CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Church Council of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) adopted an educational "ELCA Message on Immigration" that addresses several concerns about U.S. immigration laws.
The Church Council is the ELCA's board of directors and serves as the legislative authority of the church between meetings of the ELCA's Churchwide Assembly. The council met here Nov. 13-16. Assemblies are = held every other year; the next is August 16-22 in Denver.
The message, recommended by the ELCA's Division for Church in Society, is intended for congregations to use "as a resource for deliberation on attitudes regarding immigrants and a resource to interpret and apply ELCA policy related to immigration" as called for by the 1997 Churchwide Assembly.
The message highlights specific concerns where U.S. immigration laws "can and should be improved." It included such concerns as facilitating citizenship for immigrants, providing benefits for lawful permanent residents, finding ways for undocumented newcomers to adjust their legal status, providing fair ways for refugees whose temporary legal status is threatened to find refuge in the United States, seeking consistency in = laws for asylum seekers and finding alternatives to erecting barriers along the U.S.-Mexico border.
The statement evolved from resolutions sent to the Churchwide Assembly by the Metropolitan Washington, D.C., Metropolitan Chicago and = New Jersey Synods. It is to be sent to all 11,000 ELCA congregations, and the council action encourages the Lutheran Office for Governmental Affairs in Washington, D.C., to share it with legislators as "future immigration legislation is considered."
"Immigration is a contentious issue," said Ralston H. Deffenbaugh Jr., executive director, Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service (LIRS), New York, "but, within the Lutheran Church, our experiences with immigration issues are relatively uncontroversial."
Deffenbaugh attributed that to the church's heritage in welcoming strangers.
"This message reaffirms that this church is generous and welcoming to refugees," he said. "There's a kind of grace to see this kind of strong message."
The church's role in immigration issues is to respond to human needs, to observe how immigration laws are carried out and, if the laws are unjust, to work for change, Deffenbaugh said.
"For me, the touchstone I use is 'What are the needs of the individual?' -- as in the story of the Good Samaritan, 'Who is my neighbor?" he said.
David F. Hagen, a council member from Dearborn, Mich., asked what the council could do to encourage ELCA congregations to provide lodging for refugees.
Deffenbaugh said LIRS has formed a "Detention Watch Network."=20 Through the network, advocates are working with the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service to find alternatives to detention, especially for refugees who are elderly, very young, sick or pregnant. There is a possibility of building a network of shelters for those who can be released, he said.
"We walk a path that is delicate as we engage in advocacy on their behalf," Deffenbaugh said. "This message will strengthen our advocacy as we walk that delicate path."
For information contact:
Frank Imhoff, Assoc. Director (773) 380-2955 or NEWS@ELCA.ORG
http://www.elca.org/co/news/current.html
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About the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America:
The ELCA is one of the largest Christian denominations in the United States, with 2.8 million members in more than 8,500 worshiping communities across the 50 states and in the Caribbean region. Known as the church of "God's work. Our hands.," the ELCA emphasizes the saving grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ, unity among Christians and service in the world. The ELCA's roots are in the writings of the German church reformer Martin Luther.
For information contact:
Candice Hill Buchbinder
Public Relations Manager
Candice.HillBuchbinder@ELCA.org
