Five years ago, President Obama created the DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) program to enable young people brought to this country as children to come out of the shadows and live their lives fully. This entailed granting them the ability to obtain a driver’s license, get a job, or pursue higher education. This newfound sense of security was transformative for the lives of thousands of young people and for their potential contributions to this country. Now, the DACA program has come under threat of repeal by the Trump Administration. If DACA is…
The President’s New Policies are Bad for Cuba and the Church
I have been blessed with the opportunity to visit Cuba on two occasions: the first in 2000 on a mission trip with a Baptist church and the second last September with a Witness for Peace delegation. On both visits, I have witnessed Cuban people suffering because of the U.S. embargo combined with stifled dissent and socialist economics. Basic goods are unattainable. The cars in Cuba, which are vintage remnants from the mid-1900’s and are beloved by tourists, have been kept running by savvy Cubans who are surviving under an economic…
Let Us Show Love and Compassion on World Refugee Day
First celebrated in 2001, World Refugee Day is held annually on June 20. The day marks a worldwide effort to raise awareness of the plight of refugees and recognize the contributions of forcibly displaced people. The annual commemoration is designated to honor “the strength, courage and resilience of refugees.” It is marked by events in more than 100 countries; in Raleigh it will include the screening of a documentary about Kenyan refugees, to be held at the Cameron Village Library at 6 p.m., sponsored by the U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants. Many people are not aware of World…
Sanctuary as a Sacred Act
Photo courtesy of the Episcopal Diocese of North Carolina. Under President Trump’s recent executive orders, many people’s lives have changed, especially the lives of those who have come to North Carolina from other countries or who have family members who do not have proper documentation. People are afraid to leave their homes to go to work, church, or the doctor. Children are afraid that their parents won’t be there when they get home. Victims of crimes are afraid to call the police. Our neighbors are living in a state of constant…
We Are Love Warriors
The exhilaration of Easter is fading into memory, and we are left with more routine matters. Unfortunately, the matters that are becoming more and more commonplace have frightening implications: tweets, threats, tapes, etc. All should be sobering to us. We need to be taking these things seriously, but sometimes it feels like we can’t take them seriously because they are so ridiculous, yet also so pervasive. We feel like we are going crazy. This month is National Mental Health month, and I doubt that I am the only one who has…
SB 145 Debate Not in Accordance with Matthew 25
Last week, the Senate Judiciary Committee of the North Carolina General Assembly discussed SB 145, an anti-immigrant bill that would expand the 287g program, thereby allowing local law enforcement to act as ICE officials and forcing NC university system institutions to disclose a student’s immigration status if required by a state or federal agency. It would also revoke the exception that allows law enforcement officers to accept a community ID such as the FaithAction ID and withhold state funding from cities or counties that adopt a so-called “sanctuary” policy or ordinance regarding undocumented immigrants in any…
2017 Lenten Guide — Good Friday
For this year’s Lenten Guide, each member of the Council staff chose a verse from a favorite hymn to write about. We will post their reflections throughout Lent, for Ash Wednesday, each Sunday, and throughout Holy Week. I danced on a Friday When the sky turned black It’s hard to dance With the devil on your back. “I Danced in the Morning (Lord of the Dance)” — Presbyterian Hymnal #302 Dancing and the church have always been intertwined for me. Growing up, I attended a “community arts church” that had…
Video of Webinar: Loving Our Neighbors in a New Administration
Did you miss our webinar, ““Loving Our Neighbors in a New Administration?” If so, please watch the one-hour video below to learn ways to protect immigrants and refugees in the wake of new, harmful federal legislation as well as possible anti-immigrant threats at a state and local level. This webinar begins with updates from Christy Williams and Jill Marie Bussey of the Catholic Legal Immigration Network about Trump’s recent executive orders and the impacts they could have, as well as trends that we are seeing in legislation at the state…
Refugees Welcomed, Not Banned
Last in a series of three blogs. Above all, these strangers bring to us the Christ. When we welcome a stranger we welcome Jesus, and when we welcome Jesus we welcome our creator. Refugees, immigrants, those yearning to be free—these are the ones whom Jesus spoke about when he said, “I was a stranger and you welcomed me” (Matthew 25:35) On Friday, January 27, President Donald Trump signed an executive order that severely restricts immigration from seven Muslim countries, suspends all refugee admission for 120 days, and bars all Syrian…
Walls Demonstrate Hostility, not Hospitality
Second in a series of three blogs. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it. (Hebrews 13:2) The idea of “building a wall” has been extremely popular in this administration, and President Trump’s first executive order followed through on that promise by directing the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to use existing funds to “build a large, physical barrier” along the U.S.-Mexico border (a barrier which already partially exists). Moreover, possibility of building a wall along our border was…
Sanctuary, Not Deportation
First in a series of three blogs. God calls people of faith to remember that they once were strangers in a strange land and they must, must welcome the stranger as an expression of covenant faithfulness. (Leviticus 19:33-34) For the past several weeks I have been working on organizing a webinar, “Loving Our Neighbors in a New Administration.” It was supposed to be focused on helping people of faith to be educated and organized about how they can help to protect immigrants, considering the extreme, potentially harmful promises that President…
Advent Guide: First Sunday After Christmas Day, January 1
Excerpted from How Will We Welcome the Prince of Peace? An Advent Guide for Lectionary Year A from the NC Council of Churches. Now after they had left, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Get up, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you; for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.” Then Joseph got up, took the child and his mother by night, and went to Egypt, and remained…
The Cuban Church in a Post-Castro World
In September, I had an opportunity to travel to Cuba with Witness for Peace as part of a delegation focused on “Faith, Politics, Economics, and Changing U.S.-Cuban Relations.” There I witnessed many things. I saw a fantastic healthcare system and an educational system that provided for everyone. I met with some amazing people of faith who had remained steadfast even while religion was outlawed, church property was seized, and Christians were not allowed to be in any sort of profession with influence (especially influence over children). I also visited local churches…
Advent Calendar to Support Immigrants and Refugees
Today when I logged onto Facebook, among all the heartbreaking news in our world (some from credible sources, others questionable), I was taken with a graphic shared by Hacking Christianity, a blog that engages in conversations about faith using the lenses of progressive theology, technology, and geek culture. It was an Advent Calendar for Dismantling White Privilege. As a white person who has been dealing with how to support communities of color post-election, I found this a great tool for tangible suggestions about how to engage race and privilege and make the world…
Becoming the Church Together and Including Youth
Earlier this month, the North Carolina Conference hosted its annual Pilgrimage event, a time when several thousand middle and high school students come together for a weekend to hear from speakers, worship together, and enjoy fellowship. This year a group of young Latino students from a church that has hosted one of our clergy breakfasts also attended. During that event, people from varying perspectives were intimidated and made uncomfortable. As we have seen repeatedly throughout our country post-election, people on both sides were made to feel unwelcome due to the color…