A word on immigration

In times where this world seems a bit much, I often think of Mother Teresa’s famous quote:

“Today, if we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other–that man, that woman, that child is my brother or my sister.”

The Apostle Paul reminds us in I Corinthians 12:26-27 that we are all part of the body of Christ. When one part hurts, we all hurt. Right now, our body is hurting, as immigrants in the Latino community and beyond are struggling to make sense of recent policy changes that are creating fear and uncertainty. As a Conference and Denomination founded by immigrants, we have long stood alongside those on the margins. These days are a time to remember that we belong to one another.

The complexities of immigration are deep and divisive, but I hope we can see the humanity in one another and agree that God’s children deserve respect and honor. Many have asked “what can we do?” I’d like to encourage us toward three things:

PRAY.

Scripture promises us that when two or three are gathered together in the Lord’s name, the Lord is present among us, and that the prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. May God’s Church be reminded that our primary task is prayer, and may our congregations be communities that are known for our conscious dependence on the Holy Spirit. We can pray specifically that the Lord will bring comfort to those living in fear, that the Church can be unified and know how to respond, and that our leaders can find a way forward that is both charitable and prudent.

LEARN.

Educate yourself on the issues at hand, including knowing your rights and the rights of immigrants. There is much to wade through online but the American Federation of Teachers, National Immigration Law Center, and Immigrant Connection are practical and helpful places to start.

The Covenant Church is offering two events through our partner institutions:

  1. Centro Hispano de Estudios Teologicos (CHET) is hosting an online information session this Saturday, Feb 1 at Noon on the latest enforcement policies and how churches can faithfully respond. The event will be in Spanish, with English translation. Register here.
  2. North Park Theological Seminary is hosting a symposium on hospitality and immigration Feb 14-15 in person and online. How can Christians embody the biblical call to hospitality for immigrants? Register here.

Additionally, Welcoming the Stranger, written by World Relief Immigration experts, Matthew Soerens and Jenny Yang, is an accessible and helpful resource for Christians to understand the issues around immigration and to respond in compassionate, sensible and concrete ways.

REACH OUT.

Connect with those in your church and community, or in neighboring churches and communities. Inquire if there are ways you can be helpful or if there are ways you can meet needs. Arrive Ministries is a regional ministry that works with many churches and is connected to Transform MN. Arrive has a long track record of doing good work with refugees and immigrants.

Additionally, the Conference and Denomination both have a growing list of resources, including legal contacts for those are in need of help navigating the immigration process or drafting paperwork.

Friends, let’s remember that we belong to one another. Know I’m trusting in our Good Shepherd to lead us through these days,

Rev. Kara Stromberg, Superintendent

At Gather, the Annual Meeting for the Evangelical Covenant Church (June 2021), a Resolution developed by the ECC Christian Action Commission on the “Doctrine of Discovery” will be acted upon. As a prelude to this action by the delegates, the Northwest Conference is seeking to help our pastors and churches become more aware of what will be presented for action.

Alaska Conference Superintendent Curtis Ivanoff and NWC Pastor and Chair of the ECC Christian Action Commission Luke Swanson, led a discussion around this proposed resolution, and more broadly, what it means to be an ECC family that bears the pain and stories of our indigenous brothers and sisters.

You can access the ECC Resolution here. See the Resources tab below the video for more information.

 

Thanks to Pastors Rose Lee-Norman and Luke Swanson for their candid, humble thoughts on unpacking what it means to be white in America today, becoming aware of power and privilege and an invitation to discipleship.

For further reflection, consider the following resources:
Sanctuary Covenant’s resources for Racial Righteousness
Engage and Respond, Evangelical Covenant Church

 

Paul Robinson is the Executive Minister of Love Justice, Do Mercy, a mission priority of the Evangelical Covenant Church. During this NWC webinar, Paul helps pastors and church leaders think through the impact of the death of George Floyd on the world. We also discuss the roots of racial injustice in Minnesota. Included are practical steps for moving forward, both for individuals and churches.

 

Dominique Gilliard, Director of Racial Righteousness and Reconciliation for the Love Mercy Do Justice mission priority of the Evangelical Covenant Church, interviewed Rev. Dr. Alex Gee (right) about Ahmaud Arbery, and what his killing means for our nation, the Church and the ECC.

They also discussed Rev. Gee’s racial righteousness work in Madison, WI, through the church’s nonprofit, and the Justified Anger movement it is spearheading in the city. Rev. Gee serves as the senior pastor of Fountain Of Life Covenant Church, and is also the Vice President of the ECC’s African American Ministers Association.

The interview is broken up into topical video segments with links to view each video below:

For further process and/or questions with this story and its related resources, feel free to contact Gilliard directly using the information below.

Dominique DuBois Gilliard
Director of Racial Righteousness and Reconciliation
The Evangelical Covenant Church
Dominique.Gilliard@covchurch.org
(773) 299-7271