November 16, 2009

CHICAGO – In response to a need for specific policy language to address current immigration matters, the Church Council of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) approved a social policy resolution on immigration Nov. 14. The resolution, "Toward Compassionate, Just and Wise Immigration Reform," addresses family and workplace issues, enforcement of immigration laws, protection of refugees and forced migration.

The council is the ELCA's board of directors and serves as the legislative authority of the church between churchwide assemblies. The council met here Nov. 13-15. Assemblies are held every other year; the next is in 2011 in Orlando, Fla.

Social policy resolutions address particular matters of social concern. The resolution supplements a 1998 ELCA message on immigration and provides policy specifics, said the Rev. Roger A. Willer, director, Department for Studies, ELCA Church in Society.

"The ELCA has a long history of helping immigrants, refugees and asylum seekers settle in the United States, and supporting fair and generous immigration policies," the resolution said. "Social conditions and historical events in this decade call for renewed attention to immigration."

The resolution noted that an estimated 12 million "unauthorized immigrants," about one-half of whom are couples with children, reside in the United States. They are "living in the shadows, vulnerable to injustice and mistreatment, and (represent) a mass violation of the rule of the law," the resolution said.

The resolution cites "other factors" such as the 2006 immigration demonstrations across the nation and the emphasis on national security and immigration enforcement following the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks on the United States.

"I speak strongly in favor of this immigration message and the urgency of it," said the Rev. Gerald L. Mansholt, bishop, ELCA Central States Synod, Kansas City, Mo. Mansholt is a member of the ELCA Conference of Bishops' special interest group on immigration.

"The message is very urgent because of a broken immigration system in this country. (It) reflects the realities of the plight of many immigrants," he said.

Mansholt said the resolution addresses post-9/11 behavior and how immigrants have been treated. He said it lifts up the work of Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service (LIRS), addresses care for families and "care for the most vulnerable."

LIRS, based in Baltimore, is a leading agency in welcoming and advocating for refugees and immigrants. LIRS works on behalf of the ELCA, the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod and the Latvian Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

The resolution calls for U.S. government action on several immigration matters. Among them are:

+ putting a priority on family reunification, and welcome and care for unaccompanied children

+ facilitating an orderly, regulated flow of workers, consistent with America's labor needs and obligations

+ protecting the nation's borders while establishing "clear protocols and safeguards" for raids on worksites that ensure immigrant families and local communities are not harmed

+ reforming the U.S. refugee resettlement system

+ addressing root causes of forced migration

The resolution will be available in both English and Spanish, said Kristi S. Bangert, executive director, ELCA Communication Services.

Information about how the ELCA addresses social policy is at http://www.ELCA.org/socialissues/, on the Web.

ELCA News Service