| Statements Against SB 1070 |
Information regarding July 28 & 29: Shining the Light in Arizona: A Day of Prayer For the invitation in English, click here. For the flyer in English click here and here. Que Brille la luz en Arizona: Un Dia de Oración Para la invitación en español, haga clic aquí. Para el aviador en español, haga clic aquí y aquí. Links to other resources: |
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Southside Presbyterian Church's Statement
on SB 1070 For over 100 years, people from diverse backgrounds have gathered at Southside Presbyterian Church to do our best to follow Jesus Christ. This has led us down many paths that we might not have walked had we not felt commanded by scriptures to do so. Once again we find ourselves walking a road that may seem controversial to some, but to us, is simply a matter of fidelity to the gospel of Jesus Christ. As people of faith, we trace our spiritual roots to the sojourning Abraham, who God called into a foreign land. We also trace our spiritual roots to the Hebrew slaves who suffered as immigrants in Egypt. Today, we continue to be a sojourning people, always moving towards the Kingdom of Heaven, which is marked by the establishment of God’s reign of peace and justice here on earth. And as we journey, we are reminded by scripture, “When an immigrant resides with you in your land, you shall not oppress the immigrant. The immigrant who resides with you shall be to you as the citizen among you; you shall love the immigrant as yourself for you were immigrants in the land of Egypt” (Leviticus 19:33-34). As disciples of Christ, we also acknowledge that in Christ “there is no longer Jew or Greek; there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male or female” (Galatians 3: 28), and there is no longer legal or illegal but all are one in Jesus Christ. We give thanks that through Jesus Christ the dividing walls between us have been broken. We respond to this grace by following the command to “love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself” (Deuteronomy 6:5 and Luke 10:27). We affirm that to be disciples of Christ we must feed the hungry, offer water to the thirsty, provide clothes to the naked, and welcome the stranger (Matthew 25:35). This commandment from our Lord Jesus Christ is not limited to a certain class of people, but is for all of God’s children. At Southside Presbyterian Church, we follow these commandments by feeding the hungry, providing clothes and showers, and offering fellowship to our homeless brothers and sisters. We provide a place for day laborers to wait for work. We are a healing presence in the desert, offering water and first aid to travelers in distress. And we welcome all to worship with us on Sunday morning. We do all of this with disregard to immigration status, knowing that we are called by Christ himself to serve all. It is for this reason that, after much prayer, we believe that Arizona Senate Bill 1070 attempts to prohibit the practice of our faith, which calls us to serve all God’s people. As such, we must challenge this immoral law that limits our religious freedom. We must stand with our brothers and sisters who will live in fear, constant threat, and intimidation under SB1070. As a community of faith 60 miles from the U.S./ Mexico border, we are increasingly aware that our current immigration policy, which does not take into account the root causes of migration, has led to a human rights crisis in the deaths of mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, and children in our desert. Overly aggressive enforcement tactics and legislation such as SB1070 stand in stark contrast to our understanding of the gospel. And so we continue working to build communities that are not plagued with fear and mistrust, but rather are rich with diversity and joy. Our faithfulness to the gospel of Jesus Christ may lead us on difficult and controversial paths. But as Christians, we are called above all else to be faithful to Jesus Christ. We do so with great joy knowing that in showing hospitality to strangers, we have often unknowingly entertained angels. (Hebrews 13:2). For a printable version, click here. PC(USA) leaders address new Arizona immigration law in letter to Congress April 29, 2010 PC(USA) leaders address new Arizona immigration law in letter to Congress Dear Members of Congress, We write to express our conviction that you must enact comprehensive immigration reform this year. As people of faith and the leaders of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), we are keenly aware of the devastating effects our broken immigration system has on the lives of individuals, immigrant and non-immigrant families, and our communities. The bigotry, trauma, and fear that will result from the recent new law enacted in Arizona, SB 1070, which criminalizes those who are found “with” undocumented persons and requires law enforcement officers to identify and detain such persons, serves to underscore the necessity of action at the federal level. Churches are on the front lines of caring for families being ripped apart by our broken immigration system. Traumatized citizen children left behind when parents are deported are but one example of the ways the current system destroys the fabric of community life, the integrity of healthy families, and the safety of individual persons. Church workers are also at the forefront of offering relief and services to immigrants, regardless of documentation status. Arizona’s new law will put at risk those workers and others who are called simply to offer the most basic of humanitarian assistance. As Christians, we cannot stand by idly while our brothers and sisters die on our borders from exposure and thirst or languish in poorly equipped detention facilities, nor should we be required to do so by any law. The new Arizona law also puts in jeopardy the public safety of immigrant communities, already wary of law enforcement for fear of deportation. Instead of new laws that induce fear and distrust, immigrants should be encouraged to participate with law enforcement, reporting crimes when they are victims and offering testimony when they are witnesses. Such trust and participation is impossible if local law enforcement is tasked with enforcement of federal immigration laws. SB 1070 will only foster more fear among immigrant communities, regardless of documentation status. Comprehensive immigration reform at the federal level is essential to override and counteract the damage done in Arizona by this new law. In the Scriptures of Christians and Jews, we are commanded, “When an immigrant resides with you in your land, you shall not oppress the immigrant. The immigrant who resides with you shall be to you as the citizen among you; you shall love the immigrant as yourself for you were immigrants in the land of Egypt” (Lev. 19:33-34). The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) therefore supports congressional action in 2010 on comprehensive immigration reform that creates a process for undocumented immigrants in the U.S. to earn their legal status; reduces waiting periods and upholds family unity; protects workers from exploitation; and provides efficient channels of entry for new migrant workers. Sincerely, Bruce Reyes-Chow Moderator, 218th General Assembly (2008) Gradye Parsons Stated Clerk of the General Assembly Linda Bryant Valentine Executive Director, General Assembly Mission Council For the letter in Spanish, please click here. |
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