Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) “Let Mutual Love Continue
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“Family Separations: A Word to the Church” Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) “Let mutual love continue. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it.” (Hebrews 13:1-2, NRSV) A letter from our General Minister & President, Together with Concerned Members Across the U.S., Sharing Desires for the Ending of Family Separation and Detention Dear Church, In recent months, new policies for the implementation of immigration laws have resulted in family detention and the separation of thousands of children from their parents across the United States. We, the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), have proclaimed ourselves to be a pro-reconciling/anti-racist church, which extends welcome to all people, recognizing that every person is created in the image of God. As followers of Jesus Christ, we are commanded to “love one another; for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law” (Romans 13:8). When we start with love, we will understand that when laws dehumanize and discriminate, we are faithful in opposing such laws, and we are faithful in using our voice and our vote to call for love. We condemn, therefore, the policy and practice of separating children from families and criminally prosecuting all persons who enter the United States without previous authorization. We denounce actions that degrade our neighbors and treat as criminals those who seek freedom and safety. The practice, especially as implemented by the current administration through “zero tolerance” policies, is cruel and does violence to the most vulnerable–families who have fled their homes seeking safety in an unfamiliar land, only to have their children taken away from them. This violence is unnecessarily punitive. The stated intent of using family separation as a deterrent effectively weaponizes children against their parents and causes lasting emotional, psychological, physical, and spiritual harm. Jesus had strong words for those who did harm to children, whom he welcomed to himself: “If any of you put a stumbling block before one of these little ones who believe in me, it would be better for you if a great millstone were fastened around your neck and you were drowned in the depth of the sea.” (Matthew 18:6, NRSV) For decades, we have supported, through congregational and denominational action, the rights and dignity of immigrants and those seeking asylum, remembering that according to the gospel of Matthew, Jesus and his parents were forced to flee for safety, and remembering with gratitude that Egypt did not separate our savior from his parents. From our origins, Disciples have exhibited as a primary mission commitment the extension of compassion and care to orphans, children, widows and families in need. Most recently, the General Assembly of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) convened in July, 2017 in Indianapolis, IN, affirmed Sense-of-the-Assembly resolution GA1723, which encouraged the church to “deepen its commitment to building unity and integration among all our Disciples congregations by issuing a call to congregations to become ‘immigrant welcoming congregations;’” support immigrant families “when facing and experiencing separation;” and “develop community protection and response models for families facing separation due to detention or deportation.” In this crucial moment, we must put our faith into action, responding to the cries of our neighbors. Foremost is our advocacy to put an end to the policies that lead to family separation and detention. We also will engage actively right now to help. These children and families are deserving of human dignity and love. Let’s stand together as followers of Christ to live out Jesus’ commandment to love!! With the love of Christ, Spanish: “Sigan amándose unos a otros como hermanos. No se olviden de brindar hospitalidad a los desconocidos, porque algunos que lo han hecho, ¡han hospedado ángeles sin darse cuenta!” (Hebreos 13:1-2, NTV) Estimada iglesia, Durante las semanas pasadas, pólizas nuevas para la implementación de leyes de inmigración han resultado en la detención de familia y la separación de miles niños y niñas de sus padres a través de los Estados Unidos. Nosotros, la Iglesia Cristiana (Discípulos de Cristo), nos hemos proclamado a nosotros mismos ser una iglesia pro- reconciliadora/antirracista, que extiende la bienvenida a todas las personas, reconociendo que cada persona es creada a imagen de Dios. Como seguidores de Jesucristo, tenemos el mandamiento de “amarnos los unos a los otros; porque el que ama al prójimo, ha cumplido la ley” (Romanos 13:8). Cuando comenzamos con el amor, comprenderemos que cuando las leyes deshumanizan y discriminan, somos fieles en oponernos a tales leyes, y somos fieles en usar nuestra voz y nuestro voto para clamor por amor. Por lo tanto, condenamos la política y la práctica de separar a los niños de sus familias y el enjuiciar penalmente a todas las personas que entren a los Estados Unidos sin autorización previa. Denunciamos acciones que degradan a nuestros vecinos y prójimos, y tratan como criminales a quienes buscan libertad y seguridad. La práctica, especialmente como implementada por la administración actual a través de pólizas de “cero tolerancias”, es cruel y violenta contra los más vulnerables—familias que han huido de sus hogares buscando seguridad en una tierra desconocida, solo para experimentar que se les quiten a sus hijos. Esta violencia es innecesariamente punitiva. La intención declarada de usar la separación familiar como elemento de disuasión arma efectivamente a los niños contra sus padres y causa daños emocionales, psicológicos, físicos y espirituales duraderos. Jesús tuvo palabras fuertes para aquellos que hicieron daño a los niños, a quienes llamo a sí mismo: “Y cualquiera que haga tropezar a alguno de estos pequeños que creen en mí, mejor le fuera que se le colgase al cuello una piedra de molino de asno, y que se le hundiese en lo profundo del mar.” (Mateo 18:6, RVR1960) Durante décadas, hemos apoyado, a través de acción congregacional y denominacional, los derechos y la dignidad de los inmigrantes y de aquellos solicitando asilo, recordando que, según el Evangelio de Mateo, Jesús y sus padres fueron obligados a huir por su seguridad y recordando con gratitud que Egipto no separo a nuestro salvador de sus padres. Desde nuestros orígenes, los Discípulos han exhibido como un compromiso de misión principal la extensión de la compasión y el cuidado a huérfanos, niños, viudas y familias necesitadas. Más recientemente, la Asamblea General de la Iglesia Cristiana (Discípulos de Cristo), convocada en julio de 2017 en Indianápolis, IN, afirmó la resolución GA1723, que motivó a la iglesia a “profundizar su compromiso de construir unidad e integración entre todas nuestras congregaciones de Discípulos haciendo un llamado a las congregaciones a convertirse en “congregaciones que le dan la bienvenida a los inmigrantes”, apoyar a las familias inmigrantes “cuando enfrentan y experimentan separación” y “desarrollar modelos de protección y respuesta comunitaria para familias que enfrentan separación debido a detención o deportación.” En este momento crucial, tenemos que poner nuestra fe en acción, respondiendo al clamor y el llanto de nuestros prójimos y vecinos. Ante todo, debe haber abogacía y acción social para poner fin a las políticas que conducen a la separación familiar. Estos niños y estas familias merecen dignidad humana y amor. Permanezcamos unidos como seguidores de Cristo para vivir el mandamiento de Jesús de amar. Con el amor de Cristo, Rev. Dr. Teresa (“Terri”) Hord Owens, General Minister and President, Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), together with: Alabama Rev. Roberto Rodriguez, Pastor, Iglesa Hispanic (Discípulos de Cristo), Birmingham, AL Rev. Nicki Arnold Swindle, Commissioned Community Family Life Minister, First Christian Church, Anniston, AL Caroline Dean, Congregant, First Christian Church, Birmingham, AL Jon Perdue, First Christian Church, Montgomery, AL Robin Clark, First Christian Church, Montgomery, AL Gary Warren, First Christian Church, Montgomery, AL Emma Colson, First Christian Church, Montgomery, AL Stuart Price, Member, Union Christian Church, Tuskegee, AL Rev. Beth Thomason, Minister, Madison Christian Church, Madison, AL Rev. John Gregory, Retired, Valley Christian Church, Birmingham, AL Rev. Jim Brooks, First Christian Church, Birmingham, AL Alicia Wright, Deacon, Madison Christian Church, Huntsville, AL Su Ofe, Director of Music, First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Montgomery, AL Gerri Harper, Elder, First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Montgomery, AL Rev. Shane Isner, Senior Minister, First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Montgomery, AL Sue Seward, First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Huntsville, AL Jeff Seward, First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Huntsville, AL Mae Margaret Davis, First Christian Church, Birmingham, AL Terri Thomas, First Christian Church, Deatsville, AL Cheryl Willis, First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Montgomery, AL Rev. Mary Pat Spencer, Retired, Birmingham, AL Rev. Sherry Birney, Grateful Life Community Church, Huntsville, AL Alice McKinney, Former Moderator and Elder, First Christian Church, Montgomery, AL Toni K. Vaughn, Past Youth Leader and Deacon, First Christian Church, Birmingham, AL Jessala White, First Christian Church, Montgomery, AL Timothy Gilligan, former Pianist/Organist, First Christian Church, Florence AL Katie Kirk, Union Christian