Welcoming the stranger among us diocese of grand rapids. One path rightfully leads to destruction while the other path appropriately leads to continuity. At a multifaith border conference in tucson, az 3182004 and at the arizona interfaith network convocation on immigration in phoenix, az4192004, clergy of several faith developed the following common principles or. Whether you are an attendee or you purchase a journal advertisement, your generosity will help us continue our work with immigrants in brooklyn and queens. God in the stranger welcome one another just as christ. As awkward as it can be to start a friendship with a newcomer, once we do, the term stranger no longer applies. God, help us welcome those who have come to dwell among us. That strangers, refugees, and those who seek asylum may find a welcome among us. Office of publishing services issue 5, part 375 of publication united states conference of catholic bishops authors. In the pastoral statement, welcoming the stranger among us. Soerens and hwang argue persuasively that immigration has been and is valuable to the united states. The following list of bible verses comes from the new revised standard version. Welcoming the stranger among us catholic social teaching on immigration tuesday, november 14, 2017 at 7. F or most of us, a stranger is simply a person weve never met before.
Statement on welcoming the stranger the lutheran world. Welcome one another just as christ has welcomed you, for the glory of god. We welcome the stranger because hospitality is part of who we are as christians. Unity in diversity, is designed to address that question and to help pastors and parish leaders find ways to welcome and include newly arrived and culturally diverse persons in the life of the church. Today as we go about our daily routine, lets challenge ourselves to welcome a stranger. Around 50,000 were british passport holders and amin said britain should take responsibility for them. Welcoming the stranger was founded by sturgis poorman in 1999. The mission of welcoming the stranger is to provide free educational opportunities to immigrants and refugees in the united states by offering free english, computer skills, and u. Biblical call to welcome the stranger invites us to go. A resource for churches in solidarity with uprooted people.
The pastoral statement welcoming the stranger among us. The official registration information of welcoming the stranger may be obtained from the pennsylvania department of state by calling toll free, within pennsylvania, 1 800 7320999. In that renewal there is no longer greek or jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, scythian, slave or free. Because abraham hears the tseaqah, the outcry, of others the strangers in the desert, the hungry, the oppressed, those who are less fortunate than himself he merits the blessing of continuity. Barbara whiterabbit 1 is the fictitious name given to a particular kind of stranger who asked to attend a traditional christian worship service. Prayers and litanies christian reformed church in north. Catholic accompaniment and reflection experience care. We pray for all who make our laws and administer justice. Make a statement in this time of division about our desire to be welcoming communities. Ministry of the pew welcoming seminar ministry of the pew welcoming. The stranger, will help us understand the immigrant situation more clearly. From its foundation to this day, the united states has been a country that has received immigrants from all over the world who have found in it opportunity and refuge, bringing their energy, hope and cultural diversity. The immigrant that dwelleth with you shall be unto you as one born among you, and thou shalt love him as thyself. Get a group of friends or your church together and find a local printer a batch.
After the presidential campaign of 2016, in which immigration became a central issue, the debate over how to respond to immigrants in the country illegally seems more polarized than ever. Our traditions call on us to welcome the stranger among us. Matthew soerens is the us church training specialist at world relief and the coauthor of welcoming the stranger. In 2003, the bishops of both mexico and the united states issued a joint pastoral letter. Williams, presiding bishopgeneral overseer, church of god repeatedly, the bible calls for us to welcome and care for the stranger those among us with little power. Unity in diversity was developed by the national conference of catholic bishops committee on migration. Bishops statement in immigration and cultural diversity november 2000. For those who have come fleeing hardship and hunger.
At the request of the standing committee, the subcommittee works collaboratively with the other subcommittees and with the committee on migration. For all those who have come fleeing oppression and persecution black, white, brown and yellow. Give us, we pray, a greater awareness of your love for all people, and a confidence in the action of your grace in us and in your church. Bokinskie and others published the stranger among us find, read and cite all the research you need on researchgate. Teach us to love and care for the stranger the way you do. We call upon all people of good will, but catholics especially, to welcome the newcomers in their neighborhoods and schools, in their places of work and worship, with heartfelt hospitality, openness. It stands at liberty island as a welcome to all visitors, immigrants, and returning americans.
The lwf council, meeting in medan, indonesia 1217 june 2014, appreciates the affirmations thus far expressed by faith leaders in the welcoming the stranger statement, launched in june 20 and endorsed by the lwf council at that time. The goal of the prrm is to help refugee families feel the freedom and the respect that they have longed for, and at the same time, transition to the way of living in america by teaching them basic life skills needed to become selfreliant and to be able to. Any sizable increase in the number of immigrants will inevitably lower wages for some american workers. Unity in diversity it message for world migration day 2000, no. Pastors and parish staff, accordingly, must be filled with a spirit of welcome, responding to a new and perhaps littleunderstood culture. All donations are tax deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law. Soerens and hwang advocate a generous, biblically based invitation to all immigrants to take part in america. Remember that we do not welcome the stranger to help our church grow. We call upon all people of good will, but catholics especially, to welcome the newcomers in their neighborhoods and schools, in their places of.
Repressive governments often refuse to issue passports to known political dissidents. We honor him when we reach out to the stranger among us. Citizenship and immigration services uscis has purchased the right to use many of the images. You shall treat the stranger who sojourns with you as the native among you, and you shall love him as yourself, for you were strangers in the land of egypt. Designed for both ordained and lay ministers at the diocesan and parish levels, this document challenges us to prepare to receive newcomers with a genuine spirit of welcome that provides a bridge for them to cross from one culture into another. Praying in solidarity with refugees from around the world. From abraham welcoming the three strangers genesis 18. King of peace episcopal church kingsland, georgia welcoming the stranger 6. Conversely, reducing the supply of labor by strict immigration enforcement and reduced legal immigration would. This event serves as the primary fundraiser to support the legal and pastoral services of catholic migration services. Welcoming the stranger is a 501c3 nonprofit organization.
Daniel seatvet, christianity in culture examiner, march 20, 2009. Unity in diversity issue 5, part 375 of publication united states catholic conference. Help us to welcome the stranger among us so that all may experience the love extended to us through. Grow in us a greater awareness of the oppression and acts of greed that create refugees.
It can be challenging to figure out how one person might change a persistent, farreaching issue like immigration for the better. But as jesus followers, we are called to love others as ourselves, which means putting ourselves in our neighbors shoes and extending the love, grace, and welcome we would want for ourselves. Welcoming the stranger for the people and land from which refugees have fled, may there be peace and reconciliation between people and nations. We help those who are being persecuted start a new life. Unity in diversity is the vision that we bishops, as pastors of the church in the united states. For you were once a stranger nc council of churches. Welcoming the stranger gives the body of christ a clear, scriptural foundation of the christians heart posture in the discussion on immigration. Jenny and matthew set us on the course of a third way that embodies biblical justice, redemption, and compassion. Since the first edition of welcoming the stranger, another category. Unity how do we welcome the diversity in stranger in our. It was approved by the full body of bishops at their november 2000 general meeting as a statement of the national conference of catholic bishops and is authorized for publication by the. Welcoming the stranger jewish theological seminary.
Welcoming the stranger catholic health care and immigration quotations from the module colossians 3. It is through the stranger that god will speak to us and guide us to spiritual growth as a community of faith. Unity in diversity is the vision that we bishops, as pastors of the church in the united states, offer to our people as they welcome the new immigrants and refugees who come to our shores. Here are some ideas of what we as catholics can do, individually and collectively. Welcoming the stranger is a timely and important book at a point in americas history where the immigrant population is considerably growing and many americans seek to do something about it.
The subcommittee, based on available resources, is responsible to assist and support dioceses, national organizations, and movements in the pastoral care of migrants, refugees, and travelers. A bible study begin by reading the following passages. Welcoming the stranger catholic health association of. Welcoming the stranger is a nonprofit organization that offers free english, citizenship, and computer classes to immigrants in bucks county. Keifert of luther northwestern theological seminary is a study in the application of christian hospitality. And so parashat vayera presents us with a challenge.
The biblical mandate and the rich tradition of catholic social teaching is what propels and fuels the church in its mission to welcome and protect the human dignity of the stranger among us. The catholic bishops of the united states, in their pastoral letter welcoming the stranger among us. The alien who resides with you shall be to you as the citizen among you. Give us the courage to welcome the stranger among us and the wisdom to speak up on their behalf. Welcoming the stranger inspired me to expand my heart of compassion and take action. Welcoming the stranger how should the church respond to the outsiders and strangers in our communities. Justice for immigrants is a campaign for immigration reform led by the united states conference of catholic bishops usccb.