As a progressive, I believe there are many names for God and many ways to God; this article reflects one of those ways. Take from here what works for you. Celebrate life with joy and peace!
I believe we are all called to the work of justice and equality. I love how that calling goes beyond how we view God or even what names we have for the God of our understanding.
I’d like to share with you a “Special Notice” that went out to MCC clergy and churches from Rev. Nancy Wilson, moderator. Let’s all join in and make our world a better place.
Unaccompanied Children at U.S. Borders: An Important Opportunity to do Justice and to Serve the Wider Community
Dear Friends:
As you know, there is currently a crisis at the U.S. border with the influx of unaccompanied children from Central America, who truly are refugees from violence and pain in their home countries.
This past weekend, in 146 cities across the U.S., there were people protesting against welcoming such children into their neighborhoods. I was so appalled and struck by how this reminded me how children with HIV/AIDS were treated decades ago – the Ryan White of another age.
It is our deeply held conviction, as MCC, that these children are children of God and are suffering a humanitarian crisis.
What is needed now are two things:
First, for you as local churches, to preach and speak of love and justice for these children, not promote inaccurate information or engage in fear-mongering. Please, in your community, stand up for these children and for rational reform of our immigration policies as well. I am referring you to the Border Crisis webpage of Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Services for their resources and talking points: http://lirs.org/bordercrisis/.
We have heard from Rev. Michael Diaz at Resurrection MCC in Houston, Texas, and they have been working with their allies and community leaders with whom they are collaborating on these issues. Thanks also to Velma Garcia for offering the help of our Network in Texas and New Mexico.
Also, I am so proud of Rev. Rich Hendricks and his congregation in Iowa, who are offering “Love Without Borders” leadership in their community around this issue. Rich has offered to be a resource to any of our churches in the U.S. who are wanting to get more involved in this issue of justice and humanitarian compassion: richdhendricks@msn.com.
Secondly, I want to challenge our churches to help more concretely in this crisis in a few ways:
Everywhere I go for MCC in the U.S., I meet foster parents, people who are fostering children, including those with special needs. There is a federal foster care program for these unaccompanied children that requires that applicants be licensed by their state. They need homes and foster parents for these children that are safe, and if possible (though not required), bilingual.
I believe there are MCC members and friends who would qualify and volunteer if they knew they could help.
We are working now with Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Services to identify the agencies in each state that would be most hospitable to MCC volunteers, including same-gender couples and single parent homes.
Thus far, we have friendly contacts in the following states:
California
Colorado
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Pennsylvania
Washington
If you are in one of these states, let us know you are interested, and we will send you the contact information for the State agency where your congregation members should approach as foster care volunteers.
Or you can have the foster parents contact LIRS directly (http://lirs.org/fostercare/), and they will refer them to the local agency.
In addition, this problem will persist for some time. If there are people in your congregations who feel open, qualified and called to open their homes to these children, they should begin the process of being licensed as foster care homes. When the process is complete, they can be referred to the LIRS Web site in the paragraph above.
Just as important, if there are people in your congregations who work in the State child welfare offices, especially with foster care programs, and/or who are willing to help reach out to agencies in your state, we are happy to work with them. Please have them contact Linda@MCCchurch.net.
You can also take action here in a number of ways:
Stand for Welcome: LIRS Advocacy with Migrants and Refugees
Feel free to share this link with your congregations to help them engage with this issue.
Let us know if you need more information on any of the above points. We will do our best to put you in touch with those who can facilitate this process.
Meanwhile, let us pray for these children, their families, their countries and our own country as we insist on just and compassionate treatment for those who are so vulnerable.
Grace and peace,
Rev. Nancy Wilson
Moderator of MCC Churches
Rev. Dan Koeshall is the senior pastor at The Metropolitan Community Church (The Met), 2633 Denver Street, San Diego, California, themetchurch.org. Services every Sunday at 9 and 11 a.m.
