North Carolina Religious Coalition for Justice for Immigrants

As part of the Council's effort to bring some "climate change" to the anti-immigrant climate in our state, we are encouraging people of faith to sign on as supporters of the statement from what we are calling the North Carolina Religious Coalition for Justice for Immigrants. The statement is in the body of this e-mail below. A FAQ document is also included.

Let me ask you to do at least two things:

1) Please reply with your support for the statement or go to our website and submit your support on the form: http://www.nccouncilofchurches.org/Forms/immigration_statement_form.html. All lists of signatories will carry the disclaimer that organizations are listed for identification purposes only, so we are asking ONLY for your personal statement of support, not that of your judicatory, congregation, or other organization.

2) If you are able, please forward the statement to others who might also wish to sign on.

We will be following up with suggested action steps which can be taken to help move us from hostility to hospitality.

North Carolina Religious Coalition for Justice for Immigrants

As people of faith and conscience from across North Carolina, we believe that our calling is to welcome immigrants, offering them hospitality and justice. While we recognize that immigration policy is a complex issue that divides people of goodwill, our faiths compel us to stand with immigrants in their struggle for justice. We confess that, all too often, we have remained silent.

We remember the words of Moses when he said, “Do not mistreat foreigners living in your land, but treat them just as you treat your own citizens. Love foreigners as you love yourselves, because you were foreigners one time in Egypt” (Leviticus 19:33-34).

We remember the words of Jesus when he said, “I was a stranger and you welcomed me” (Matthew 25:35).

We remember the words of the Qur’an when it says, “Do good unto your parents, and near of kin, and unto orphans, and the needy, and the neighbor from among your own people, and the neighbor who is a stranger, and the friend by your side, and the wayfarer…” (An-Nisa 4:36).

As people of faith, we stand today in a long tradition of those who have been faithful in providing hospitality for those in need and in seeking justice for the oppressed.

It is crucial that people of faith respond to the immigration crisis by offering advocacy and welcome in the face of rising anti-immigrant sentiment. Religious communities find in our scriptures traditions which call us to welcome the stranger, promote hospitality, and seek justice. People of faith should call for legislative reforms which are fair, humane, and address the root causes of why people migrate.

Since nearly all citizens in the United States today are descended from people from other nations, we are called to offer support to newer immigrants who contribute to our economy and culture but who suffer discrimination, abuse, and hardship as a result of their status as immigrants.

We deplore any governmental action which unduly emphasizes enforcement as the primary response to immigrants entering this country or which criminalizes persons providing humanitarian assistance to migrants. We encourage the state and local governments of North Carolina to provide for fair treatment and protection of our state’s immigrant population, including access to education and mobility. In addition, we are troubled and grieved by the separation of families and other forms of suffering that continue to take place as a result of immigration raids.

We recognize that immigration policy is complex and multi-faceted, but we agree that all immigrants are made in God's image and that our religious traditions demand that we care especially for the stranger. We call on all people of faith to stand with immigrants as a matter of religious responsibility, to advocate for their well-being and protection, and to educate our local communities about issues affecting immigrant peoples.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Who? Why?

The Coalition is an interfaith effort made up of concerned individuals who want to change the harsh rhetoric of the current immigration debate and remind people of faith that our primary religious calling is to love one another. North Carolinians of all faiths are invited to sign onto the statement. The Coalition is asking people to sign on as an individual act of conscience; the Coalition is not seeking congregational or denominational members at this time. The Coalition had its beginnings in the North Carolina Council of Churches, but it is in no way limited to official Council members. We invite all people of faith, regardless of denominational and political affiliations, to join us as we make our voices heard.

Where?

The Coalition is a statewide effort across North Carolina.

When?

We are now collecting as many signatures as possible. Please forward to family members, friends, and colleagues. For this effort to be successful, we need lots of people sign on, so please distribute widely and follow up with those who you send it to.

What?

The 500-word statement forms the center of gravity for the Coalition, beginning with the affirmation that as “people of faith and conscience from across North Carolina, we believe that our calling is to welcome immigrants, offering them hospitality and justice. While we recognize that immigration policy is a complex issue that divides people of goodwill, our faiths compel us to stand with immigrants in their struggle for justice.”

The statement goes on to quote representative passages from the Hebrew Bible, the Christian New Testament, and the Qur’an, reflecting the interfaith tenor of the Coalition. Please note that we have limited the number of religious traditions that are represented only because of space considerations; all religious traditions emphasize loving one’s neighbor, and most speak directly about social justice and hospitality. Thus, these passages should not be considered exhaustive.

The second half of the statement offers some specifics, such as calling for “legislative reforms which are fair, humane, and address the root causes of why people migrate.” While the religious calling to hospitality and justice does carry policy implications (some of which are highlighted, broadly, in the statement), the statement itself should not be understood as primarily political in nature. We respect and take seriously disagreements about particular policies. In the end, though, “we agree that all immigrants are made in God’s image and that our religious traditions demand that we care especially for the stranger.” As a result, “we call on all people of faith to stand with immigrants as a matter of religious responsibility, to advocate for their well-being and protection, and to educate our local communities about issues affecting immigrant peoples.”

How will the Coalition use the statement and list of signatories?

Once we have reached a critical mass, the Coalition will publish the statement and list of signatories to the media, religious organizations, and community groups, possibly at a press conference-type event. In addition, the Coalition will contact signatories with action steps and updates. (Please note that email will be sent infrequently.)

Your voice is important – we look forward to hearing from you.

To sign the statement, visit: http://www.nccouncilofchurches.org/Forms/immigration_statement_form.html.

For more information, contact Chris Liu Beers: cbeers@nccouncilofchurches.org

Peace to you,

Chris Liu Beers

Program Associate

NC Council of Churches

1307 Glenwood Ave. Ste. 156

Raleigh, NC 27605

919-828-6501