People Migrate

An Invitation to Justice

2011-11-12T15:23:00.000-08:00

Dr. Walter Brueggemann will speak at the next Justice Conference in Portland, OR. Here he explains "the doing of justice is the prophetic invitation to do what needs to be done to enable the poor, the disadvantaged, and the neglected to participate in the resources and wealth of the community."

An Invitation to Justice from The Justice Conference on Vimeo.

The Justice Conference. February 24+25, 2012. Portland, Oregon. Follow them on Twitter: thejusticeconf

Slavery in the United States

2011-11-06T14:13:00.000-08:00

A woman came to our job program office and said she risked everything to be there that day. She was not allowed to leave her job in a sewing factory south of downtown. She was given a place to sleep inside the factory. She worked when she was awake.

An ICE officer tells a group of students on a tour of downtown that the neighborhood they are in is notorious because of the immigrants who are forced to work to pay for the services provided to get them to this country when they were brought here with the offer of a job. Law enforcement has few or no tools to change what is going on.

A teen in a church youth group tells one of the leaders that he was offered a job in the United States by another youth in his Costa Rican hometown if he would just go with him north--a trip that included riding on top of trains and being smuggled across multiple international borders. When he arrived in the United States he was given a package of drugs to sell. If you refused, the penalty would be death.

Slavery in the US exists and is fueled by a lack of reasonable laws to protect the vulnerable. What intellectual capital do you bring to help the situation?

HT to Jubilee a nonprofit band for posting the video.

Loving the Stranger: new blog

2011-06-12T22:36:00.000-07:00

A newer blog about immigration and faith is at Loving the Stranger. It is a collaborative project to bring local and regional content about faith and immigration to other national venues. Some of our content has been picked up at Faith and Immigration, Sojourner's God's Politics Blog and Undocumented.tv. Check back often for more updates and content.

If you are interested in submitting content for the Loving the Stranger Blog, check our submission guidelines here.

Undocumented.tv has and excellent short film called A New Dream about a family that has immigrated. Watch it and participate in the forum. I showed this to one of my classes at Seminary of the Americas and will show it again at a small group. You can see my discussion notes on the forum.

Refugees, Immigrants and the Gospel

2011-04-15T08:11:00.000-07:00

When I talk to groups about immigrants that I know and the need for immigration reform, I mention how positively I have been affected by people from and in other countries--their generosity, hospitality, friendship, faith.

Today, at Undocumented.tv, Sharon Moore writes about her experience as a volunteer at World Relief's Durham, North Carolina office as a volunteer. Check out here blog:
How Refugees and Other Immigrants Preach the Gospel to Me.

A funny look at the 14th Amendment

2011-03-16T21:44:00.000-07:00

Akhil Amar says the big idea behind the 14th Amendment is that U.S. citizens are all born with equal rights.

A funny look that is also educational. I think it is also important that there was controversy at the time the 14th Amendment was ratified that the immigrant Chinese would be given too many rights.

Connection Between Faith, Human Trafficking, and Immigration

2011-03-10T08:17:00.000-08:00

An Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent first made this point to some friends of mine.

According to the US State Department’s 2010 Trafficking in Persons Report, slaves have been found most commonly “in domestic servitude, agriculture, manufacturing, janitorial services, hotel services, construction, health and elder care, hair and nail salons, and strip club dancing.” Many of these also happen to be the most common sectors where employers hire immigrants—documented and undocumented.

Check out the whole article and a link to the US State Department's 2010 Trafficking in Persons Report on Undocumented.tv here.

Boards: Bar Fights, and Beautiful Music: [February 26, 2011]

2011-01-29T15:32:00.000-08:00

“Boards: Bar Fights, and Beautiful Music:

how to avoid the one, and make lots of the other”

Capacity Partnership Group

Glen Peterson

Good Governance—
Leadership Excellence

A Workshop in #Policy Governance®

Saturday, February 26, 2011
9 AM – 2 PM; Lunch included
Whittier Area Community Church
8100 Colima Road, Whittier, CA 90605

A workshop in board governance for nonprofit and community benefit organizations, we will examine the practical usage of Policy Governance, a comprehensive model of board governance. This is a new paradigm for governance and ensures organizational results and accountability that is safe and fair. We will look at the foundational work of the board—the work that no other group of volunteers can be expected to do.

A board of directors needs to know its job and have the right tools. The job of governance is about values, vision, empowerment of both board and staff, and the strategic ability to lead leaders. This workshop looks at how a board of directors brings added value to a new organization. The workshop is designed as an introduction and to help everyone from beginners to veterans. It is for new board members and executives.

As workshop participants, board members and staff leaders will gain an appreciation of leadership through governance; define the roles of management and board distinct from one another; identify the unique job outputs of the board; and learn how to avoid meddling and "rubber-stamping" by boards.

There is a nominal fee of $85 for the first person from an organization and $25 for additional persons from the same organization will be charged. Lunch and materials are included. All fees are due and payable in advance.

Future Policy Governance workshops to be offered in 2011 include: Ends Policy Writing, Policy Writing Blitz, Monitoring, Connection to Ownership.

For more information call Glen at 562/400-4739.

More from Capacity Partnership Group here.

Post Office Box 693

Whittier, CA 90608

gpeterson@capacitypartnership.com

562/400-4739 [mobile & voice mail or text]

Please leave a comment.

MLK Inspired from UnDocumented.tv

2011-01-17T09:56:00.000-08:00

A NEW DREAM from UnDocumented.tv on Vimeo.

Check out this new website and pass it on.

Theologically thinking about Immigration

2011-01-16T11:04:00.000-08:00

What if there was a way to learn, rather than simply have an opinion. My friend Ian Danley from Phoenix suggests some theological lenses* through which to examine the issue of immigration that faces many of my own friends. His thoughtful and informed piece is in two parts on Shouts from the Wilderness: Part One and Part Two; and will be cross-posted on UnDocumented.tv.

Some of his points include:

how scripture might orient us in a new way
God engineers humanity to represent Him on earth, and he calls it very good
stay closer to God’s heart for people
Our Christian identity comes with a supreme citizenship in a different Kingdom
Christ’s values and ethics are at odds with the world
in an agrarian economy, women without men, children without parents and people without land and family are often vulnerable, God sets up rules to protect them
we get to the life of Christ …he was an infant refugee carried across a border without knowing

I hope you read Ian's writing and find it helpful as you move toward a more informed and theologically informed opinion. Here is some source books to read to inform oneself to think, act, and even develop opinions christianly.

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I particularly appreciate the work of Danny Carrol Rodas as a theologian and churchman from Denver Seminary. His book Christians at the Border: Immigration, the Church, and the Bible, is an invaluable resource to many.

*So perhaps refraction is the way to inform our discussion.

Freedom from Fear Award Nominations

2011-01-14T14:29:00.000-08:00

Do you know someone who has been courageous in the immigration reform movement?

Nominate them for an award here: Freedom from Fear Award

Speaking opportunities

2011-01-07T17:00:00.000-08:00

I am calendering speaking and teaching events right now. I can speak to your church, community, civic, home group about immigration, immigration reform, the Bible, and more. Contact me through email. You can find my telephone number on this website: Capacity Partnership. Or email me here.

For more about me see About Glen Peterson.

A Dream Deffered [UPDATED]

2010-12-18T09:23:00.000-08:00

What happens to a dream deferred?

Does it dry up

Like a raisin in the sun?

Or fester like a sore--

And then run?

Does it stink like rotten meat?

Or crust and sugar over--

like a syrupy sweet?

Maybe it just sags

like a heavy load.

Or does it explode?

~Langston Hughes

I am so disappointed by the failure of the United States Senate today as it failed to move the
DREAM Act forward. A minority of the Unite States Senators obstructed the will of the majority of the Senate, the majority of the House of Representatives and the majority of American Citizens. We will keep on working on this issue. I pray the the arch of the universe, as long as it takes, will continue to bend toward justice.

Thanks to California's United States Senators Barbara Boxer and Diane Fienstien for their long time support of the DREAM Act.

Three Republican Senators, Richard Lugar, Lisa Murkowski, and Robert Bennett voted for it.

Here are the "NO" democrats: Democratic Sens. Mark Pryor of Arkansas, Jon Tester of Montana, Max Baucus of Montana, Kay Hagan of North Carolina, and Ben Nelson of Nebraska voted against bringing the bill to the floor.

Another Langston Hughes quotation from my friend Jose, a DREAMer who teaches me much: “HOLD ON TO YOUR DREAMS, FOR IF DREAMS DIE, LIFE IS A LIKE A BROKEN WINGED BIRD WHO CANNOT FLY.”

Thanks to Tommy Nixon who posted the Hughes poem at the top of this post on his Facebook status.

[UPDATE] For a wrap up on today's Senate action on DREAM see this link for Michael E. Hill's amazing reporting. And, for a roster of all the votes, see this.

Our nation needs a conversion moment-Rev. Troy Jackson

2010-12-15T21:32:00.000-08:00

Pastor Troy Jackson in Ohio on the DREAM Act and Bernard Pastor

2010-12-03T14:29:00.000-08:00

You can read more and register your support a www.prayforbernard.com

And a message from Bernard, read by his sister:

Shaking the System: What I Learned from the Great American Reform Movements

2010-11-30T09:36:00.000-08:00

I've added this to my wish list, anyone read it? Matt Soerens at World Relief just recommended it via a tweet.

You can shake the system today, call your congress representative and senators, ask them to support the DREAM (Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors) Act this week. Find out what the moral issue is from Dallas Seminary's James Dennison.

Prayers and comments overheard from the Day of Fasting and Prayer

2010-11-27T10:05:00.000-08:00

Just over a month ago, on a conference call on immigration, someone said: “we need to pray.” We don’t just need to plan right now, but we need to pray often and pray well. We need to fast. After a somewhat discouraging season in congress, we were disappointed. We met with Senators and congressional representatives in Washington, DC and in their home offices. Some of us heard encouraging word of agreement; we were disappointed by a lack of leadership. A congressman told one of our colleagues that it was Christian acts of kindness and charity that encouraged immigrants to come and stay without authorization. We were disappointed by slander even though it was too ridiculous to be plausible. We need to pray. We marked November 16 so we could deliberately set aside a whole day to pray. And, invite other to join us.

In the morning I prayed with a group of youth leaders and pastor trainees who are immigrants and born of immigrant parents. We prayed: Señor Jesucristo, oramos por la iglesia Americana. Lord we pray for the American church that you would soften their hearts to move the government to change policy. We pray for reconciliation.

One student said: I was born 20 years ago; my mom came to this country 21 years ago and has been without papers ever since. She chose to come here for a better life for her family and herself. She would have come with papers, if only there was a way.

Lord we’ve been isolated too long. We pray for reconciliation between the immigrant church and the rest of the church. Teach us to love one another. Give us friendships through our relationship with you.

Lord, it doesn’t have to be this way, stir the hearts of your church, and members of congress, and senators, and the president.

At noon a very different group, a student, pastors, an attorney, a teacher met in a suburban church to pray.

“We pray for those not here, the invisible: hiding where they work in restaurants or hotels, picking our crops in the fields, or on the campus of UCLA as students excelling in their studies.”

“Lord, let our hearts be broken for what breaks yours because these issues that continually hurt YOUR people … break your heart.”

“Those of us who are old enough to remember the civil rights movement of the 1960’s know that much of the white evangelical church was on the wrong side of the issue then. We pray that we think more openly in this decade about justice for the immigrants and people who labor here.”

“I grew up in a church where everyone looked the same and thought the same. I had to learn and then experienced that God loves many kinds of people. People with light skin and dark skin; people who speak English and those who do not; people born in my country and those who came here of their own choice, with or without authorization.”

Together we sang the words of this song, and we danced upon injustice.
“Did you feel the darkness tremble, when the saints join in one song?
And the streams flow as one river, to wash away our brokenness.
And we can see that God you’re moving, A time of jubilee is coming
And young and old will turn to Jesus, fling wide you heavenly gates
Prepare the way of the risen Lord
Let the streets resound with singing
Songs that bring Your hope, songs that bring Your joy
Dancers who dance upon injustice”

~Did You Feel The Mountains Tremble, Martin Smith & Matt Redman

Do you speak American?

2010-11-21T07:46:00.001-08:00

Liberty 9500

2010-11-18T12:24:00.000-08:00

I have a copy of this film (DVD) and will be showing it with time for discussion. Do you want to be a part of this? Let me know here.

Tomorrow, 11/16: National Day of Fasting and Prayer for Immigration Reform

2010-11-15T10:08:00.000-08:00

November 16^th, 2010

I will be praying with a group in Whittier at noon time. Let me know if you'd like to join us.

As people of God who are called to care for the widow, the orphan and the migrant, we seek to hear and respond to God’s voice. We are compelled to do what is right, to love mercy and to walk humbly with our God, and to love our neighbors, including our immigrant brothers and sisters (Micah 6:8, Luke 10:27).

As people of faith who work to seek justice for immigrants in our communities, it has been a difficult year. Right now, there are more deportations taking place than ever before. Our experience with undocumented immigrants, our efforts to understand the concerns of all Americans, and our the convictions of our faith have made us more convinced than ever that fixing our immigration laws in a comprehensive manner is imperative and in the best interest of all of us. Laws like Arizona’s SB1070 are gaining momentum but are short-sighted and criminalize certain faith-based ministry. The anti-immigrant sentiment that pervades our airwaves and political discourse is poisoning our communities. Immigrants and advocates alike are beginning to lose hope, but to not act would be an affront to the faith that we profess.

We call for a National Day of Fasting and Prayer on November 16, 2010. Across the nation, we will be united in prayer for a common purpose: to pray for an end to family separation due to deportations, to lament the broken immigration system, and to ask God for guidance on the way forward.

We will fast because we recognize our need to repent for our nation's tragic neglect of immigrants throughout American history, and particularly today. We will fast with a spirit of lament because when our brother or sister grieves, we grieve along with them. We will fast because we want to intentionally remind ourselves that many immigrants in our land do without basic needs and security on a daily basis. Finally, we will fast because we want to unite in action as we lift our prayers up to God, pleading for God to act on behalf of the immigrant in our land by making a way out of no way for the Dream Act, and ultimately for comprehensive immigration reform.

How it works:

· All people are invited to sign up to fast during the day and pray for the families who are separated. To sign up, visit http://bit.ly/b2OevG.

· Share information about the fast on Facebook by linking to our event page: here.

· On November 16^th, abstain from eating and focus on prayers for an end to family separation due to deportations, to lament the broken immigration system, and to ask God for guidance on the way forward.

· We encourage fasters to gather their community and congregation to close the day with a worship service, prayer gathering, shared meal or event. We’ll provide a sample order of service that you can use and adapt to fit your local context. Watch for more information on this here. Right now I have talked to people about an lunch time event in Whittier and and evening event in the OC.

We welcome you to join in this fast as an individual, family, church, or community group. For more information, contact Glen Peterson, gpeterson@capacitypartnership.com or 562/400-4739

Thinking Theologically about Immigration

2010-10-31T16:20:00.000-07:00

There is an interesting set of articles at Dallas Theological Seminary on immigration, its implications for Christians, and immigrant of the Bible. If you are interested in a Christian view of immigration and the many surrounding issues and the ethics of our current situation, these articles will be worth reading. They are short and full of good content.

Often the issues around immigration are obfuscated our individual perspectives of economics, political affiliations, or even events that have hurt us. Taking time to think theologically could help clear the air and move us as a church toward some loving and fair solutions. Thanks to these theological thinkers for their leadership.

National Day of Fasting and Prayer for Immigration Reform

2010-10-18T16:38:00.000-07:00

November 16^th, 2010

As people of God who are called to care for the widow, the orphan and the migrant, we seek to hear and respond to God’s voice. We are compelled to do what is right, to love mercy and to walk humbly with our God, and to love our neighbors, including our immigrant brothers and sisters (Micah 6:8, Luke 10:27).

How it works:

· All people are invited to sign up to fast during the day and pray for the families who are separated. To sign up, visit http://bit.ly/b2OevG.

· Share information about the fast on Facebook by linking to our event page: here.

We welcome you to join in this fast as an individual, family, church, or community group. For more information, contact Glen Peterson, gpeterson@capacitypartnership.com or 562/400-4739

Angel Island Pilgrimage

2010-10-12T08:43:00.000-07:00

My friend, Craig Wong, a pastor in San Francisco, gives testimony of the work of congregations. Craig continues this work of helping the most vulnerable today through Grace Urban Ministries.

Craig Wong is the grandson of a former detainee of the Angel Island Immigration Station. He shared of the role of congregations in advocating for his ancestors and others at an "Angel Island Pilgrimage: From the Whispers of the Past to the Cries for Justice Today" on September 25, 2010, an inter-religious event sponsored by several congregations and the Interfaith Coalition for Immigrant Rights

On Washington and Immigration Reform

2010-09-27T09:57:00.000-07:00

Troy Jackson writes about some of his experience in Washington two weeks ago and Stephen Colbert’s testimony to the congressional subcommittee on immigration last week. You can read what he says on Sojourner’s blog here.

It was a privilege to walk with Pastor Troy Jackson last week in Washington DC to speak to power about immigration reform, the DREAM Act, and Ag Jobs. Twenty-six of us from the state of California spoke directly and clearly to Nancy Pelosi and her staff. When they said they were in favor of reform, we asked them to take action—we don’t need empathy, we need new policy. When 50 of us stood in Senator Lindsey Graham’s office (and others where in 5 other Senator’s offices), declining to leave when asked, singing Amazing Grace and praying a blessing on the Senator and his staff and inviting the Senator to return to reasonable negotiations on immigration reform we made page 18 of Roll Call, the newspaper of Capitol Hill. When Stephen Colbert was invited by Rep. Zoe Lofgren to testify about his experience creating a comedy bit about farm workers with Arturo Rodriguez of United Farm Workers, he drew the attention of the nation to an issue that affects millions. Just like his character on his own show, his biting sarcasm made me cringe. Yet, on this day a comedian spoke with a prophet’s voice.

the least of these my brothers…

2010-09-24T16:12:00.000-07:00

When asked why he would speak at a congressional hearing:

"I like talking about people who don’t have any power. And it seems like some of the least powerful people in the United States are migrant workers who come and do our work but don’t have any rights as a result. And yet we still invite them to come here, and at the same time ask them to leave. And that seems like an interesting contradiction to me. And, you know, whatsoever you do for the least of my brothers … these seem like the least of our brothers, right now. And I know that a lot of people are the least of my brothers because the economy is so hard, and I don’t want to take anyone’s hardship away from them or diminish it or anything like that, but migrant workers suffer, and they have no rights.

~Stephen Colbert, Comedian, September 24, 2010

Not Fit For Our Society

2010-09-19T10:58:00.000-07:00

Fear is a real and spontaneously generated emotion. Whether the fear is generated from rational or irrational phenomenon, the fear is real even if the stimulus for it is not. Fear expresses itself. Fight of flight. Fight turns into protectionism and nativism. And this is not new. The history of nativism is seen in many decent people over generations. Whether it is Ben Franklin in 1751 talking about the swarthy skinned Germans who will never learn English, the Ku Klux Klan in the 20th century, television news pundits or our own friends and neighbors today talking about whatever "other" that may harm us.

I am looking forward to reading Not Fit for Our Society: Immigration and Nativism in America recommended by a pastor friend when we chatted in DC last week. If you've read the book, let me know. If you've noticed some fear driven nativism in your own soul, it would be interesting to talk about that.

A book about my neighbors

2010-08-25T08:29:00.000-07:00

I am looking forward to reading Neighbor: Christian Encounters With "Illegal" Immigration. The publisher has sent me a review copy, would you like to publish a review next month?

(el) abolicionista = abolitionist

2010-08-16T07:29:00.000-07:00

Pronounced: ah-boh-lee-see-oh-nées-tah
Type: noun
Example: Los abolicionistas eran mayoría en los estados del norte antes de la Guerra Civil.
Translation: The abolitionists formed a majority in the Northern states before the Civil War.

I get a new Spanish word each day. I thought this one is interesting.

Immigration and Worldview from Chuck Colson

2010-08-14T09:35:00.000-07:00

Chuck Colson says we need leaders who act for the common good on immigration. Since we don't have that, he has some suggestions here: Immigration and Worldview. He also has some links to some good resources.

Evangelical mega church looks at immigration issue

2010-08-12T23:14:00.000-07:00

Last week, Matthew Soerens, coauthor of Welcoming the Stranger: Justice, Compassion & Truth in the Immigration Debate was interviewed at Willow Creek Community Church near Chicago. Matt does a great job walking through the issues as someone who works as an attorney handling the cases of immigrants and refugees in his work at World Relief. Bill Hybels, pastor at Willow Creek asks some hard questions.

If you are new to this issue and want to learn more, this might be a good place to start. This video is available to watch and listen to on Willow's website here.

The book is available at Amazon:

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Books that I recommend: the Bible, Christianity, Immigration, Church

2010-08-03T11:00:00.000-07:00

Welcome Back!

Sometimes the conversations about immigration are so full of rancor, I find myself feeling pretty low. Personally, I find very little satisfaction in the small political victories, court decisions or protest. But I am compelled to these things by friendships with real people with whom I work, and worship, who live in my neighborhood. Some recent conversations have left me feeling beat up by the weapon of ignorance. I do not use “ignorance” as a pejorative here. It was fully earned and owned by the person with whom I was speaking when he said he did not care about more information or the perspective of other people because he had already made up his mind. Books were just too hard for this man to read. I am not sure if that is because of a learning disability. A video would just be too much as all those new ideas were unnecessary.

Shortly after that, I stumbled into another conversation that was inviting, kind, and curious. These people were connecting faith, religion and spirituality into a discussion that could have been just as rancorous as the one before.

To that second set of listeners, I recommended, and recommend to you these books that have brought many people to a new understanding of the Bible, faith and immigration. If you are local, I may have a copy that I could loan to you. And, I also have a video that you might enjoy.

This is what I said: “If you want to look at some books on religion (from a Christian perspective) that are positive on the immigration issue, I have a few to recommend. Welcoming the Stranger: Justice, Compassion & Truth in the Immigration Debate by Matthew Soerens and Jenny Wang is an excellent overview of the issues and a Christian perspective that affirms the Bible’s positive words about immigrants. I reviewed this book on Amazon, you can read it and vote for it if you find it useful: Welcoming the Stranger Review. Christians at the Border: Immigration, the Church, and the Bible by M. Daniel Carroll Rodas is a theological book, published by Baker Academic, that focuses first on the Old Testament. Danny is an Old Testament professor at the seminary where I earned my M. Div. Trails of Hope and Terror: Testimonies on Immigration is by Miguel de la Torre and contains deeply personal stories about immigrants walking across the desert. Each chapter has a prayer and/or a poem. This book was deeply moving for me. Miguel's book is published by Orbis Books.” My review of this book appeared in Prism Magazine, a publication of Evangelicals for Social Action.

A new book is coming out later this month that I hope I can recommend: Neighbor: Christian Encounters With "Illegal" Immigration is by Ben Daniel, a pastor from San Jose California.

Again, I did not get into this to win arguments or the be political. It is about love.

If you read or have read any of these books, I would love to hear from you.

Your ideas matter here! Please leave a comment.

Frontiers of Racism

2010-06-24T08:42:00.000-07:00

Our separate struggles are really one.

Grammy-winner Marcus Hummon performing the song Rosanna

2010-06-24T07:58:00.000-07:00

Balance of Love and Law on Immigration

2010-06-21T13:51:00.000-07:00

I re-worked my review of Welcoming the Stranger for Amazon. It is posted there are ready for you to read and comment. Be sure to click on "yes" if you found the review helpful.

[Link above is fixed.]

Hopefully you'll find this book dangerous and even life changing.

~ Confucius

2010-06-18T16:09:00.000-07:00

"Our greatest glory is not in never falling but in rising every time we fall."

Evangelical Christians on Immigration

2010-06-04T09:07:00.000-07:00

There is an interesting set of essays on immigration by theologians, writers, pastors, ethicists, and activists on Patheos.com. The site is full of information on religion in general, with a portal for evangelical Christianity. They publish periodic responses to a set of questions posed by their content editors to a targeted group of respondents.

The most recent set of responses are on the topic of immigration and immigration reform. I am one of the writers from the activist perspective. These were the questions we were asked to respond to:

"Immigration and illegal immigration are matters of grave ethical concern. Does the Bible give principles or insights that should guide Christian thinking on this issue? Is there a 'Christian position' on illegal immigration? Would it be un-Christian to expel illegal immigrants who have built their lives in the United States?"

I'd be interested to know what you think and hear your feedback.

Hispanic Evangelicals Call Arizona Bill SB 1070 "Legislated Nativism"

2010-04-28T19:31:00.000-07:00

WASHINGTON, April 20 /Hispanic Christian News/ -- America's largest Hispanic Christian organization, the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference (NHCLC), called the passage of Senate Bill 1070 in Arizona legally sponsored nativism and xenophobia.

"Today, Arizona stands as the state with the most xenophobic, nativist laws in the country. We need a multi-ethnic firewall against the extremists in our nation who desire to separate us rather than bring us together. Shame on you, Arizona Republicans, and shame on you, Senator John McCain, for endorsing the legislation, "stated NHCLC president Rev. Samuel Rodriguez.

Arizona lawmakers approved the anti-immigrant measure on Monday. The bill expands law enforcement powers to permit racial profiling of anyone suspected of being an illegal immigrant.

"We call upon RNC Chairman Michael Steele to condemn this bill. Hispanic Americans will read his silence as a de facto endorsement and a preview of what will come if the GOP takes over Congress in 2010. We also call upon Attorney General Eric Holder to review this legislation, which is clearly a violation of constitutionally-protected civil rights. If you are Hispanic in Arizona, this law makes you a suspect and opens you to police harassment. We call upon all Latinos and immigrants who are citizens in Arizona to defend their constitutionally protected rights," added Rodriguez.

Rev. Eve Nunez, Vice President of NHCLC and Arizona State Chapter Director for the National Association of Evangelicals, delivered Bibles to all legislators who signed Senate Bill 1070. This includes the two sponsors of the bill, Steve Montenegro, who is a former immigrant, and Russell Pearce. Each Bible had the name of the legislator and the following passages from Scripture:

"Woe to the legislators of infamous laws, to those who issue tyrannical decrees, who refuse justice to the unfortunate and cheat the poor among my people of their rights who make widows their prey, and rob the orphan. What will you do on the day of punishment, when, from afar off, destruction comes? To whom will you run for help? Where will you leave your riches? - Isaiah 10:1-3

"Speak up for those who cannot speak themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy" - Proverbs 31:8-9

The National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference will host a number of meetings in Arizona to discuss strategies to engage in non-violent civil disobedience. The organization is also requesting that Attorney General Eric Holder look into the measure as a violation of federally protected civil rights

The National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference is the Hispanic National Association of Evangelicals, unifying, serving and representing the Hispanic Born Again Community by reconciling the vertical and horizontal of the Christian Message via the 7 Directives of Life, Family, Great Commission, Stewardship, Justice, Education and Youth.

A Dreadful Law

2010-04-20T08:17:00.000-07:00

I have met so many of our immigrant families and I am in awe at their love for our country, their care and concern for their children, and their resourcefulness in helping to improve our communities, our way of life, and our economic future.

~Cardinal Roger Mahoney, Cardinal Roger Mahoney Blogs LA

More than a quarter million dollars in General Commission on Religion and Race Grants Available for Immigration Advocacy Outreach

2010-04-18T20:59:00.000-07:00

[This information from Tom Nankurvis from Tennessee. CORR Action Fund to provide Immigration Advocacy grants for Churches and Community Organizations Across the Nation in 2011

The General Commission on Religion and Race of the United Methodist Church (GCORR) is announcing the availability of more than $250,000 in grant dollars from the CORR Action Fund, funded by the Minority Group Self-Determination Fund. Between eight and 15 new grants will be awarded (up to $40,000 each) to programs and projects that provide action and advocacy efforts related to assuring the rights of racial ethnic immigrants and refugees. The length of the program/project period is one year, beginning January 1, 2011.

The deadline for applications for these grants is June 15, 2010. Applications can be found online at the gcorr.org website, along with directions for applying.

“These grants will assist church congregations and non-profit organizations in reaching out to assist those in our community who have suffered the double indignity of being mistreated because they are immigrants, and being mistreated because they are racial ethnic immigrants,” said Bishop Minerva Carcaño, Vice President of GCORR and chair of the UM Task Force on Immigration. “Immigration is part of the human experience. And while the U.S. hosts immigrant people from every major country in the world, the treatment of immigrants varies, based on racial differences. These grants will enable our churches and non-profit organizations to actively aid in the struggle for justice for immigrant people.”

CORR Action Fund grants are paid to the programs/projects on a semi-annual basis. After the first payment on approximately January 15, 2011, a subsequent payment will be made on approximately June 15, 2011, contingent upon receipt of an acceptable semi-annual progress report which identifies progress on program/project goals and a financial report on utilization of the funds. This process is explained in further detail upon grant approval.

Applicants for the CORR Action Fund grant for Immigration Advocacy must have provide evidence of fidelity bonding for the person authorized to handle the funds for the program/project, and leadership of the program/project board applying for the funding must be at least 50% racial/ethnic.

Applicants for the CORR Action Fund grant for Immigration Advocacy must provide evidence of fidelity bonding for the person authorized to handle the funds for the program/project, and leadership of the program/project board applying for the funding must be at least 50% racial/ethnic.

The primary mission of the CORR Action Fund is to invest in and assist churches, community organizations, conferences, seminaries, and ecumenical bodies that nurture programs focused on dismantling racism. The CORR Action Fund addresses four priorities, which actively support the Four Areas of Focus of the UMC dealing with leadership development, global health, poverty, and congregational development.
To learn more about the CORR Action Fund, grant application, or its requirements, please visit:
http://www.gcorr.org/site/c.mwKWJ9NTJtF/b.3038539/k.8A79/Get_Involved.htm

Thoughts on last weekend from DC

2010-03-24T14:52:00.000-07:00

I was not able to go to DC last weekend for the March 4 America event on the mall where more than 200,000 people spoke clearly and positively on behalf of immigrants and immigration reform. Some one I read often on this issue is Nezua, the Unapologetic Mexican. He puts into words what I have thought and felt after marches, celebrations, and action here in Los Angeles. Take a look at his Indivisible: Thoughts on the Immigration Rally in DC.

Wolves

2010-03-05T17:41:00.000-08:00

A good video reminder for President Obama . . .

2010-03-03T10:41:00.001-08:00

We are at two borders really. . .

2010-02-25T15:05:00.000-08:00

Dr. Danny Carroll spoke to a group of 130 or so of us in Phoenix, AZ on January 26, 2010 at the Institutional Baptist Church on the topic of the Bible and Immigration.

We really are at two borders. One is a border between two countries. Another is a border between right and wrong. How will we treat other people, our neighbors? The Bible has some things to say about this. Those who identify as followers of Jesus may want to understand what the Bible has to say about immigration. And, we may want to understand how the biblical narrative is populated by immigrants.

Today, I see that the video of this event is to be released on March 2, 2010. I am glad to recommend it to you from Urban Entry. Their people were there all day filming--I am not sure what all will be on the video. If it is just the lecture by Dr. Carroll, it will be well worth the $20. All the better if it includes other parts of our day of prayer, education and action. Others were present on this day, including the National Association of Evangelicals, Sojourners' Christians for Comprehensive Immigration Reform, Christian Community Development Association, Neighborhood Ministries, MIKA CDC from Costa Mesa, California, and some folks from Kingdom Causes.

This is a preview:

Danny's book isChristians at the Border: Immigration, the Church, and the Bible
and is available in Spanish as Cristianos en la frontera/ Christians at the Border (Spanish Edition).

Christians at the Border-Nogales

2010-02-21T14:58:00.000-08:00

In January this year, group of Christians, some of whom I know, took a trip to the Nogales border town as part of an educational trip regarding immigration and immigration reform.

More than 20 of us from Los Angeles joined this same group on the following Tuesday to participate in an event in Phoenix. More on that here.

From La Opinión

2010-02-18T11:50:00.001-08:00

Words are not enough…

Congress has an opportunity to debate and vote on immigration reform, an issue that has been relegated to the backburner for many years despite its importance to the economy and for millions of people who live and work in the shadows. Unfortunately, the moment is not being seized.

Immigration, Christians and the Church

2010-02-11T12:09:00.000-08:00

I had the great opportunity of meeting Dr. Daniel Carroll in 2008 when he spoke at an event at Fuller Seminary. Last month, I had the opportunity to spend a little bit of time with Danny in Phoenix at an event on immigration and Evangelical Christianity. Other participants included Neighborhood Ministries, National Association of Evangelicals, the Christian Community Development Association,

Danny's blog directs us to this video of his contribution to this discussion at Willow Creek Church in Barrington, IL, near Chicago. It is particularly interesting to me that Willow Creek's Justice and Compassion ministry is taking some leadership on the issue of immigration. Leadership at the church has taken some risks in moving this forward. I appreciate that they are doing this and recommend this video of Danny Carroll's talk to you.

Sigue el debate sobre el censo

2010-02-10T09:06:00.000-08:00

If I didn't already know there was a debate on this, I would not have thought of this. But Dr. Juan Martinez of Red de Pastores y Lideres and Fuller Seminary has some helpful resources for anyone who is interested and can influence Latinos and immigrants to participate in the 2010 Census on his Caminando con el Pueblo blog, Sigue el debate sobre el censo (in Spanish).

Everyone should participate in the Census. There are some very consequences for any community for not participating.

Prayer, Education and Advocacy in Phoenix

2010-02-01T09:21:00.000-08:00

Evangelicals may have largely missed the civil rights battles of the 1960s, but we do not intend to repeat our mistake in 2010.

~Galen Carey

More than 20 of us from Southern California grassroots organizations when to Phoenix, AZ last week. Galen Carey writes about it in the Washington Post here. Carey is the Director of Government Affairs for the National Association of Evangelicals.

Along with partner organizations, we sponsored a meeting in Phoenix, Arizona this week to study the Scriptures, pray and call our leaders to action on immigration reform. Evangelical leaders also led similar events in Denver, Miami, Santa Ana, Chicago and Memphis. We heard noted civil rights leader John Perkins and civil rights historian Troy Jackson challenge evangelicals to stand with immigrants in the struggle for justice.

I had the opportunity to meet Galen at the morning session Institutional Baptist Church where we had a good conversation about the NAE's position and its willingness to speak out and take action on this issue.

Our current system contradicts our nation's deepest values. The teachings of almost every religious tradition uphold the virtue of corporate as well as individual hospitality. The Hebrew Scriptures command not only hospitality, but love--because God himself loves the sojourner. Jesus went out of his way to honor the despised Samaritans and fully identified himself with the foreigner. Those who welcome strangers are said to be entertaining angels.

Dr. John Perkins for such a time as this…

2010-01-28T17:05:00.000-08:00

Dr. John Perkins spoke at a park in downtown Phoenix on Tuesday where I gathered with 130 or more others for a day of witness, prayer and education on the topic of immigration and the treatment of immigrants.

Dr. Perkins has been a huge influence on my life and work.

More news about this event and similar events around the country is here and here.

Special thanks to Chrissy at Padilla Tortilla for the video.

A Day of Education, Witness and Action in Phoenix

2010-01-24T19:31:00.000-08:00

Thank you very much for your interest in my trip this week to Phoenix, Arizona. I know I have told several people about this trip. Others are learning about it from this note. I thought it would be good to let people know why we are going to Arizona.

Tuesday, January 26 will be a day of education, witness and action around immigration reform. Our vision is to see Christians acting together around the injustice faced by immigrants and to allow ourselves to be transformed in the process.

The day will begin with biblical teaching from Dr. Danny Carroll, author of Christians at the Border: Immigration, the Church and the Bible and Old Testament professor at Denver Seminary. A meal will be shared with local immigrant families and hear firsthand their stories and struggles of life in the United States. In the afternoon we will continue with a witness and liturgy in front of a temporary immigrant detention center in downtown Phoenix and conclude our day with a public gathering to proclaim our commitment to the dignity of immigrants among us by insisting that immigration reform adhere to moral and biblical values.

National organizations including Sojourners, World Relief, and Seminary Consortium for Urban Pastoral Education (SCUPE) will join with local community organizations hosted by Neighborhood Ministries of Phoenix, Arizona to support this event. We hope to gather over 100 Christian leaders in Phoenix, and ask that you would prayerfully consider joining us for a powerful day of learning, relationship-building, prayerful witness and collective action. Others are convening in Santa Ana, San Francisco, Chicago, Denver and other geographies on the same day. I can connect you to information on those meetings if you are interested.

I will be traveling with leaders of some faith-based organizations from Los Angeles, Bellflower, Pasadena, Fullerton, Whittier, and Costa Mesa. These are leaders of organizations where missions and community engagement interface with a wide variety of immigrant people. Some of us sense that this issue is comparable with the civil rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s. As Christians, we do not want parts of the church to miss understand to dismiss this work of God.

For Christ's sake: Local Evangelicals plan Civic Center Park rally for immigration reform

2010-01-23T12:08:00.000-08:00

Churches in Denver will host an event prayer-focused rally in support of comprehensive immigration reform at Civic Center Park on January 26. More about that here.

Transformation and Justice

2010-01-18T09:17:00.000-08:00

I wrote this essay about one of Martin Luther King, Jr.'s speeches in 2007. I offer it here again in honor of the holiday commemorating Dr. King's birthday.

. . . we come together to work toward a better world of equality and justice. This . . . essay is a response to the words of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. submitted as part of a group effort to have a conversation about using nonviolent principles to bring human rights to migrant populations.

In 1961, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. addressed the annual meeting of The Fellowship of the Concerned with a speech about “Law, Love, and Civil Disobedience.” This was addressed to an interracial group of professional people who may have been discouraged because of a lack of progress and the violence that faced some who would carry their civil rights ideals forward. The problem, as described by Dr. King, is resistance in the south to the Supreme Court ruling (1954) that outlawed segregation. This has been met with counter resistance and civil disobedience of local ordinance from the student movement to move desegregation forward. This struggle needed to continue then. It needs to continue today. It is a struggle, as those who have privileges will not surrender them voluntarily. This is true today as it was in 1961.

The question to be answered by King in this speech is—how will the struggle be waged? The answer is profound. Everyone is transformed in the process—the oppressed and the oppressors. No one remains the same. God’s agape love is the catalyst.

Historically, the two most common ways to deal with the problem is either to surrender or to rise up with counter violence. King proposes a third way. It is the way of non-violent resistance. This approach was not intuitive or easily understood. King took a principled approach and worked hard to build a movement on those principles.

King is aware that the struggle is against an unjust system not against people. He says:

“There is something else: that one seeks to defeat the unjust system, rather than individuals who are caught in that system. And that one goes on believing that somehow this is the important thing, to get rid of the evil system and not the individual who happens to be misguided, who happens to be misled, who was taught wrong. The thing to do is to get rid of the system and thereby create a moral balance with society.”

Some of my learning about the civil rights struggles and the evils that were fought has been through movies. For some readers here, most was learned through books and the telling of stories in film. Cinema has a way of vilifying people by creating suitably hateable characters. This makes movies that sell tickets.

In the real world, identifying individuals who personify evil may merely be a distraction. There are plenty from whom to choose. Insert the name of the one you love to hate. Everywhere one turns on the Internet there are bloggers, and commenters, newscasters and talking heads, who are bashing someone to objectify the antithesis of their point-of-view. We need to focus on changing the systems. Changing people’s minds and hearts will lead to transformed culture and changed systems. Use God’s agape love to love the people we do not like. Until we change the system that supports injustice, the injustice will continue to oppress the weak. Focus on what is important. For Dr. King it was the segregated South. Today, it is the failed immigration system, unjust exploitation of immigrant labor, and international policies that devastate foreign economies.

That some laws are just and others are unjust, and that people have the capacity to understand the difference is essential to the founding of our county and the Christian faith’s pulpit from which Dr. King preached. King says:

“ . . . A just law is a law that squares with a moral law, it is a law that squares with that which is right, so that any law that uplifts human personality is a just law. . . . An unjust law is a code that the majority inflicts on the minority that is not binding on itself. . . .An unjust law is a code which the majority inflicts upon the minority, which that minority had no part in enacting or creating. . . .Individuals who stand up on the basis of civil disobedience realize that they are following something that says that there are just laws and there are unjust laws.”

Thomas Jefferson and the other signers of the US Declaration of Independence, carried it even further saying,

“Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed . . . But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.”

In the Christian faith tradition, there are biblical directives to both obey the civil authorities, and, when contradictory to God’s laws, to reject them. The Christian Bible says that civil authorities have the responsibility to ensure that people can live peaceful, quiet lives (2 Timothy 2:2) and to govern rightly and ensure order (Romans 13). When faced with a choice to obey God or the law, the Apostle Peter declares that they will obey God and disobey the civil and religious laws of men (Acts 5:29). In the biblical narrative, there are times when the government is clearly in the wrong and described as a dragon or a beast causing death and destruction (Revelation 13).

#

When we choose to engage in civil disobedience, we must be explicit about the meaning of any such activity. Without explicit, carefully written and spoken words to explain what this action means, we may be wasting our precious resources. I do not believe that some of the recent actions that I have been aware of have been carefully planned and explicitly interpreted by the initiators. When words come, it seems to be an after thought. This is not only because it is being drowned out by louder voices of opposition, but also that may be part of the reason.

Recently the local NPR affiliate radio station here did a story on some arrests of protesters at a federal detention facility downtown. The reporter who covered the action seems to be a progressive and enlightened about what the basic issues are. But there was no articulation of how these arrests where directed at anything going on within the detention facilities, which I assume houses people picked up in ICE raids awaiting hearing or not and departure from the USA. There was nothing available on the website of the organization whose representative was quoted by the reporter. The representative called the action civil disobedience as the arrests were anticipated. But nothing beyond that was offered. Let’s not undervalue the importance of adding meaning with explicit descriptions of how the actions are to be interpreted. I wrote about this here and here.

#

I am not always hopeful. Sometimes I am near despair. There is so much injustice that remains. The opposing voices are so loud, disturbing, ubiquitous. I borrow hope from the words of Dr. King: “This movement is a movement based on faith in the future. It is a movement based on a philosophy, the possibility of the future bringing into being something real and meaningful. It is a movement based on hope.” I mentioned this to someone recently and he reminded me that Dr. King caught a bullet. Little has changed, he said. I know that.

King reminds us “. . .that [the] students [of his day] had faith in the future. That the movement was based on hope, that this movement had something within it that says somehow even though the arc of the moral universe is long, it bends toward justice. And I think this should be a challenge to all others who are struggling to transform the dangling discords of our Southland into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood.” Today the discords of our Southland are on our southern border. The symphony may be made up of mariachis.

Dr. King was able to say this when his home had been bombed and churches were bombed. And people died. It is not be easy, but there is hope. Changing people’s hearts will change systems; changing systems changes the future.

###

Additional note: his week I heard Tavis Smiley, (PBS commentator) say that Martin Luther King, Jr. is the best that America has ever produced. He attributed King as saying that love is the greatest force in the world available to us. He summarized it and was quoted on a Starbucks coffee cup: “Love wins.” Agape love is transformative.

Another Note: for an easy to understand and compelling description of the different kinds of love to which Dr. King alludes: storge (affection), phileo (friendship), eros (romantic love), and agape (charity or God-love) see C. S. Lewis, The Four Loves (1960).

###

Book Review of Trails of Hope and Terror in PRISM

2010-01-11T15:36:00.000-08:00

I have written a review of Trails of Hope and Terror: Testimonies on Immigration by Miguel de la Torre, that will appear in the January February edition of PRISM magazine at ESA.

"For some in the United States this might be a debate about defending borders and keeping some faceless unknowns at safe distances. These testimonies [stories in each chapter of the book] give them . . .human faces. The telling of the stories from personal interviews is relentless. Story after story is translated and told from the perspective of immigrants, church workers, theologians, students, family members and those looking for work."

You can read the whole book review section: Off the Shelf (pdf)

The Movement of Peoples: Ruth Padilla deBorst

2010-01-01T13:40:00.000-08:00

For people who are challenging Christian people in the US on the issue of immigration, Dr. Padilla deBorst's talk from Urbana09 may give a foundation for such a conversation. There are people from places like Center for Immigration Studies feeding the blogosphere with one point of view and change.org asking some good questions here about who would Jesus deport.

This post is dedicated to many who are part of this movement and ask good questions about the words of Jesus and the role of his followers.

Trails of Hope and Terror review in PRISM

2009-12-29T11:21:00.000-08:00

I have written a review of Trails of Hope and Terror: Testimonies on Immigration by Miguel de la Torre, that will appear in the January February edition of PRISM magazine at ESA. (I will update with a link if they put it online.)

"For some in the United States this might be a debate about defending borders and keeping some faceless unknowns at safe distances. These testimonies [stories in each chapter of the book] give them . . .human faces. The telling of the stories from personal interviews is relentless. Story after story is translated and told from the perspective of immigrants, church workers, theologians, students, family members and those looking for work."

Mexican Migration through New Mexico and the Southwest

2009-12-22T13:34:00.000-08:00

HT: ImmigrationProf Blog by immigrationprof

Congressman Gutierrez news conference on Comprehensive Immigration Reform

2009-12-15T09:59:00.001-08:00

There's a crowd assembling to hear the Congressman's announcement this morning.

Eighty seven cosponsors announced. Immigration reform is "pro-jobs, pro-family, pro-security."

"Once signed into law, [CIR ASAP] will be one of the largest leaps forward for civil rights that our nation has seen in over 30 years"

~Tweet from 4aNewAmerica

Thanks to friends at CCIR for the photo and the live tweets!

Another photo from @ri4a:

CIR bill to be introduced today

2009-12-15T07:20:00.000-08:00

From the office of Congressman Luis V. Gutierrez:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

(Washington D.C.) On Tuesday, December 15, Congressman Luis V. Gutierrez (D-IL) will introduce new legislation, the Comprehensive Immigration Reform for America's Security and Prosperity Act of 2009 (CIR ASAP), to the U.S. House of Representatives. Gutierrez will be joined by members of many different faiths and backgrounds, including the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, Black Caucus, Asian Pacific American Caucus and Progressive Caucus.

Click Introduction of Comprehensive Immigration Reform Legislation for more information from the Congressman's office. There should be more news by the end of today. Kitty Felde from NPR affiliate KPCC (89.3 FM) is Pasadena, California did a story from the press release already this week.

Prayer for Immigrants featured at Sojourners Verse and Voice

2009-12-11T18:12:00.000-08:00

Today, Friday, December 11, 2009 Sojourners Verse and Voice published this prayer, written by APU students who are part of the Latin American Student Association (LASA). I took these photographs at the prayer vigil that they planned and carried out in April 2009. The prayer is also in Spanish here.

On April 23, 2009 students from the Latin American Student Association (LASA) at Azusa Pacific University
held a prayer vigil to bring attention to the situation of some immigrants to the United States.

Visitors to the vigil were handed cards with pictures of immigrants whose stories they could follow visually and with words that explain how people decide to migrate, how the travel and cross borders and both the successes and failures they find in a new country.

This prayer for the immigrant is written by and offered by the students of LASA. To read this prayer in Spanish, click here.

God of Cultures, we pray for the millions of immigrants who are living around the world in countries that may be hostile "strangers." Teach us to look beyond the borders of the nation and city in which we live.

God of the Poor, we pray that immigrant families and especially children who have restricted access to shelter, food, health care, and education would cease to be marginalized by the systems in which they live and instead be treated with dignity. We pray that they would be provided with covering shelter, nourishing food, sustaining health, and a nurturing education.

We pray for those who were born in the United States whose thoughts and actions may be fueled by racist and ethnocentric attitudes towards those who were born elsewhere. We pray for the abolition of individual and institutional racism.

We pray for those who live in constant fear of deportation and separation from their family. We pray that families would be able to remain together.

We pray that you would help us remember that all people possess inherent human dignity as your children, made in your image, regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, age, socio-economic status, or legal status; in the undocumented sister and brother, let us see your Spirit, O Lord.

Help us not forget that you were an immigrant; that your family fled to Egypt when you were a child to escape Herod’s decree to kill every infant boy.

God, help us see you in the eyes of the migrant and to recognize your presence amongst the oppressed.

Amen

A comprehensive bill on immigration reform

2009-12-09T10:26:00.000-08:00

Several people have asked me recently when there would be a bill in congress about immigration reform. This is the word from Sojourners' Christians for Comprehensive Immigration Reform's Campaign Coordinator Allison Johnson:

"A comprehensive bill on immigration reform, the first of this Congress, is slated to be introduced the week of December 14 by Representative Luis Gutierrez. Be sure to check out our blog for a statement on the bill when it is released." ~December Updates on Immigration

Myths about immigrants with Juan Hernandez

2009-12-06T21:09:00.000-08:00

I met Mr. Hernandez in Indianapolis at the 2004 CCDA conference.

Hernandez has worked for both the Mexican and US governments. He wrote: New American Pioneers: Why Are We Afraid of Mexican Immigrants?

Verse and Voice: Prayer for the Sojourner

2009-12-04T13:33:00.000-08:00

Sojourners Verse and Voice has featured a prayer that I posted on People Migrate in 2006.

God of the journey, God of the traveler, we pray for those who leave their homes in search of new beginnings and possibilities. May they know your presence with them. We pray that those who seek to make a home in this country may find us welcoming and willing to help them find a path toward citizenship. We pray that our legislators, as they craft new immigration legislation, may find the wisdom and courage to enact new policies that do justice for our country and for those who would immigrate here. We pray for those who fan the flames of fear and discrimination against the undocumented may be touched with your divine compassion. We pray in Jesus’ name, amen.

~The Archdiocese of Chicago, Adapted

Prayer for immigrant is one of the very popular searches that bring people to this blog.

Help Wanted: Communications & Technology Organizer

2009-12-02T22:42:00.000-08:00

National Day Laborer Organizing Network

Job Announcement: Communications & Technology Organizer
Location: Los Angeles
Salary: Based on Experience
Type: Full Time (w/ benefits)
Last day to apply: Open until filled
Languages: Spanish/English
Education: BA or 4 year equivalent
Experience: At least 2 years (preferably with Nonprofit)

Who we are:
NDLON’s mission is to improve the lives of day laborers in the United States. Towards this end, NDLON strengthens, unifies, and expands the work of member organizations. NDLON is composed of 41 day laborer organizations located in 14 states across the country. As a national network, NDLON brings together day laborers and their organizations to educate and advocate at the local, state, and national levels around issues relating to:

strengthening day laborer organizing models such as centers and organized corners
leadership development and popular education
protection of labor and civil rights; and
immigration reform.

Position Description:
The Communications and Technology Organizer is a full-time position. S/he will: Assist NDLON member organizations; Develop communication systems within the network; Manage and expand the networks’ online organizing campaigns; and Manage and expand public relations campaigns through media and other outreach.

The organizer will also enhance electronic communication network within the organization. S/he is responsible for maintaining all information technology, both hardware and software. Responsibilities include systems’ maintenance, long-term IT planning, disaster recovery planning.

The organizer will help NDLON expand its web presence and organize within the online community. The organizer will also provide communication and tech support on specific campaigns, such as efforts to organize against policies that criminalize immigrant communities.

Responsibilities Include:

Managing day to day IT operations support issues
Developing and updating content for our website
Recommend and implement software and hardware upgrades to provide maximum resources utilization
Evaluate, recommend, install, and troubleshoot hardware, software, operating systems, and desktop connections to NDLON
Building and managing media lists

Desired Qualifications:

Bachelor’s Degree or higher in Technology or related field.
Strong web and technical knowledge as well as computer skills, including Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and Social Media tools
Having experience with the following a plus; Abode CS3 or 4, Database management
Bilingual (Spanish)
Strong commitment to social justice and immigrant rights
Excellent organizational skills, communication skills, and detail oriented

How to Apply:

NDLON is an equal opportunity employer to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, creed, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, or marital status, in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws.

Please send cover letter, resume, and three references to: Yadira Hernandez Herrera, Director of Administration

By email: (preferable) yhernandez@ndlon.org
Subject line: “Communications & Technology Organizer”

By mail: 675 S Park View St. Ste B, Los Angeles, CA 90057

Questions: Please call 213.380.2201

You are just one of those open borders people!

2009-12-01T12:40:00.000-08:00

Recently, I mentioned to someone that I was a volunteer for Christians for Comprehensive Immigration Reform. (That's a slightly abbreviated version of a longer conversation.) This person responded with: "You're just one of those open border people!" I was taken aback because nothing I said really hinted at being "open border." I have actually been thinking about whether I am in that category or not--but it just seems that one can argue for comprehensive immigration reform, treating your immigrant neighbors with love and improving the life of workers in this country without having to argue against people that say that the United States has the right or responsibility to enforce its own borders.

Now I don't have to argue that. Jason L. Riley from the Wall Street Journal editorial board does it for us.

What could be a more conservative view of immigration and immigration policy reform? What do you think?

Happy Thanksgiving, Pilgrim

2009-11-26T08:24:00.000-08:00

"This Thanksgiving Remember the Immigrant, Pilgrim"

- Jim Wallis

From Sojourners' Christians for Comprehensive Immigration Reform page at Faith and Immigration blog.

Check it out, register, learn, get ready for the work ahead in 2010.

2009-11-20T16:53:00.001-08:00

Glen Peterson is a fan of

Reform Immigration FOR America

Create your Fan Badge

Evangelical Churches, National Association of Evangelicals and God’s compassion for the immigrant

2009-10-31T11:26:00.000-07:00

I sent the following to the President of the Baptist denomination that my evangelical church is a part of this week in response to the reaction of restrictionist groups to the statement in support of comprehensive immigration reform by the National Association of Evangelicals and the kerfuffle that followed. I have edited the what follows to be more generic and encourage you to edit and use it in your context.

…

The impetus for my writing at this time are the events surrounding the recent testimony of prominent evangelical leaders before the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration, Border Security and Refugees, the release of a statement by the National Association regarding Comprehensive Immigration Reform and the subsequent reaction of certain restrictionist lobbying organizations which use pejorative language, misinformation and caricature in reference to immigrants and immigration. Some of these groups have ties to white supremacy. Some of us believe that the strident rhetoric of these groups has led to violence against immigrants and other people of color.

One of these organizations, NumbersUSA, has cited Converge Worldwide on their website as a group that, at least argued from silence, disagrees with the comments by Lynn Hybels, Leith Anderson and others at the Senate hearing and the statement made by the National Association of Evangelicals. NumbersUSA and other groups have called on their constituencies to make telephone calls, write letters and send emails to NAE members to pressure their leadership to distance themselves from the statement on immigration. Converge Worldwide may have experienced some of these calls, emails or letters from those who would only seek to restrict immigration and limit the rights of immigrants and workers.

Some denominations have responded in support of the NEA statement, others have made statements to distance themselves, and others remain silent. These anti-immigrant groups are attempting to demonstrate that there is lack of support for the NAE statement, and for comprehensive, humane treatment of immigrants in our country. You and I know that the diversity of thought and perspective in this great amorphous thing called American evangelicalism is a good thing. We are people of the Book and I hope and pray that a lack of compassion for the least of those among us will not lead to further violence.

From my perspective, as someone who has ministered with and among immigrant communities for more than 20 years, the statement of the Nation Association of Evangelicals gets certain things right.

That immigration enforcement be conducted in ways that recognize the importance of due process of law, the sanctity of the human person, and the incomparable value of family.
There must be a sound, equitable process for currently undocumented immigrants who wish to assume the responsibilities and privileges of citizenship to earn legal status. There is no call for blanket amnesty as the detractors assert.
National borders must be better organized and safeguarded with efficiency and respect for human dignity.

For further reading on immigration from a biblical perspective by people who understand the history, current law and politics, the immigrant and refugee communities, and theology, I recommend these:

World Relief’s Welcoming the Stranger, Justice, Compassion & Truth in the Immigration Debate, by Matthew Soerens and Jenny Hwang, Intervarsity Press, 2009. I have had the opportunity to chat with Matt (an immigration attorney in Chicago area) and
An excellent book with biblical theology as the focus is Christians at the Border: Immigration the Bible and the Church, Daniel Carroll-R., (Distinguished Old Testament Professor, Denver Seminary), Baker Academic, 2008. Danny takes a markedly theological approach as Professor of Old Testament at Denver Seminary.
A newer book with a very up-close and personal approach is Trails of Hope and Terror: Testimonies on Immigration by Miguel A. De La Torre (Professor of Ethics, Iliff Seminary) Orbis Books, 2009. De La Torre took seminary students to the Sonoran Desert on both sides of the border to talk to migrants about the situations and circumstances that led them to risk their health and their lives to cross at great peril.

I would be happy to have further conversation with you about immigration, the situation of immigrants in this country and comprehensive immigration reform. Please feel free to contact me. . . [using the comment feature below].

love casts out fear, not immigrants

2009-10-11T09:57:00.000-07:00

Professor Rah's blog features Jose Morales, Jr. “Immigration, Fear, Cultural Idolatry and the Liberating Power of Faith" Mr. Morales makes good points about the nature of fear and the treatment of immigrants.

"The sad tale to this saga for me, as a faithful Christian, is that this cultural hegemony has been, and still is, sanctioned and sustained by religion. God-talk is employed to ignore cultural fear and to maintain cultural hegemony, which consequently leads to cultural idolatry. Below are three ways in which religion is distortedly used to these ends.
The dominant culture makes an appeal to “obedience of the law” as a moral absolute without first determining whether the contents and intents of said law, in and of themselves, are morally right and just.
The nation that concocts these laws is given divine origins and divine purpose. In short, to go against the state is to go against God.
The “white” majority, who have written the history of the nation (so as to soften up things like Native extermination, slavery of African peoples, and subjugation of women), are given divine preference and set the “standard” by which all residents of the republic are judged.

Go read the whole post here.

My response to a conversation on Facebook

2009-10-10T09:42:00.000-07:00

I recently did a Facebook updated in order to send people to my post below on Lynn Hybels testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Immigration. A flood of comments followed. I have now responded. And, my comments are:

"All of the conversation here surprised me, as my original intention was to drive traffic to my blog on this topic. I am not going to address everything that people have injected here, but I do want to say a couple of things. For those who may want to develop a Christian faith-based viewpoint on the migration of people and specifically people immigrating to the United States, I recommend 3 books that I have read in the past 18 months. Welcoming the Stranger by Matthew Soerens and Jenny Hwang (I reviewed this book for Sojourners, go to sojo.net and search for my name), Christians at the Border by Daniel Carroll R. and Trails of Hope and Terror by Miguel de la Torre. I would read them in that order. I have more comments about these books at my blog: http://leviticustwentyfour22.blogspot.com/

If anyone read my comment that certain things said by some who are quoting the Bible to demean immigrants that contains misinformation, caricature, and pejorative language embarrass me, it does and I am. I didn’t bring up that point of view. Those views are being widely distributed publicly and routinely by individuals and organizations that are funded by people who support and push white supremacist ideologies. If you think you were mischaractized and associated with these views, just be aware that there are certain buzzwords that will seem to align you with those people and their views. My comments are painstakingly designed to be polite. For a technical refutation of some of the biblical misinformation search for this: “Daniel Carroll Rodas on A Biblical Perspective on Immigration Policy.pdf” It is a response to a specific writer who has used biblical references to push restrictionism or intolerance.

This is not just a conversation about two points of view for me. It is personal. Intelligent, law-abiding people who contribute to their church and neighborhood and community and this country and are people that I love are forced by laws that are unjust and morally reprehensible to live underground and considers them expendable. I have sat at the border of Mexico and the United State to wait for my friend to be delivered by what was then called the INS on a bus through a gap in a fence. I have talked to people near the border who are waiting for the opportunity to sneak across the border to find work to support their children and other family members. And, they were willing to do so in the face of likely arrest, injury and even death. Thinking that the alternative is even worse. De la Torre’s book has many stories like this.

I am not sure that I will further dialogue on this venue. I might. A friend of mine will facilitate a forum on the topic of immigration at our church in the coming months. I will likely make note of the date and time of that event in this space. Watch for it.

The comments left by others were interesting, vigorous, and . . . well go take a look for yourself.

By the way. I do welcome comments here. Some months back, I did delete several unsavory comments, mostly because they contained links to offensive material that had nothing to do with the topic of the post or this blog. When I did that, I may have deleted some comments (John) that I would have otherwise left if the other commenter had not put my in such a bad mood. Sorry about that. I will turn off the comment moderation feature for now.

Dawn in the Darkness: building an inclusive biblical paradigm

2009-10-09T14:51:00.000-07:00

I thought you’d be interested in this event at Biola University on October 29, 2009 at 12 noon until 2 pm in the Café Banquet Room.
Biola University’s Multi Ethnic Department will be a screening of a short documentary “Dawn in the Darkness: building an inclusive biblical paradigm” by Glen Kinoshita.

From the promotional flyer about the film:

“What is the role of the church in caring for the poor? Should diversity be important to a body of believers? Aimed at addressing the issue of diversity and social justice in the Christian Scriptures, “Dawn in the Darkness” challenges viewers to begin constructing a Biblical paradigm where racial reconciliation and social justice are central to Christian faith and practice. This film reveals how a majority of Evangelical Christian institutions have neglected the teaching and practice regarding racial reconciliation, ministry to the poor and social justice. Featuring interviews with pastors and clips from sermon messages, this timely film ultimately urges viewers to pursue understanding the Gospel holistically and to build the Kingdom of God “on earth as it is in heaven.”

Glen, the filmmaker, told me that is a good film for church staffs and others who want to initiate a conversation around the issues of race and diversity. It is available for purchase for $125.

Scripture and History Remind Us that We are All Immigrants

2009-10-08T16:52:00.000-07:00

Today, Christian faith leaders were present at and testified at the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration, Border Security and Refugees for the Thursday, October 8, 2009, hearing on Faith-Based Community Perspectives on Comprehensive Immigration Reform. I was delighted and thankful to see that Lynn Hybels testified with Bill Hybels from Willow Creek Church near Chicago. Her testimony is scriptural, personal and passionate. You can read a summary and link to the complete testimony at Christians for Comprehensive Immigration Reform blog. Hybels and the Willow Creek megachurch are well respected among conservatives and a wide spectrum of evangelical Christians.

Ms. Hybels said:

"Our history teaches us that immigrants who were once feared and thought to be unable to assimilate are now embraced as Americans with deep roots in this country. Thus, we must not be driven by a spirit of fear that produces a hardness of heart, but rather we must extend grace and a welcoming spirit to the immigrants who live in our communities."

Thank you to Lynn Hybels and the other followers of Jesus who testified before the Senate Committee today on behalf of those people who live in our country without documents--not by any choice of their own, but because they have no choice. When any of us speak up for the stranger we do so as to Jesus. I pray for a day when a broken immigration system does not create or even allow for a class of people seen as less than human or with fewer rights that all of us. May God bless the coming push for comprehensive immigration reform and all those who speak for it. There are some days that I feel less embarassed to associate with other of Christ's followers.

From San Francisco this morning . . .

2009-10-05T09:21:00.000-07:00

This is from my friend who works in the Mission District in a church based faith organization. They have been very deliberate about thinking and praying about the issues surrounding people who have recently migrated to their community:

Greetings, brothers and sisters:

A group of us representing a local immigration coalition will be
speaking this morning at a Board of Supervisors' Public Safety
committee hearing to advocate for the restoration of "sanctuary"
protections for arrested undocumented youth, i.e. to ensure that they
receive a fair hearing instead of being immediately handed over to
federal immigration authorities (i.e. ICE). Under the current policy
(just enacted recently by our mayor under political pressure) makes
the possible the separation of youth from their parents (via
deportation) due to petty or even non-existent crimes. The proposed
policy would prevent this from happening, with the exception of those
guilty of felonies.

Below is a small article from Sunday's Chronicle.

Pray that we might faithfully represent the heart of God in this
public space, and in the midst of a highly contentious issue.

###

"Immigration plan should draw crowd

- Marisa Lagos

Sunday, October 4, 2009

The never-ending immigration debate will rear its head again in San
Francisco Monday when a Board of Supervisors committee takes up a
controversial proposal that would make it tougher for local police to
hand over undocumented juveniles accused of crimes to federal
authorities. The meeting is expected to draw a large crowd supporting
the proposed law (we're not sure whether the opposition has organized
to come out as well - all public speakers will be allowed two minutes
to tell the committee how they feel).

Supervisor David Campos' proposal - which is supported by a veto-proof
majority of his colleagues - would require that youths be convicted of
a felony before they are turned over to immigration officials (unless
the child or teenager is charged as an adult). The law would roll back
a policy implemented last year by Mayor Gavin Newsom, which allows
federal officials to be contacted at the time of an arrest.

Newsom's policy change has generated heat from immigrants and their
advocates; Campos' proposal has earned the ire of Newsom, Police Chief
George Gascón and District Attorney Kamala Harris.

"I think there will be a lot of interest, and a large turnout. People
who have experienced firsthand the mayor's policy change will be there
to testify," Campos said.

Additionally, a number of legal experts - who released a legal memo
Wednesday that concluded that Campos' policy is both "legally tenable
and defensible" - will testify, Campos' office said.

Boards: Bar Fights, and Beautiful Music. How to avoid the one, and make lots of the other

2009-09-26T11:26:00.000-07:00

Welcome back!

Good Governance—Leadership Excellence

Saturday, October 17, 2009; 9 AM – 3 PM; Lunch included. Whittier Area Community Church, 8175 Villaverde Dr., Whittier, CA 90605

A board of directors needs to know its job and have the right tools. The job of governance is about values, vision, empowerment of both board and staff, and the strategic ability to lead leaders. This workshop looks at how a board of directors brings added value to a new organization. The workshop is designed as an introduction and to help everyone from beginners to veterans.

As workshop participants, board members and staff leaders will gain an appreciation of leadership through governance; define the roles of management and board distinct from one another; identify the unique job outputs of the board; and learn how to avoid meddling and "rubber-stamping" by boards.

A nominal fee of $50 for the first person from an organization and $20 for additional persons from the same organization will be charged. WACC will provide scholarships for Whittier organizations that serve the poor or disadvantaged of the community.

Your ideas matter here! Please leave a comment.

Still looking for bibliography recommendations

2009-09-20T16:41:00.000-07:00

I am still looking for the best pro-immigrant literature that will be accessible to a general reading audience. Please feel free to post your suggestions in the comments. I you haven't had the opportunity, click on the books below, buy a copy and read it.

Bailey, Rayna, Immigration and Migration (Global Issues), Facts on File (March 30, 2008)
Carroll R., M. Daniel, Christians at the Border: Immigration, the Church, and the Bible, Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2008, 172 pages. And in Spanish: Cristianos en la frontera/ Christians at the Border (Spanish Edition) Dr. Carroll also blogs at: Immigration and Other Matters.

De La Torre, Miguel, Trails of Hope and Terror: Testimonies on Immigration, Orbis Books, Maryknoll, New York, (October 31, 2009 release date)

Kennedy, John. A Nation of Immigrants, Popular Library, New York (January 1, 1964)

Soerens, Matthew and Hwang, Jenny, Welcoming the Stranger: Justice, Compassion & Truth in the Immigration Debate, Downers Grove: Intervarsity Press, 2009, 240 pages. I reviewed this for Sojourners. You can read that review, "Love and the Law."

Sen, Renku, The Accidental American: Immigration and Citizenship in the Age of Globalization, Berrett-Koehler Publishers; 1 edition (September 1, 2008)

New Biblical Blog on Immigration

2009-09-16T23:20:00.000-07:00

M. Daniel Carroll R., author of Christians at the Border: Immigration, the Church, and the Bible has started a new conversation on a blog: Danny Carroll. Check it out, join in the conversation and let me know what you think.

Decennial 2010 Census and Trust

2009-09-11T15:58:00.000-07:00

There is a group of pastors calling for a boycott by their congregations of the 2010 Census, reported in the Wall Street Journal and Christianity Today. Beverly Platt offers Three Reasons Latina/os Should Not Boycott the U.S. Census. It may not be that easy.

In 1990 and 2000 I worked at a community development organization housed with a church. Our constituency included people who had fled governments who did not have the best interests of its citizens in mind. People who had fled local and state police, federal policies that prohibited free speech and freedom of the press. People were familiar with governments that could arrest without cause and incarcerate without trial. People experienced being deprived their livelihood.

It was in the context of this church-based community organization where we provided a venue for the United States Department of Commerce to recruit, test, train and deploy census workers in order to enumerate people in our community for the best interest of the neighborhood, community, and region. The workers with whom we interfaced were quite clear that there was no reason for anyone to fear the census process and the government. It was clearly stated that it is illegal and impossible to find anyone directly from the census information that was collected, maintained, stored, and distributed by the Census Bureau.

I was repeatedly asked about the trustworthiness and purpose of the questionnaires that people received for the census. Recent immigrants who for good reason did not trust the governments of their countries of origin asked these questions. It was my habit at that time to repeat the assurances of the Census Bureau’s people and documents. They could be trusted. Because of my position in the organization and at the church, my words would have implicitly had some moral authority, even been spoken on behalf of the church or God himself.

My assurances were often met with utter disbelief. Eyes inquisitive and incredulous. I know that often, the census questionnaires were left unreturned. In-person canvassers were evaded. The census workers and authorities, in lieu of filled-out forms or personal interview, made poor estimates. Immigrant populations and persons of color were undercounted and therefore became underrepresented.

If asked again in 2010 I might answer the same way as I had before. Yet, I have much less confidence. Now my eyes are filled with distrust and unbelief. I have seen families separated by the practices of the Department of Homeland Security that has deputized local police and armed its own Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers to arrest workers in factories and restaurants. People I know have been involuntary removed from this country without due process, taken from their homes and families. I have had community workers tell me that the US government has separated US citizens from their own children and removed people only because the looked like they were from another country. I have been told of women who were trafficked to this country to be sex workers. When they were liberated from their oppressors they were put on a plane for Mexico City because they spoke Spanish, not because they were from there or had any resources upon their arrival there.

Should I give the same advice that I did in 1990 and 2000 about the US Government? I would do so with little confidence or enthusiasm. Today, I understand much more about the pain of those people I would have served 10 and 20 years ago. Today, I have had the experience of waiting at the gate of the US-Mexico border for a friend to be dropped off by a bus after a judge had told him there was no reason for him to have legal counsel. He only needed only to sign this paper, a “voluntary departure” and be on his way. Ultimately, my opinion and my voice is one from white-majority-privilege that recommends my immigrant brothers and sisters to participate in the decennial 2010 census.

I might feel more confident if congress were to pass comprehensive immigration reform that is compassionate, just and consistent with the American ideals that I understand of allowing opportunity, freedom, due-process and equality to everyone who works and contributes to the vibrancy of our communities and neighborhoods and our country.

Immigration Bibliography

2009-08-28T21:47:00.000-07:00

What books have you read about immigration? Here are some of mine:

Books with a distinctively Christian point of view about immigration:

Carroll R., M. Daniel, Christians at the Border, Immigration, the Church and the Bible, Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2008, 172 pages.
[Focuses on the Old Testament and deals with biblical languages for pastors and Bible students. Dr. Carroll teaches at Denver Seminary in the United States and has taught at Seminario Teolólogical Centroamericano.]

De la Torre, Miguel A. Trails of Hope and Terror: Testimonies on Immigration, Orbis Books, Maryknoll, New York, (October 31, 2009 release date)

Soerens, Matthew and Hwang, Jenny, Welcoming the Stranger Justice, Compassion & Truth in the Immigration Debate, Downers Grove: Intervarsity Press, 2009, 240 pages. I reviewed this for Sojourners. You can read that review, "Love and the Law."

Other books from a Christian perspective that include something about immigration:

Volf, Miroslav, Exclusion and Embrace: A Theological Exploration of Identity, Otherness, and Reconciliation, Nashville: Abington, 1996.
Wallis, Jim, The Great Awakening, 2008
Rah, Soong-Chan, The Next Evangelicalism: Freeing the Church from Western Cultural Captivity, IVP, 2009

I would like to develop a broad list of the relevant literature on immigration. I offer these from my own Christian faith perspective. What have you read? Let me know what you've read and what you recommend and why. We can develop a bibliography from which we can all learn.

Welcoming the Stranger Event, 7 pm, July 9 @ WACC in Whittier

2009-07-06T09:22:00.000-07:00

Here are some details for Thursday, let me know if you have any questions.

Welcoming the Stranger:
Compassion and Justice for immigrants
A Dialogue on Immigration Reform

Explore the biblical issue of compassion and justice for immigrants and immigration reform with Professor Robert Chao Romero (UCLA) and Welcoming the Stranger co-author Jenny Hwang (World Relief) and Jose Serrano (UCLA student). Thursday, July 9, 7 – 8:30 pm in room 24 @ Whittier Area Community Church, 8175 Villaverde Drive, Whittier, CA, www.wacc.net . ; cosponsored by World Relief and Whittier Institute for Leadership Development (W. I. L. D.). Contact: Glen Peterson, 562/400-4739, gpeterson@capacitypartnership.com for more information.

Speaker Bios:

[Confirmed] Jenny Hwang is the Director of Advocacy and Policy for the Refugee and Immigration Program at World Relief where she works with the Congress and the Administration to improve refugee and immigration policy. She previously worked in the Resettlement section of World Relief for 2 years as the Senior Case Manager and East Asia Program Officer where she focused on advocacy for refugees in the East Asia region and managed the entire refugee caseload for World Relief before their arrival to the United States. Jenny has conducted research on refugees in Madrid, Spain working with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. She graduated with a B.A. from the Johns Hopkins University and is the co-author of “Welcoming the Stranger: Justice, Compassion, and Truth in the Immigration Debate.”

[Confirmed] Robert Chao Romero is an Assistant Professor in the UCLA Cesar Chavez Department of Chicana/o Studies and Director of the Christian Students of Conscience campus ministry. In the tradition of Rev. Martin Luther King and Cesar E. Chavez, Christian Students of Conscience trains and mobilizes university students in inner city and global justice issues from a faith-based perspective. Dr. Romero received his Juris Doctor from U.C. Berkeley and his Ph.D. in history from the University of California, Los Angeles. He is an ordained minister and has recently begun a pro bono practice in immigration law.

[Confirmed] Jose Serrano recently graduated from UCLA, with a major in Political Science with a concentration in International Relations and with 2 minors, one in Education and the other in Chicano/a Studies. He will be applying to graduate school in the fall concentrating in educational policy. He came here to the U.S. at the age of four years old and is the first one in his family to attend a four year university. And last but not least, Jose firmly believes that God does not give us challenges we are not able to overcome.

Best,
-------
Glen Peterson
Capacity Partnership Group
Post Office Box 693, Whittier, CA 90608

www.capacitypartnership.com
http://capacitypartnership.blogspot.com/
twitter.com/gjpeterson

From a leader in the White House

2009-06-25T16:16:00.000-07:00

"My administration is fully behind an effort to achieve comprehensive immigration reform."

--President Obama, from his printed remarks
after an important meeting with congressional leaders today

Thank you, Mr. President.

Welcoming the Stranger: Compassion and Justice for immigrants with Jenny Hwang

2009-06-24T14:43:00.000-07:00

Updates on the July 9, 2009 Welcoming the Stranger event.

Explore the biblical issue of compassion and justice for immigrants and immigration reform with Welcoming the Stranger: Justice, Compassion & Truth in the Immigration Debate
(IVP) co-author Jenny Hwang. Thursday, July 9, 7 – 8:30 pm in Whittier; cosponsored by World Relief and Whittier Institute for Leadership Development (W. I. L. D.). Leave a message in the comments for more information.

Panelists will include:

[Confirmed] Jenny Hwang is the Director of Advocacy and Policy for the Refugee and Immigration Program at World Relief where she works with the Congress and the Administration to improve refugee and immigration policy. She previously worked in the Resettlement section of World Relief for 2 years as the Senior Case Manager and East Asia Program Officer where she focused on advocacy for refugees in the East Asia region and managed the entire refugee caseload for World Relief before their arrival to the United States. Previous to World Relief, she worked at one of the largest political fundraising firms in Maryland managing fundraising and campaigning for local politicians. Jenny has conducted research on refugees in Madrid, Spain working with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. She graduated with a B.A. from the Johns Hopkins University and is the co-author of “Welcoming the Stranger: Justice, Compassion, and Truth in the Immigration Debate.”

[Confirmed] Robert Chao Romero is an Assistant Professor in the UCLA Cesar Chavez Department of Chicana/o Studies and Director of the Christian Students of Conscience campus ministry. In the tradition of Rev. Martin Luther King and Cesar E. Chavez, Christian Students of Conscience trains and mobilizes university students in inner city and global justice issues from a faith-based perspective. Dr. Romero received his Juris Doctor from U.C. Berkeley and his Ph.D. in history from the University of California, Los Angeles. He is an ordained minister and has recently begun a pro bono practice in immigration law.

We have also invited a student who will share his/her experience growing up in the United States, success in college, and now, immigration out-of-status situation may affect the future and job prospects negatively.

Updates and new information as we confirm it will be posted.

No more delays please . . .

2009-06-18T14:37:00.000-07:00

The US Catholic Bishops today said,

Only through comprehensive reform can we restore the rule of law to our nation’s immigration system.

We urge President Obama and congressional leaders to meet as soon as possible to discuss and draft comprehensive immigration reform legislation, with the goal of making it law by the end of 2009. The Catholic bishops of our country stand ready to assist in this effort.

Save the Date--July 9--Welcoming the Stranger

2009-06-17T17:07:00.000-07:00

Explore the biblical issue of compassion and justice for immigrants and immigration reform with Welcoming the Stranger: Justice, Compassion & Truth in the Immigration Debate
(IVP) co-author Jenny Hwang. Thursday, July 9, 7 – 8:30 pm in Whittier; cosponsored by World Relief and Whittier Institute for Leadership Development (W. I. L. D.). Leave a message in the comments for more information.

Christians for Comprehensive Immigration Reform launch new interactive website

2009-06-10T13:11:00.000-07:00

Sojourner's Christians for Comprehensive Immigration Reform (CCIR) as launched a new interactive website at www.faithandimmigration.org.

The new resource is designed to be a clearinghouse for activists, clergy, and immigrants. Members are invited to post favorite immigration resources from around the Web for other CCIR members to view. Some of my pre-launch posts are still there and I will add others at time goes on.

CCIR had a press conference today which is available in the press room as recorded. Speakers include Allison Johnson, Jim Wallis, Noel Castellanos, Sammy Rodriguez and Vashti McKenzie.

Please feel free to comment here. You belong here and your comments are welcome as they are on topic, related to this post and respectful. Thank you.

If you are on Facebook, other interesting links and information is available on our Christians for Comprehensive Immigration Reform-California Cause page.

Roman Catholics and Evangelicals on Immigration

2009-06-09T10:04:00.000-07:00

Fuller Seminary hosted Cardinal Rodger Mahoney last month to speak on the issue of immigration: "Immigration, God's Law and the common good." I had the opportunity to be in the room and hear the Cardinal speak and then answer questions afterward. I am especially glad that Fuller Seminary hosted this event.

Highlights from the Q & A period are in this second video. The questioners were thoughtful and well informed on the issues through a Christian lens.

I met Cardinal Mahoney after his talk and asked him about Roberto Lovato's call for moral compass from religious leaders in addition to or more than economic justice. I think Mahoney's talk here develops the need for religious leaders, the church, and to develop moral imagination and call for economic justice.

Reform Immigration for America Los Angeles video

2009-06-04T08:11:00.000-07:00

This is from the REform Immigration for America launch event on Monday in Los Angeles. May are in Washington DC launching this new campaign for immigration reform in the US.

Thanks for Will Coley for the video.

You can join the campaign:

1. Send a text to the number 69866 with the word JUSTICE (or JUSTICIA for Spanish) to connect to the mobile action network.

2. Call Speaker Pelosi at (800) 828‐0498 and demand she take action in the House of Representatives

3. Write a letter to Congress in support of Just and Humane Immigration Reform this year.

4. Sign up for updates @ http://www.reformimmigrationforameric...

Launch: Immigration Reform for America June 1, 2009 in Los Angeles

2009-06-01T22:28:00.000-07:00

Love and the Law, Sojourners Magazine/June 2009

2009-05-27T09:23:00.000-07:00

A book review of Welcoming the Stranger:

In Welcoming the Stranger, Matthew Soerens and Jenny Hwang have injected justice, compassion, and truth into what needs to become a new conversation on immigration—values that are often in short supply in this debate.

Click here to read the review. Then buy the book, read it and recommend it to your friends.

Would Ruth be admitted at the border?

2009-05-27T09:09:00.000-07:00

The biblical story of Ruth is about a Moabite immigrant to Israel. A despised minority/foreigner who migrated as an economic refugee. This story informs the celebration of Shaboat and Pentecost. Rabbi Arthur Waskow comments on this biblical story and the situation of immigrants to the United States today on God's Politics here.

About Fanatics:

2009-05-16T09:22:00.000-07:00

If to be feelingly alive to the sufferings of my fellow-creatures is to be a fanatic, I am one of the most incurable fanatics ever permitted to be at large.

- William Wilberforce,
British abolitionist and social reformer (1759-1833)

HT: God's Politics @ sojo.net

About Christians:

2009-05-16T08:50:00.001-07:00

"They dwell in their country, but simply as Sojourners. As citizens, they share all things as if foreigners" -Diognetus ~140 AD

Welcoming The Stranger interview and review [UPDATE}

2009-05-11T17:34:00.000-07:00

is in the online version of Christianity today here. Go check it out and participate in the discussion. The review is nicely done. So far the comments seem rather one sided. What do you think?

Have you read the book yet?

[UPDATE] Sojourners has posted my review here.

Exodus 23:9

2009-05-03T21:38:00.001-07:00

¶ “Do not oppress a foreigner; you yourselves know how it feels to be foreigners, because you were foreigners in Egypt.

Los Angeles May 1 event 2009

2009-05-02T10:26:00.001-07:00

I enjoyed a quick trip downtown on Friday afternoon to catch some of the marchers arriving at Placita Olvera. I parked free near the Chinatown Goldline station and took that to Union Station.

There were a wide variety of marchers and messages that afternoon. There seemed to be a lot of hope from the people that I talked to and saw. Thursday, President Obama indicated that the process for comprehensive immigration reform should begin this year.

I saw one counter demonstrator with a tee shirt from a local radio station that features strident programing from a rather angry disenfranchised crowd to the right. I decided not to post his picture. The LAPD was watching closely and video taping his activity--i guess--in case something happened.

I saw a few familiar faces, including Father Estrada from the Catholic Parish at Placita.There were marchers from UCLA calling for passing of the DREAM Act.

More coverage from the LA Times here and here.

More Photos from May 1 2009

2009-05-02T10:01:00.000-07:00

Rev. Joel Hunter testifies on Immigration at Senate Judiciary subcommittee

2009-05-01T10:58:00.000-07:00

Dr. Joel C. Hunter, senior pastor at Northland, A Church Distributed near Orlando, Florida testified on the impact of the current immigration system on people of faith and called for reformed or the broken system so that people could come out of the shadows.

Some highlights:

In my faith tradition we all start as strangers and aliens, outsiders to the commonwealth of God. But because we have a God who was willing to do what it took to include us (at great personal cost), we "are no longer strangers and aliens, but [we] are fellow citizens?" (Ephesians 2:18-19a)

So I find it a high honor to speak to those in power as an advocate for those who have no power. In a verse that would be echoed in many religions, Proverbs 31:8 commands us to "Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves."

. . . So most people of faith are hoping for policies that will prioritize family togetherness, respect for the law, personal productivity, and compassion for those who are most helpless.

Conclusion

We do not envy you your charge. Immigration reform is a morally complex as well as a politically explosive challenge. But many of us are praying earnestly for you and for God's wisdom in this matter.

Including the stranger is not just a matter of compassion but a necessity for greatness.

Loving your neighbor as you love yourself is not only a moral commandment but a path
to national nobility, if we can build a nation of families and support networks that not only help the marginalized to be successful, but help the successful to be helpful, then we can better live up to our potential as a people.

In the end, I believe our nation will be not be judged by the productivity of our budgets, or the genius of our laws, or even the earnestness of our faith communities. We will be judged, both by history and by God, by the way we treated people, especially those who needed our help.

The church blog has his testimony posted here.

The official United States Senate Judiciary Committee posts the testimony here.

* Video File * Record from Camera Congreso, me esuchas ahora? (Congress, can you hear me now?)

2009-05-01T10:39:00.000-07:00

Como creeas la red mobile mas grande de la nacion para los derechos de los inmigrantes? Por medio de connectar personas como usted, que se preocupen por las familias inmigrantes. Mande el mensaje de text Justicia al 698-66 para recibir actualizaciones y alertas de accion.

Join the Fair Immigration Reform Movement's (FIRM) mobile action network to get the latest news and action alerts right on your mobile phone. Text "JUSTICE" or "JUSTICIA" to the number 69866 to get connected. Just and humane immigration reform in 2009!!

Actor: Francisco Moreno

Find local rallies and events for just and humane immigration reform this May 1st at http://www.anewdayforimmigration.org.

A Prayer for the Immigrant--Prayer Vigil at APU

2009-04-30T14:55:00.000-07:00

On April 23, 2009 students from the Latin American Student Association (LASA) at Azusa Pacific University
held a prayer vigil to bring attention to the situation of some immigrants to the United States.

Visitors to the vigil were handed cards with pictures of immigrants whose stories they could follow visually and with words that explain how people decide to migrate, how the travel and cross borders and both the successes and failures they find in a new country.

This prayer for the immigrant is written by and offered by the students of LASA. To read this prayer in Spanish, click here.

God of Cultures, we pray for the millions of immigrants who are living around the world in countries that may be hostile "strangers." Teach us to look beyond the borders of the nation and city in which we live.

God of the Poor, we pray that immigrant families and especially children who have restricted access to shelter, food, health care, and education would cease to be marginalized by the systems in which they live and instead be treated with dignity. We pray that they would be provided with covering shelter, nourishing food, sustaining health, and a nurturing education.

We pray for those who were born in the United States whose thoughts and actions may be fueled by racist and ethnocentric attitudes towards those who were born elsewhere. We pray for the abolition of individual and institutional racism.

We pray for those who live in constant fear of deportation and separation from their family. We pray that families would be able to remain together.

We pray that you would help us remember that all people possess inherent human dignity as your children, made in your image, regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, age, socio-economic status, or legal status; in the undocumented sister and brother, let us see your Spirit, O Lord.

Help us not forget that you were an immigrant; that your family fled to Egypt when you were a child to escape Herod’s decree to kill every infant boy.

God, help us see you in the eyes of the migrant and to recognize your presence amongst the oppressed.

Amen

Oración para el inmigrante

2009-04-30T14:54:00.000-07:00

Oración para el inmigrante

Dios de las culturas, oramos por los millones de inmigrantes quienes viven alrededor del mundo en países extranjeros y hostiles. Enséñanos a ver mas allá de las fronteras de nuestra nación y de la cuidad en la que vivimos.

Dios de los pobres, oramos por las familias inmigrantes y en especial por los niños que tienen acceso restringido a un hogar, comida, cuidado medico y educación, que cesen de ser marginados por los sistemas en los que viven y que puedan vivir en dignidad. Oramos por que se les provea con un hogar que los cubra, comida que los nutria, salud que sostenga y educación que los libere.

Oramos por todos esos nacidos en los Estados Unidos cuyos pensamientos y acciones pueden ser motivados por las actitudes racistas y etnocentristas en contra de aquellos que han nacido en otras tierras. Oramos por la abolición del racismo en todas sus formas.

Oramos por todos aquellos que viven en el miedo constante de ser deportados y separados de sus familias. Oramos por que estas familias sigan unidas tal y como lo mandas tu.

Oramos por que nos recuerdes que todo ser humano posee el derecho a vivir una vida digna como tus hijos, en imagen y semejanza a ti, sin importar su raza, etnia, genero, edad, estatus económico o estatus legal; en el hermano y hermana indocumentado, déjanos ver tu Espíritu, o Dios.

Ayúdanos a no olvidar que tú fuiste un inmigrante; tu familia huyo de Egipto cuando aun eras un niño para escapar el reglamento de Herodes de matar a cada varón primogénito.

Dios, ayúdanos a verte a ti en los ojos del migrante y reconocer tu presencia en medio de los oprimidos. Ayúdanos a reconocer las manos del opresor, que oprime cuando decidimos mantenernos en silencio.

Amen

Borderline Cops--The Daily Show

2009-04-01T14:09:00.000-07:00

Aasif Mandvi attempts to figure out which border patrolman is the Mexican in this scenario.

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart

M - Th 11p / 10c

Borderline Cops

comedycentral.com

Daily Show Full Episodes

Economic Crisis

Political Humor

In-District meetings with your congress persons

2009-03-27T18:19:00.000-07:00

Congress is expected to be in recess April 6-17 for the Easter Passover break. Now is the time to schedule meetings with faith leaders and others with your congress person. This information is from our National partner to organize the "Neighbor-to-Neighbor In-district Meetings"

Neighbor-to-Neighbor In-District Meetings

Establishing close relationships with your members of congress is crucial to enacting humane immigration reform.

Purpose of Neighbor to Neighbor In-District Meetings:

To understand where the member stands on the issue.
To understand that member’s interests.
To (hopefully) get a commitment of support for our issue.
To build relationships between our people and public officials and institutions influencing our community.
To put our faith into action in public arenas.

Because the process of change takes time, lobby visits should be viewed as a part of a larger process. We need to gather information, build power, and continually get better at what we do and how we do it.

I am arranging one meeting with Linda Sanchez in California's 39th District. Contact me immediately to be a part of that meeting.

"Jailed without Justice"

2009-03-27T16:07:00.000-07:00

"In the criminal justice system, anyone arrested is assumed innocent, but in the immigration system, they're put in detention, and then it's the individual's burden to prove they shouldn't be detained,"

~ Sarnata Reynolds, author of report to Amnesty International, reported in SFGate Home of the San Francisco Chronicle