United Methodists have joined other Christians opposing President Donald Trump’s executive orders on immigration and promising to continue their immigration ministries.
Retired Bishop Julius C. Trimble, now top executive of the General Board of Church and Society, published another of his “Justice Takes Courage” posts Jan. 24, encouraging United Methodists to comfort and protect vulnerable people, citing the new Social Principles — a set of guidelines for Christian living — that went into effect Jan. 1.
Julius Trimble
“Most Americans believe a country has a right to control its borders,” Trimble wrote. “However, we as a church have been called to promote the dignity of every person and resist the temptation to embrace criminalization, incarceration and mass deportation as though these are the best and only solutions to the complex issue of U.S. immigration. Mass deportations (are) incompatible with our recently adopted Social Principles of the United Methodist Church, and many of the proposed Trump administration policies are deeply un-Christian.”
Kennetha Bigham-Tsai
Bishop Kennetha J. Bigham-Tsai of the Iowa and Illinois Great Rivers annual conferences published a Jan. 21 letter signed by multiple religious leaders titled “Time for Action: Immigration Advocacy and Support Letter from Iowa’s Ecumenical Leaders.” The leaders wrote: “As members of the body of Christ, we stand together, reminding our nation of its historic commitments to human rights. We will renew our commitment to live out God’s second greatest commandment, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself’ (Matthew 22:39). We will work to protect inherent dignity and insist on fair, lawful and compassionate treatment of everyone.”
Bishop Dan Schwerin advised Northern Illinois and Wisconsin United Methodists to “watch and pray.”
“I write to assure the Northern Illinois-Wisconsin Episcopal Area that your leaders are networking to be responsive if or when an increase in mass deportation efforts arise,” the bishop said in a conference newsletter. “We are in touch with people on the ground in a group chat, meeting regularly with people who are most vulnerable, networking, and resourcing, and we have statements ready for appropriate junctures. Now let’s watch and pray and be people of sanctuary and advocacy as the days unfold.”
Thomas Bickerton
Bishop Thomas Bickerton, in a Jan. 25 letter cited Matthew 25:35-36 in The Message version of the Holy Bible. He urged United Methodists in the New York and New England annual conferences “to embrace a posture of radical welcome and hospitality.”
“I call upon all churches to provide a safe space of welcome to immigrants and the marginalized who are afraid, intimidated and threatened. I call upon all leaders, both lay and clergy, to take bold steps to lead our people into the gospel and into the very communities where our churches reside,” Bickerton wrote. “As Romans 15:7 says so clearly, ‘Welcome one another, therefore, just as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.’”
California-Nevada Annual Conference announced an online event, “CalNev Supporting Our Immigrant Family and Neighbors: A Zoom Discussion” on Feb. 4 with Bishop Sandra Olewine and clergy and laity from across the conference.
Holston Annual Conference’s Church and Society Ministry Area issued a statement “against mass deportation policies of the current administration.” Holston covers parts of northern Georgia, Eastern Tennessee and Southwestern Virginia along the valley of the Holston River. Legal immigrants, naturalized citizens, undocumented immigrants, migrant workers and refugees reside throughout the region and many belong to United Methodist churches.
“These executive orders of the new administration … run counter to our shared humanity,”
“These executive orders of the new administration exacerbate the suffering among our vulnerable — immigrants, marginalized communities, and the poor – and run counter to our shared humanity,” wrote the church leaders. “We must remember the teachings of Christ, who calls us to embrace the stranger and defend the oppressed. In this critical moment, it is vital that we as Christians stand together as a voice for justice and mercy for those who cannot protect themselves. To remain silent or inactive now will only embolden injustice and make it harder to resist the harm that will follow.”
Holston leaders also said they’re working on developing training for caregivers, assembling information for those affected by the policies and coordinating conference resources and “other necessary expertise.”
The UMC’s General Council on Finance and Administration’s legal department is monitoring the situation but hasn’t recommended any specific practices for local churches yet because property laws differ state to state and the political situation is fluid, said GCFA communications director Brandy Bivens.
The UMC’s General Board of Church and Society issued a statement Jan. 13 prior to the inauguration citing opposition to mass deportations based on the United Methodist Social Principles. Church and Society has produced a downloadable resource guide, How To Support Migrants and Immigrants Globally.”
United Methodist Association of Retired Clergy issued a “statement of solidarity” Jan. 23 in support of Episcopal Bishop Mariann Budde, who asked President Trump to have mercy on migrants and LGBTQ people who are frightened by his agenda. “In solidarity with Bishop Mariann Budde, our United Methodist Association of Retired Clergy offers a gentle reminder to President Trump and to all leaders, of the biblical values of mercy, compassion and humility in our relationship with vulnerable Americans.”