United Methodists support immigrants and undocumented workers -14/10/06
Still concerned about proposed changes to US immigration law, the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries is repeating its call for truly just migration policies. The action came at the mission agency's 9-12 October 2006 annual meeting in Stamford.
The Board of Global Ministries, which both funds and supports programmes assisting immigrants and undocumented workers, also wants the denomination as a whole to educate itself about undocumented workers "and how the church is and can continue responding to the economic, social, political, legal and spiritual challenges they encounter," the agency's directors said.
In April 2006, the board's directors asked Congress "to refrain from passing laws relating to immigration that would divide families, make felons out of millions of workers now in the US who are without green cards or visas, encourage mistreatment of immigrants or criminalize the efforts of the Christian church, other faith traditions and social service organizations to help people in need, regardless of their citizenship status."
The renewed call, initiated by the board's Hispanic/Latino Ministries Task Force, asks the Bush administration and Congress to pass legislation that does not violate those principles. United Methodists are asked to write state and federal government officials to encourage the revision of immigration laws "which negatively impact individuals, families and entire communities."
Board directors also support the demilitarization of the US-Mexico border. "In particular, we oppose the construction of further walls and other obstacles on the border that endanger lives of immigrants," they stated.
Still concerned about proposed changes to US immigration law, the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries is repeating its call for truly just migration policies. The action came at the mission agency's 9-12 October 2006 annual meeting in Stamford.
The Board of Global Ministries, which both funds and supports programmes assisting immigrants and undocumented workers, also wants the denomination as a whole to educate itself about undocumented workers "and how the church is and can continue responding to the economic, social, political, legal and spiritual challenges they encounter," the agency's directors said.
In April 2006, the board's directors asked Congress "to refrain from passing laws relating to immigration that would divide families, make felons out of millions of workers now in the US who are without green cards or visas, encourage mistreatment of immigrants or criminalize the efforts of the Christian church, other faith traditions and social service organizations to help people in need, regardless of their citizenship status."
The renewed call, initiated by the board's Hispanic/Latino Ministries Task Force, asks the Bush administration and Congress to pass legislation that does not violate those principles. United Methodists are asked to write state and federal government officials to encourage the revision of immigration laws "which negatively impact individuals, families and entire communities."
Board directors also support the demilitarization of the US-Mexico border. "In particular, we oppose the construction of further walls and other obstacles on the border that endanger lives of immigrants," they stated.
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