email of 7/23/2010 from General Board of Church and Society, The United Methodist Church

Open Your Doors, Lift up Your Hearts for Immigrants and their Families

This Thursday, July 29, Arizona's law, SB 1070, will begin to be enforced. I will be there to stand with the immigrants in Arizona who are being driven out or driven under because of this repressive law.

I am joining other people of faith who are going to Arizona to specifically spend time at the border to hear the voices of all affected by the broken immigration system in the United States.

I know many of you want to be there as well, but are unable to go. You can still be involved, however, and here is how:

Join us in prayer:

Following a 4:30 a.m. PST march to the capitol in Phoenix, a statewide prayer vigil will begin at 6 a.m. PST and every two hours through the rest of the day in different cities in Arizona. Many United Methodist churches will open their doors that day for people to come and pray. Please open your church for prayer on July 29, too.

Take action against copycat legislation in your state:

Throughout the summer, states have stood with Arizonans in prayer and action through the Isaiah 58 project. As folks have signed up to pray, they have also signed a petition urging elected leaders to reject Arizona-like legislation.

I strongly encourage you to sign the petition today, and bring a copy of it to your church for others to sign on July 29 as they come to pray. If you are unable to download it, please send me an e-mail and I will send it to you.

What to pray for on July 29:

You can pray for the safety of immigrants and their families, and for moral courage for our elected leaders to finally bring about just, humane immigration reform. Humane reform entails a pathway with minimal obstacles for undocumented immigrants, the reunification of families separated by long waits and indefinite detention, and the protection of the rights of all workers.

SB 1070 goes beyond what is in federal legislation and will give a high likelihood to racial profiling, which has already started in some instances.

The law criminalizes people of faith who provide transportation or who "shield" in a building any undocumented person. This legislation, for example, will make it illegal for United Methodists in Arizona to give undocumented immigrants a ride to church or to care for them within their church buildings.

Therefore, it is incumbent on all of us to kneel in prayer and stand in unison against these kinds of laws and demand that President Obama and Congress enact just, humane reform.

Again, I hope you will sign the petition and share it with others. It reads:
We, as people of faith recognize and affirm the presence and contributions of immigrants to our state. We strongly urge you to reject any legislation resembling Arizona's SB 1070, a law that denies due process for immigrants, increases the likelihood of racial profiling, and criminalizes those who offer direct aid for immigrants. What is needed to fix our broken immigration system is leadership by the federal government — that is, the president and members of Congress from both parties — to enact humane, comprehensive immigration reform that reunites families and provides a pathway to legal status for those who are undocumented.
Thank you for all you do!

In Christ,

Bill Mefford
Director, Civil and Human Rights
United Methodist General Board of Church and Society.
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