibility to educate our members about this controversial issue – from a theological foundation.

We know it’s not an easy job to be both a pastor and a prophet for biblical social justice. Sometimes it can feel like these are conflicting roles! However, there are numerous biblical and contemporary examples of leaders who are doing both on the issue of immigration.

Join Sojourners for a national teleconference on June 24 to hear from local pastors and faith activists who have experience leading congregations and organizations on this controversial topic – the call is free and open to all faith leaders.

“Faithful Perspectives: A Conversation on Immigration and Your Congregation”
National Teleconference for Clergy and Faith Leaders
Thursday, June 24
1 to 2 p.m. EDT

RSVP today to receive the call-in number.

Featured speakers include Rev. Jim Wallis, Rev. Gabriel Salguero of the Latino Leadership Circle, Rev. Rich Nathan of Vineyard Church of Columbus, and Angela Kelley of the Center for American Progress.

Virtually every major denomination and communion has officially announced its support for comprehensive immigration reform. However, many congregation members are more likely to relate to the phrase “they broke the law” than to “welcome the stranger” as a guiding principle for understanding this complex issue.

On this teleconference, we’ll explore how to:

- Share the biblical foundation for a humane immigration system from the pulpit;

- Reach out to immigrant families in your congregation and community;

- Understand what is happening with national and state legislative efforts; and

- Navigate conflict that may arise among your members on this controversial topic.

We understand that on this issue many church members are taking their cues from national talk radio and news programs, not from scripture and church teaching. This call is ideal for clergy and lay leaders who want informed theological perspective on immigration and are interested in how to lead on the issue in a church setting. We’ll also have time for participant Q&A.

Please register today, and then share this invitation with other friends and colleagues who would benefit from learning more about immigration and how it impacts our congregations and members. We look forward to speaking with you on the call.

**This post was submitted by Rev. Gabriel Salguero, Lamb's Church of the Nazerene Lead Pastor and member of the Latino Leadership Circle, an organizational partner of NYFJ.

NY Faith & Justice Makes a Splash on the Huffington Post

New York Faith & Justice Executive Director Lisa Sharon Harper's blog post "Health Care and Judgement Day" made the top story on the Huffington Post's Religion page today. Asking what it would take for Conservative Evangelicals who believe in small government to support Health Care Reform, Ms. Harper uses Judgement Day to pose the question of how you would respond to Jesus if he said, "I was sick and you refused me access to health care because you loved your philosophy more than you loved me?" The post has gained quite a response from the online community and has garnered many responses.

In addition, Rev. Peter Goodwin Heltzel, Ph.D.'s blog post on Immigration Reform, "Faith and Justice Walk Together",which appeared on the NY Faith & Justice blog on Wednesday was also picked up by the Huffington post and placed on their religious opinion section as well.

Check out these posts and let us know what you think!

Faith and Justice Walk Together

by Rev. Peter Goodwin Heltzel, Ph.D.

Representative Luis V. Gutierrez of Illinois ignited a fire in the Bronx this past Monday. On March 15^th over five hundred religious and community leaders gathered at the Latino Pastoral Action Center (LPAC) in the Bronx to voice their support for comprehensive immigration reform. An ardent advocate of immigration reform in the House of Representatives, Gutierrez proclaimed, “We will not rest until immigration reform comes,” calling on New Yorkers to march on Washington for immigrant rights.

It is our common humanity that grounds this social struggle. Rep. Gutierrez encouraged the crowd to show compassion for the stranger and love for the neighbor. He said the church is one of the last sanctuaries for undocumented workers, where they are safe from agents who demand to see their papers. “After March 21^st the sanctuary movement will permeate the whole nation, moving outside of the four walls of the church,” declared Gutierrez.

The immigration rally, hosted by Dr. Ray Rivera in the LPAC gymnasium, rocked with passionate chants of ‘Sí, se Puede!’ sounds of blowing whistles, beating drums, clapping hands, and hearty cheers, powerfully reminiscent of Barack Obama’s campaign for President. It is clear that there is a robust movement for immigration reform in this country that is growing rapidly.

Rivera urged, “Christians have led in the great moral struggles of history, they worked for the abolition of slavery, they worked for women’s suffrage, and they worked for civil rights. Now it is time to work for immigration reform. We must take the front seat in this justice struggle.” He then led the crowd with Pentecostal passion in a chant of “Fe y justicia marchan juntas” (“Faith and Justice walk together”)

New York is a strategic state in the battle for immigration rights. Senator Charles E. Schumer plays a vital role in the current legislative struggle. New York activists are serious about keeping the heat on Schumer to introduce immigration legislation this month, so there will be enough time for the Senate to debate and pass the measure.

New York City thrives on the cultural diversity and economic strengths of the immigrant community. In a statement sent from Council Speaker Christine C. Quinn, she says, “our city’s immigrants and their families must be treated in a way that reflects our appreciation for them. Our immigrants are the backbone of what makes this city a unique place like no other in the world.” Since New York City is being supported by immigrant labor, many New Yorkers think that reform legislation will better support immigrant families and provide a pathway to citizenship for the city’s growing group of immigrant workers.

There was a strong presence or progressive evangelicals on Monday night, including Bishop Hector Bonano of Confraternidad de Lideres Conciliares, Lisa Sharon Harper of New York Faith and Justice, and the Rev. Gabriel Salguero of Latino Leadership Circle.

Rev. Salguero said “Immigration is a moral issue and evangelical Christians will not be silent on this one.” Pastor of the multicultural Lamb’s Church in New York City, Salguero will conduct his worship service on the road this Sunday morning. He says, “This is our moment! This Sunday our worship is going to be on the bus, as we travel to Washington, D.C. to stand up on behalf of millions of immigrants. The church must not just talk prophetically, but walk prophetically.”

This immigration rally was unique because it brought together religious leaders, community leaders, and political leaders, all committed to immigration reform. Representative Gutierrez encouraged all New Yorkers to march, saying “when we look back on 2010, we can look back with pride and self-respect, telling our children and grandchildren that we stood up and marched to Washington on behalf of immigration reform.”

Now is the time for change. As busloads of New Yorkers take off on Sunday morning, March 21^st activists around the country will join them on the National Mall, providing a unified witness in Washington for a more just and humane immigration policy.

Peter Goodwin Heltzel teaches theology and directs the Micah Institute at New York Theological Seminary. An ordained of minister in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), he is the author of Jesus and Justice: Evangelicals, Race and American (Yale University Press, 2009).

March for America

The New York State Interfaith Network for Immigration Reform

is sponsoring a bus to the

March for America

Change Takes Courage and Commitment

March 21, Washington, D.C. The National Mall

President Obama promised an immigration reform bill that provides a common-sense solution

for our broken immigration system, one that provides a path to citizenship for the nation’s

undocumented and serves the national interest.

But it’s getting late in the game, the administration has actually expanded the failed

enforcement-only approach of the Bush administration, and the opportunity could well be lost to

set things right if we don't act now.

Tens of thousands of people will gather from multiple sectors to send a powerful message to

President Obama and to Congress: The time to fix our broken immigration system is now.

It’s time for Immigration Reform.

No more raids.

No more fear.

No more broken families.

Schedule:

•6 am Buses depart NYC at 6 am (location to be announced)

•1pm Interfaith Service on the Mall

•2pm Rally and March

•6pm Buses depart Washington, D.C. to return to NYC

The cost is $20. Deadline for registration and receipt of payment:

March 15, 2009.

To register for the Network bus, contact: Lilliane Santiago at the

Presbytery of New York City: 212-870-2221, ext. 4256 lsantiago@presbynyc.org.

Or you can send a check for $20 made out to the Presbytery of New York City – along

with a note asking to be registered for the bus, to:

Lilliane Santiago

Presbytery of New York City

475 Riverside Drive, #1600

New York, NY 10115

Please include your name, phone number and email address with your payment!

Prayer Vigil for Immigration Reform

On behalf of The New York State Interfaith Network for Immigration Reform NY Faith & Justice invites you to Interfaith Vigil for Comprehensive Immigration Reform Thursday, February 18 @ 11:30am The Riverside Church 490 Riverside Drive New York, NY. Join a diverse gathering of regional and national faith leaders and key congressional leaders for one of the most important interfaith gatherings for immigration reform in the nation. Add your voice to the chorus calling forSenator Charles Schumer (D-NY), to draft and submit just and humane immigration reform legislation now! Co-founded by American Jewish Committee, The Interfaith Center of New York, The New York Immigration Coalition, the Presbytery of New York City, NY Faith & Justice, and UJA/Federation, the Network is a collaboration of diverse New York faith community leaders and organizations that have come together at this critical time in our nation's history to express our shared commitment to welcoming and honoring the "strangers among us" and our belief that the inhumanity and injustice of our current system require Congress and the Obama Administration to act now to enact reform. Your presence will make all the difference. Please don't pass up this opportunity to love "the strangers" in our midst through the ministry of presence. We hope you will be able to join us! To RSVP Contact Samantha at smclane@nyfaithjustice.org.

Upcoming Event: Interfaith Event to Urge for Comprehensive Immigration Reform

UPCOMING EVENT!

New York Faith and Justice is part of the New York State Interfaith Network for Immigration Reform and we are excited to invite you:

On behalf of the New York State Interfaith Network for Immigration Reform, we invite you to attend our interfaith event in support of comprehensive immigration reform legislation, which will be held at 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, February 18th at the Riverside Church, 490 Riverside Drive New York, NY. Our event will include influential New York religious leaders reflecting the religious diversity of our city, as well as key Congressional leaders, and will be one of the most important interfaith programs being organized across the country during the Presidents’ Day Congressional recess in order to increase momentum in favor of immigration reform legislation.

Co-founded by American Jewish Committee, The Interfaith Center of New York, The New York Immigration Coalition, the Presbytery of New York City and UJA/Federation, the Network is a collaboration of diverse New York faith community leaders and organizations that have come together at this critical time in our nation’s history to express our shared commitment to welcoming and honoring the “strangers among us” and our belief that the inhumanity and injustice of our current system require Congress and the Obama Administration to act now to enact reform. Your participation would add great power to our message, and we hope you will be able to join us!

Join the Call for Comprehensive Immigration Reform

“RESTORE DUE PROCESS!”

“NECESITAMOS UNA REFORMA VERDADERA!”

“REDADAS NO, REFORMA SI!”

These phrases were echoed at the Judson Memorial Church in New York City on January 13^th, the day in which all 50 states inaugurated the beginning of the 2010 mobilization campaign for a comprehensive immigration reform. More than 50 organizations and around 400 hundred participants attended, and the atmosphere reflected strength and hope in receiving an answer to fix the United States’ broken immigration system.

Along with this spirit for change, faith and action, we at New York Faith and Justice are excited to announce our 2010 Campaign for a Comprehensive Immigration Reform. We will join forces and activities with other organizations in New York City and New York State to ensure that legislation will be passed and approved in order to benefit millions of immigrants across the country. It is not news to learn that immigrant individuals and families live day-by-day under unjust treatment from enforcement authorities, economic and health insecurities and fear of deportation, to mention some. This is caused by the lack of political will to provide them with access to human, civic and economic rights, rights that every human being is entitled to have.

We are all made by the image of God and we strongly stand by the belief that regardless of nationality or citizenship status we all deserve respect. Let’s not allow the image of God to be crushed. We have in our hands the power to demand better conditions for our immigrant brothers and sisters and together we can achieve respect and justice for all.

^“34Then the king will say to those at his right hand, “Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; ³⁵for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, ³⁶I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.” Matthew 25

Hence, we invite you to follow and join our activities! If you need more information of our work on Immigration Reform or want to participate, please contact:

Samantha Mc Lane

Immigration Reform Organizer

smclane@nyfaithjustice.org

646-705-9117