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Reflections from Pastor Roger Reflections from Pastor Roger 5-24-2010 In this Chimes you will find a letter from Bishop Julius Calvin Trimble of the Iowa Annual Conference. You will see it deals with the response of the SB1070 law recently passed in Arizona. While I agree with the Bishop on some of what he says, I struggle with some of his responses and things he encourages us to do. When you look through his letter you will find his response is to help those who are working here illegally and trying to make a living for their families. Unfortunately he does not address those who are breaking many other laws, which has led to Arizona take this step. I have relatives who have been forced to leave their home and jobs in Arizona because of the violence, drug smuggling and human trafficking that is taking place all along the border. I have talked with friends down there who live in fear because of the illegal's who are crossing the border are breaking into their homes and stealing their property and no one is doing anything about it from the federal government on down. I have heard the comments from people opposing what Arizona is doing and in the next breath I hear them say they have not read the bill and have no idea what is in it. I am hoping our Bishop has taken the time to read the bill, since he is calling us to take action against it. I did get a copy of the bill and I have read through it. I will be the first to admit, I do not understand all of what it says. I asked my son to review what it says from a lawyer's perspective and from a perspective of looking at things like this through a different political bent then I have. His main concern was this could open up to what appears to be racial profiling. But, even he feels it does not go as overboard as everyone is saying it does. It appears to him the main focus is trying to stop all the other illegal action that is taking place. There are no easy answers to these problems, mainly because it has been ignored for far too long. Now when one state decides to try and enforce the federal laws already on the books to protect their legal, law abiding, residents they are ridiculed. It is easy to sit up here in our safe state away from the violence and say what others should be doing. But it makes me wonder, where is the outcry for the children who are being smuggled in illegally and sold as sex slaves? Where is the outcry for the American citizens who are being threatened and losing their property? Where is the plea for a Christian response to help those who are losing everything they have worked for, for most of their life because no one will enforce the law? Where is the outcry that the laws of illegal's being caught in Mexico are stricter than ours? Often people that get caught will get jail time without even a trial. How do we deal with all the issues involved in all these circumstances instead of just trying to address the one we think is unfair? Just as the Bishop can see the new law in Arizona may not be the answer, it can also be pointed out, his suggestions do not deal with the all the issues either. I too, would call for prayer as the Bishop suggests. We need to be praying for our nation and the nations of the world and not for just this issue, but for all the issues we are facing. To do what the Bishop is asking will help in one area of illegal immigration, but it does nothing to help stop the violence and other issues taking place in Arizona and in many other states. Until we realize we have to address all the issues and each one has to be looked at in different ways, things will only get worse. We are dealing with the consequences of our corporate sin, because we have turned from God as a nation and as a world. And the Bishop is right, it will never be turned back by laws and it will not be turned back by ignoring half the issues either. It will only be righted by turning back to the Lord and seeking true repentance. Until we are willing to do this, I am afraid things will only get worse. Now more than ever, will you be the remnant God is looking for? The remnant that will turn to the Lord with all your heart, all your mind, all your soul and all your strength, for this is really the only thing that will save us now.
SPRC NEWS During the May 18th meeting of the S.P.R.C, Joe Meredith our Youth Director submitted his resignation. He has asked that his final day as youth director be June 30th. Joe explained during the meeting that over the last few months he has found it difficult to provide the necessary motivation to reach the goals of his job Reflections continued: working with the youth. He finds that his strength in sharing his religious convictions is best shared with older generations. To achieve his goal of preaching he wants to advance his education by attending a religious college and studying there for a few years. At the same time his wife Evie is completing her GED and also wants to continue her education by attending a community college. All this educational advancement leaves their son Edward in need of a constant care giver. Both Joe and Evie have greatly missed their families during the last year and want Edward to share his development with their families, which would also solve the problem of finding a caregiver. Joe expressed his appreciation to the members of our church for their support and love that all have extended to him and his family. He further talked about all the relationships that they have developed over the last year and how this has made the decision to move much harder to make. The members of the S.P.R.C. reluctantly accepted Joe's resignation. It is the committee's hope that over the next few weeks that the membership will join in wishing Joe, Evie and Edward good luck as they continue on their We will be hosting a going away pot luck dinner for Joe and his family on June 20th, after the second service. Please make plans to join us.
Letter from: Bishop Julius Calvin Trimble of the Iowa Annual Conference It's time stand up against the rising tide of injustice that's being experienced by immigrant sisters and brothers around this nation. The intentional moves to limit basic civil and human rights must be challenged. I speak as Bishop of the Iowa Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church and, more particularly, as a Christian who believes that all are equally, wonderfully created in the image of God. At my request, at our most recent Council meeting many of my fellow Bishops went on record saying that they "recognize humane, comprehensive immigration reform as the faith issue that it is and hold our officials accountable." The recent passage of SB 1070 in Arizona sets an alarming precedent for unreasoned legislative efforts that pander to fear, discrimination, and racial and ethnic profiling of Latinos and other immigrant persons of color in our communities. The Arizona law would require police officers to serve as federal immigration enforcement agents and arrest those they suspect of being unlawfully present in this country. Anyone who cannot immediately produce a U.S. form of identification or authorization can be fined or arrested. Beyond that, Arizona citizens now have the right to sue any agency or individual who does not enforce the requirements, or who transports, conceals, harbors, or shields an undocumented immigrant in any building or means of transportation.
As reasonable people, we cannot remain silent while such discrimination and racism diminishes our shared humanity Indeed, out nation is made up of people from many nations, races, ethnicities, and cultures. Whether or not we are labeled as documented or undocumented by domestic legal standards we are all viewed in the sight of God as fully documented and whole people who deserve to be treated with dignity, love, compassion, and grace.
As our "Welcoming the Migrant" statement from the 2008 General Conference of The United Methodist Church notes, "regardless of legal status or nationality, we are all connected Bishop Trimble letter continued: through Christ to one another. Paul reminds us that when ?one member suffers, all members suffer' as well (1 Corinthians 12:26)? throughout Scripture the people of God are called to love sojourners in our midst, treating them ?as the citizen among you' and loving them as we do ourselves (Leviticus 19:33-34)?Jesus' presence on earth initiated the Kingdom reality of a new social order based on love, grace, justice, inclusion, and mercy." A May 2009 statement from the United Methodist Council of Bishops reaffirms that group's commitment "to advocate for comprehensive immigration reform that is humane and effective and that upholds the human and civil rights of immigrants." In the fall of 2009 the Bishops urged congregations "to become acquainted with the plight of immigrant families living in the U.S. and to join the effort to reform U.S. immigration laws and practices."
We stand at a pivotal moment in history where we, as United Methodists and Christians, have the opportunity to be a living incarnation of God's justice, mercy, and love in the face of overwhelming injustice, hatred, and fear.
I call upon all clergy and laity in the Iowa Annual Conference to participate in a Conference-wide week of prayer June 13-19th 2010. It will be an opportunity to stand in solidarity with and intercessory prayer for our immigrant brothers and sisters in Arizona, as well as for United Methodist advocates and others working against this harmful form of legalized discrimination. The week of prayer will also be observed by other Annual Conferences around the nation, and prayer weeks will continue throughout the summer. I also call all of our clergy and laity to oppose any effort to create legislation in the upcoming Iowa General Assembly similar to Arizona's SB 1070. Additionally, I urge local congregations and communities to work for federal Comprehensive Immigration Reform that would:
With Christian resolve, let's together move forward, with hope and love, to embody God's peace and justice in the ongoing struggle for comprehensive immigration reform in our communities, the nation, and the world.
Be encouraged,
Bishop Julius Calvin Trimble |
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