February 19, 2009
By Denise Johnson Stovall

DALLAS – United Methodists are responding with compassion to the "aliens" in their midst with prayer vigils and letters to the president, members of Congress, and other officials calling for immigration reform.

Many of the faith groups are using Leviticus 19:33-34 as their call to justice: "When an alien lives with you in your land, do not mistreat him. The alien living with you must be treated as one of your native-born. Love him as yourself, for you were aliens in Egypt. I am the Lord your God."

The North Texas Annual (regional) Conference United Methodist Women organized an interfaith prayer vigil Feb. 15, at Munger Place United Methodist Church in Dallas, drawing more than 80 people from 10 countries outside of the United States.

While the election of Barack Obama as President has opened the immigration door, "in reality, it must swing open wide," said the Rev. L. Charles Stovall, pastor at Munger Place. "We still need to be a democracy that accepts all people."

The event was part of a national effort supported by the United Methodist Board of Church and Society in Washington and other religious organizations to coincide with the Feb. 13-22 Congressional recess.

The Interfaith Immigration Coalition, sponsors of the campaign, reports more than 140 vigils are taking place and more events are registering on the web site daily, according to Patricia Kupfer, executive with America's Voice, one of the faith-based organizations participating in the campaign. "We are overwhelmed and inspired by the response," she said.

United Methodist Bishop Minerva Carcaño of Phoenix joined other faith leaders and two members of Congress at a Feb. 11 press conference in Washington to announce the launch of "Prayer, Renewal and Action on Immigration" campaign.

"This movement of people of faith illustrates the importance of immigrants and their families to faith communities and their insistence that Congress and the [Obama] administration take leadership on passing comprehensive immigration reform," said Bill Mefford, executive with the denomination's social action agency.

Spark of compassion

Lori Stafford, an officer with the North Texas UMW, learned of the national prayer vigil through a conference call with Mefford. "If we do not make an immediate commitment to a compassionate and respectful public dialogue on immigration, we risk further destruction in our communities," Stafford wrote in her letter to elected officials. "The challenge is significant but with your support we are optimistic about the future of the immigration debate in America."

During the close of the interfaith prayer vigil, Wendy Campbell, a member of Lovers Lane United Methodist Church, said she was honored to meet the immigrants as people of faith.

"I want all the immigrants here to know what an inspiration they are to me. I cannot imagine [you] leaving your home, knowing you will never return," she told them. "I was born in Kansas and have only moved four times in my life…These moves were all within the United States, and I always returned to the place that I had left.

"You must tell your stories. Your stories are key to changing the attitudes about immigration. Tell your stories every chance you get to everyone you meet."

United Methodist News Service
Stovall is a free-lance writer in Dallas and a member of Munger Place United Methodist Church.