Pastoral letter addressing plight of migrants, immigrants and refugees

United Methodist Church ^ | December 18, 2024 | Tracy S. Malone

[Vigilanteman]

Jesus said, “When you welcome the stranger, you welcome me….” Matthew 25:35

At no time has the church in the US had a greater opportunity to welcome Jesus among us as he journeys with migrants, immigrants, and refugees than today. We your bishops are clear that the situation these beloved of God face as the Trump Administration comes to power threatens their humanity, livelihood, and basic human rights.

For decades, a broken immigration system in the U.S. has kept migrants, immigrants and refugees in this country living in the shadows of society in a state of perpetual fear. They have come to the U.S. under forced circumstances fleeing extreme poverty, hunger, political and religious persecution, war, cartel and gang violence, and the severe impact of climate change. Some are actively recruited by large U.S. companies who need their labor. Yet migrants, immigrants and refugees help to sustain the U.S. economy, serve our families caring for our children and our elderly, cleaning our homes, landscaping our properties, building our roads and the houses we live in, and cultivating and picking the crops that feed our families. They are our neighbors, our friends, and members and pastors of our churches.

Deplorably, racist, xenophobic, nationalistic, and anti-migrant hate speech has become standard rhetoric for many US politicians, including President-elect Donald Trump. He has stated that under his administration he will order the mass deportation of the 11 million undocumented migrants who live and work in the U.S. He has threatened to use military and law enforcement at all levels for this mass deportation. If allowed, this mass deportation of migrants will cause further racial profiling, the separation of families, the undermining of communities and congregations, the weakening of the economy of this country and its democratic systems of law and justice. President-elect Trump has also threatened to end birth-right citizenship, dismantle Refugee resettlement in this country and further strip away the possibility of the U.S. welcoming Asylum Seekers onto this land.

We are living in a dark time that more than ever calls us to be the light of Christ, people of faith who take our baptismal vow to “resist evil in all its forms,” with utmost seriousness.

As United Methodists we have firmly declared through our Social Principles that we are called to actively welcome the migrant, immigrant, and refugee among us.

1. Affirming the dignity, worth and rights of migrants, immigrants and refugees.
   

2. Recognizing that displaced people are particularly vulnerable as their in-between status often provides them with few protections and benefits, leaving them open to exploitation, violence and abuse.
   
3. Urging one another to welcome migrants, refugees, and immigrants into our congregations, providing concrete support, to them including help with navigating restrictive and often lengthy immigration policies, and assistance with securing food, housing, education, employment and other kinds of support.
   
4. Opposing all laws and policies that attempt to criminalize, dehumanize or punish displaced individuals and families based on their status as migrants, immigrants or refugees.
   
5. Decrying attempts to detain displaced people and hold them in inhumane and unsanitary conditions.
   
6. Challenging policies that call for the separation of families, especially parents and minor children.
   
7. Opposing the existence of for-profit detention centers that are used for the purpose of detaining migrants, immigrants, and refugees including minor children.

(Social Principles of The United Methodist Church, The Political Community Basic Rights and Freedoms, Section G. Migrants, Immigrants and Refugees)

We your bishops call upon the people of The United Methodist Church to pray for migrants, immigrants, and refugees among us and to welcome them with the fullness of Christian love, remembering that as we welcome these, our brothers, and sisters, we welcome Jesus our Lord.

Bishop Tracy S. Malone
President - Council of Bishops
The United Methodist Church

[Vigilanteman]

Well, Bishop, how about printing your home address? The Venezuelan gangs and MS-13 are just coming here for a better life as well, seeing is that there isn't much left worth looting in their home countries.

My brother was married in this church and sent them a nice zinger as a reply. But I think Freepers could do even better.

[brownsfan]

And they wonder why they’re losing members.

[Worldtraveler once upon a time]

Two bucks wagered that a certain “UMC” commenter will not comment....

[cgbg]

What they need to lose is their tax exempt status.

We did not sign a suicide pact with these evil churches.

[Harpotoo]

BS, it’s about these NGOs raking in billions of tax payer dollars they don’t deserve!

[Bob434]

First of all, illegal,invaders are NOT “migrants” nor “immigrants”, nor “refugees”! They are CRIMINALS that belong in prison and then deported!

second of all... nah that sums it up!

[Worldtraveler once upon a time]

Tracy S. Malone

[VeniVidiVici]

Wonder how much money the Methodist Church gets for ‘welcoming’ ‘migrants’?

[AppyPappy]

What about victims of crime?
UMC: Screw them unless they are the victims of the rampant far-right nationalist terrorists groups

[vpintheak]

Dear commie, nothing is stopping you from opening your home and your personal wallet to help these people you so desperately care about.

[Obadiah]

Why do radical black women always sport the close crop/bald look? Is this the same as the crazy liberal white women with blue hair?

[Bob434]

I was just thinking “I wonder how gracious the senior would be if migrants broke into his home, at all his food, emptied his bank account, and then demanded he find somewhere else to live while giving them his bank account number? Beczuse that is exactly what is happening to all of us when il.egals break I to our country and cost us over $1 TRILLION DOLLARS PER YEAR! (when all costs are added together, direct costs and indirect, which actually adds up to more than the direct costs)

Almost 70% of illegals end up on welfare FOR LIFE and never lift a finger to help anyone but themselves. Almost 70% of some prisons have an inmate population of illegals at a cost of over $150 q day per inmate on average.

Criminal illegals are draining our nation of resources and funds!

The above facts are facts that senior whatshisname won’t tell you beczuse it exposes the illegals for what they are... criminals!

[Leaning Right]

Jesus preached forgiveness and mercy. He also told his disciples to be as wise as serpents and gentle as doves (Matthew 10:16).

The trick is in fulfilling each part. Folks like this bishop (and the pope) are completely ignoring the wisdom part.

[Resolute Conservative]

UMC => United Apostacy Church

[Tell It Right]

At no time has the church in the US had a greater opportunity to welcome Jesus among us...

If she really believed that she wouldn't be trying to convert the "Jesus among us" into baby-killing, gay, gender-confused, peaceful protestors who hate the "Christian nationalists" that the left likes to call Christians who don't bow to the god of modern hedonism.

[Worldtraveler once upon a time]

---- "Why do radical black women always sport the close crop/bald look?"

Not all do. Remember Angela Davis, who is "radical" and yet living on a pleasant pension from the UC system? So many "radicals" live nicely off the system they despise.

It's especially nice to be angry, radical and financially comfy, all at the same time.

[nuf said]

There’s nothing hateful about being told to get in line.

[Bob434]

Matt 25:35 does NOT say “for i was lazy and greedy and u willing to work, and you gave me food” over 70% of thise breaking into our nation ILLEGALLY are lazy greedy people who see that our government will give them “free $$” for life, and they are coming here to exploit the naivety of liberals for their own benefit! They are theives and crooks and super lazy to boot (Note, not all are lazy, some do work, but only a very small % do, BUT they are still crooks and criminals for breaking our law and for stepping in front of those trying to actuslly migrate the correct way!)

[Bob434]

Satan has them right where he wants them

[dadgum]

Follow the $$$.

It’s a big con.

And that wicked woman is a liar.