Articles

The Iowa Conference of The United Methodist Church adopted a resolution during its annual meeting last week in Ames that calls for an immediate stop to immigration raids such as that in Pottsville last month in which 389 persons were arrested. The Iowa resolution also emphasizes the importance of working for just and humane comprehensive immigration reform.

The raid on May 12 by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents on Agriprocessors, the world's largest kosher meatpacking plant, in Postville, was reportedly the largest single-site immigration raid in U.S. history. The plight of the workers arrested and their families, mostly from Mexico and Guatemala, prompted a series of protests and vigils across Iowa.

Raids on undocumented immigrants represent governmental failures in addressing complex national and international dynamics.

The Iowa Conference's episcopal leader, Bishop Gregory Palmer, issued a statement calling for release of those detained. He also called for immigration policy reform “that will fully incorporate the undocumented among us into the life of this nation in ways that validate their humanity and affirm the many ways in which they contribute and enrich our culture here in Iowa, and our nation as a whole."

The resolution adopted by the Iowa Conference was submitted by Trinity United Methodist Church, Des Moines, and Comunidad de Fe Las Americas, a Latino/Hispanic ministry at the church.

Besides calling for an end to the raids and immigration reform, the resolution urges Iowa Gov. Chet Culver and state legislators to refrain from creating and enforcing legislation that would cause further disruption of the immigrant population.

The resolution also urges all churches to pray for the people whose lives have been torn apart by the Postville raid. And it asked for a special financial offering through the Conference for the families of those arrested.

The United Methodist Church supports U.S. immigration reform. At its General Conference meeting April 23-May 2 in Fort Worth, Texas, the church's top legislative body adopted several resolutions addressing the situation.

Raids, indefinite detention, and deportation tear families apart and create anguish and terror that is contrary to the Kingdom Jesus describes.

One resolution, “Welcoming the Migrant to the United States,” was adopted with overwhelming support. It calls upon all United Methodist churches to welcome newly arriving migrants in their communities, “to love them as we do ourselves, to treat them as one of our native born, to see in them the presence of the incarnated Jesus, and to show hospitality to the migrants in our midst believing that through their presence we are receiving the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ.”

The General Conference resolution further declares that to refuse to welcome migrants to this country and to stand by in silence while families are separated, individual freedoms are ignored, and “the migrant community in the United States is demonized by members of Congress and the media, is complicity to sin.”

General Conference approved advocating for legislation that will uphold the civil and human rights of all migrants in the United States. It called the U.S. government to cease immediately all arrests, detainment and deportations of undocumented immigrants, including children, solely based upon their immigration status until a fair and comprehensive immigration reform is passed.

The Iowa resolution

A Resolution to the Iowa Annual Conference
in Response to the Postville Raids

WHEREAS: Jesus called his disciples and followers to “strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness,” [Mathew 6:33] and we are called, as disciples, to embody a new order of love and justice, and

WHEREAS: Raids on undocumented immigrants represent governmental failures in addressing complex national and international dynamics which close legal avenues and force immigrants into the shadows where they are subject to exploitation and virtual indentured servitude, and

WHEREAS: Raids, indefinite detention, and deportation tear families apart and create anguish and terror that is contrary to the Kingdom Jesus describes, and

WHEREAS: The United Methodist Church “affirms the worth, dignity, and rights of every person regardless of their nationality or legal status” [“Welcoming the Migrant to the United States”];

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED: That the Iowa Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church calls upon President Bush, the Presidential candidates, and Congress to put an immediate stop to these raids and to work for a just and humane comprehensive immigration reform;

FURTHER, BE IT RESOLVED: That until immigration reform is enacted on a federal level, the Iowa Annual Conference urges Governor Culver and our State legislators to refrain from creating and enforcing legislation that would cause further disruption of the immigrant population in Iowa;

FURTHER, BE IT RESOLVED: That the Iowa Annual Conference urges all its churches to pray for the people whose lives have been torn apart by the Postville raid, and receive a special offering for their families to be sent through the Conference Treasurer to St. Bridget’s Roman Hispanic Ministries in Postville.

Civil and Human Rights Advocacy

The United Methodist General Board of Church & Society advocates for the preservation of civil and human rights for all people throughout the world. The civil and human rights of all people are upheld by the United Methodist Church according to the 2004 Book of Discipline (¶164A).

The creation of humankind in God’s own image reveals God’s value for all of human life. The ministry of Jesus, which is focused especially to the poor and those on the margins of society (Luke 4:16-19), illustrates Jesus’ concern with all areas and dimensions of human life.

The United Methodist General Board of Church & Society advocates for the preservation of civil and human rights for all people throughout the world. The civil and human rights of all people are upheld by the United Methodist Church according to the 2004 Book of Discipline (¶164A).

The creation of humankind in God’s own image reveals God’s value for all of human life. The ministry of Jesus, which is focused especially to the poor and those on the margins of society (Luke 4:16-19), illustrates Jesus’ concern with all areas and dimensions of human life.

The Board of Church & Society has a Web page dedicated to “Civil and Human Rights.”

Action Network

Bill Mefford, director of Civil and Human Rights at the General Board of Church & Society, supervises a Civil and Human Rights Action Network that provides legislative updates, educational resources and identifies opportunities to act on issues involving immigration reform, refugees, criminal justice reform, abolition of torture, religious freedom and racial justice. He issues “Action Alerts” periodically through e-mail.

Joining the Civil and Human Rights Action Network is free: go to umpower.org or click on My GBCS on the General Board of Church & Society Web site, www.umc-gbcs.org. You can also contact Donna Brandyberry, (202) 488-5641. Bill Mefford can be reached at (202) 488-5657.