July 13, 2010

CHICAGO – The time has come for immigration reform in the United States, according to the Rev. Mark S. Hanson, presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). Although issues surrounding immigration are "complex and not easily resolved," the biblical witness for reform is clear, Hanson wrote in a July 13 pastoral letter to the 4.6 million-member ELCA.

"The distinctions that so often divide humankind are overcome in Christ," wrote Hanson. "By grace through faith on account of Christ we are joined together in a radically inclusive community."

Hanson said most, but not all, Lutherans in the United States are the descendants of immigrants or are recent immigrants. "Others are descendants of slaves brought to this country or people who lived here before the arrival of the first Europeans and Africans," he wrote. "Our personal histories and faith stories are of an immigrant people moving in search of freedom, opportunity and safety."

Of the 41 new congregations the ELCA is starting in 2010, 23 will be in immigrant communities, Hanson noted in his letter. "More than 100 African national ministries have begun in the past three years," he wrote.

"We cannot welcome people into the ELCA, however, without caring about their lives, their concerns and their experiences as newcomers in this country. For that reason the ELCA repeatedly has affirmed the biblical witness and our shared experience," culminating in a 2009 Churchwide Assembly action. That action commits the ELCA and the Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service (LIRS) to work toward comprehensive immigration "reform that balances respect for the law with the recognition of due process and respect for humanitarian principles," he wrote.

LIRS is one of the nation's leading agencies in welcoming and advocating for refugees and immigrants. Based in Baltimore, LIRS works on behalf of the ELCA, The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod and the Latvian Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

In his letter Hanson identified LIRS' four foundational values for immigration reform – keeping families together, maintaining basic human and worker rights, helping new neighbors come out of the shadows, and seeking a path to permanence for new neighbors.

As members of the ELCA serve in their communities, Hanson commended resources for study and action, including "Toward Compassionate, Just, and Wise Immigration Reform" – a social policy resolution passed by the ELCA Church Council in November 2009. Hanson also cited the ELCA Message on Immigration and "Stand for Welcome," LIRS' campaign for immigration reform.

"It would be tragic if we withdraw as people of faith and our voices fall silent," wrote Hanson. "We have an opportunity for evangelical witness to our faith in God who is present in the stranger and calls us to extend hospitality."

The Rev. Mark S. Hanson's letter is at http://bit.ly/csvrYg and information about the 2009 ELCA Churchwide Assembly is at http://www.ELCA.org/assembly on the ELCA Web site.

The Church Council's social policy resolution is at http://bit.ly/akEW52 and the ELCA Message on Immigration is at http://bit.ly/ammk4X on the ELCA Web site.

LIRS' Stand for Welcome is at http://www.lirs.org/sfw on the Internet.

ELCA News Service