Presbyterians Issue Statement on AZ Immigration Law
Strangely, the immigration issue has floated off my radar after my move to Grand Forks. Whereas I used to encounter immigrants often in my aspects of my daily life, I don’t anymore (well, not counting the 3rd & 4th generation Scandinavian immigrants that makeup 80% of our congregation). Fargo has a growing new immigrant community, and is making a name for itself as a welcoming place for immigrants, especially those (often refugees) from Africa. And even on our side of Kittson County, I am not aware of too many immigrant issues — I think things may be a bit different on the east side of the county, though I confess I don’t know enough on this yet.
Anyways, I thought I’d post the recent statement from PC(USA) leaders in response to the AZ immigration law, SB 1070. I’ll post the text here, though there’s some good discussion (so far, at least) going on at Bruce’s blog here. As always, statements such as these beg two questions: (1) what of the folks in the PC(USA) who disagree with our denominational position statements on immigration and (2) who really cares about a statement from the PC(USA) these days? I’ll be addressing more of these types of questions this summer when I’ll be blogging our General Assembly for The Presbyterian Outlook, but if folks would like to get the discussion going now I’m game. Without further ado, here it is:
April 29, 2010
Dear Members of Congress,
We write to express our conviction that you must enact comprehensive immigration reform this year. As people of faith and the leaders of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), we are keenly aware of the devastating effects our broken immigration system has on the lives of individuals, immigrant and non-immigrant families, and our communities. The bigotry, trauma, and fear that will result from the recent new law enacted in Arizona, SB 1070, which criminalizes those who are found “with” undocumented persons and requires law enforcement officers to identify and detain such persons, serves to underscore the necessity of action at the federal level.
Churches are on the front lines of caring for families being ripped apart by our broken immigration system. Traumatized citizen children left behind when parents are deported are but one example of the ways the current system destroys the fabric of community life, the integrity of healthy families, and the safety of individual persons. Church workers are also at the forefront of offering relief and services to immigrants, regardless of documentation status. Arizona’s new law will put at risk those workers and others who are called simply to offer the most basic of humanitarian assistance. As Christians, we cannot stand by idly while our brothers and sisters die on our borders from exposure and thirst or languish in poorly equipped detention facilities, nor should we be required to do so by any law.
The new Arizona law also puts in jeopardy the public safety of immigrant communities, already wary of law enforcement for fear of deportation. Instead of new laws that induce fear and distrust, immigrants should be encouraged to participate with law enforcement, reporting crimes when they are victims and offering testimony when they are witnesses. Such trust and participation is impossible if local law enforcement is tasked with enforcement of federal immigration laws. SB 1070 will only foster more fear among immigrant communities, regardless of documentation status. Comprehensive immigration reform at the federal level is essential to override and counteract the damage done in Arizona by this new law.
In the Scriptures of Christians and Jews, we are commanded, “When an immigrant resides with you in your land, you shall not oppress the immigrant. The immigrant who resides with you shall be to you as the citizen among you; you shall love the immigrant as yourself for you were immigrants in the land of Egypt” (Lev. 19:33-34). The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) therefore supports congressional action in 2010 on comprehensive immigration reform that creates a process for undocumented immigrants in the U.S. to earn their legal status; reduces waiting periods and upholds family unity; protects workers from exploitation; and provides efficient channels of entry for new migrant workers.
Sincerely,
Bruce Reyes-Chow
Moderator, 218th General Assembly (2008)Gradye Parsons
Stated Clerk of the General AssemblyLinda Bryant Valentine
Executive Director, General Assembly Mission Council
That was fast…
After dropping my other part-time job and deciding to write more, my first wee piece has been published online. Check out my review of Tom Long’s new book on the Christian funeral at WorkingPreacher.org
Chronos Management
I know I excel at some things, like sleeping. At others this, I know I struggle….like remembering names. Managing time, though, is beyond me. It’s not beyond me in that I know I can’t do it. In fact, I very well might be quite good at time management. It’s just hard to tell.
I had an interesting conversation with a pastor friend last week in which he said something like, “Everyone assumes I’m so busy, but I’m not. I have a lot of time to do anything I want. My congregation just runs itself.” I do know, for certain, I am not like this pastor. Yes, our congregation could function perfectly well without me, but I do feel really busy. And I’m pretty certain it’s more than just a feeling. I am busy.
So the question: how, if possible, might I improve my time management? What tips do you have for pastors so that they might use their time to God’s glory?
OK, so here’s the main tension I feel. The culture is all about time as a commodity, time as something to be managed, something to fight, something to beat. But the Christian take on time is different. First of all, time is a gift from God. It shouldn’t be something to wrestle, but something to embrace.
So in the New Testament, there are two words for time. “Chronos” is chronological time, sequential time as we usually think of it. “Kairos” is a more complicated term, a time more qualitative than quantitative. Kairos time is the moment when God deems something appropriate, the right moment almost regardless of the time on the clock.
The go to verse to show kairos is Mark 1:14-15 “Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God, and saying, ‘The TIME is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news.’” That’s kairos time — a God moment.
So as a pastor, as a Christian, I am aware of the danger of being sucked into thinking time is something to fight against, something to be freed from. In fact, God might be using time to do God’s business. But, all that being true still doesn’t necessarily mean I feel as if I use my time wisely, or that my time is best spent to serve, or even that the way I spend time is faithful at all.
Here’s a few things I’ve figured out re time and ministry, but I’d love to hear more from you all:
- Emails can wait. When getting to the office, reading for 20-30 minutes is a real handy way of scheduling study time.
- Saying “no” is a gift. Saying “no” is often a good idea.
- No matter how many hours I work in a week, it’ll always feel like there’s something more to do.
- Twitter and Facebook are really valuable ministry tools, but I needn’t use them constantly.
- Thinking of my day in blocks is helpful. If I have meetings at night, cutting afternoon work short is a good idea.
- Schedule time to study, don’t just say “I should read this week.” (Ok, I’m no good at this, but I’m aware at least.)
- Sometimes, often in fact, opportunities for real ministry are unscheduled — the conversation at the post office, the person who pops into the office unscheduled.
- Writing a sermon while at the office just doesn’t work. I need to start scheduling more time away from the office and not feel guilty about it.
- Visits — along with study — tend to be the first thing that get cut from a busy week. Some visits to those ill have to be done, the other visits get pushed off easily.
Ok, I’ll stop there. Often, when thinking about this stuff, I recall Eugene Peterson’s book “Under the Unpredictable Plant: An Exploration in Vocational Holiness.” He gets this stuff, but I also don’t quite think his experience is easily translatable to other contexts.
So this friend of mine who says he’s not busy, says what he primarily does is “Spend my days listening for God, and enabling my congregation to do the same.” Maybe that’s something else to keep in mind. May God’s time allow it.
image by Rich DuBose
Sermon: "Ordeals of Easter" Rev. 9:9-17
Adam J. Copeland
April 25, 2010
4th Sunday of Lent
Ordeals of Easter
Rev. 7:9-17
One of the many issues, those of us on the committee developing the next Presbyterian hymnal must discuss, is the placement of hymns in the book. Should the hymnal be arranged by the church year, or by the order of worship, or by scriptural allusion, or alphabetically?
And then, if we ever figure that out, we have to put each hymn in the different sections. Is “Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence” an Advent hymn — as it is in our blue hymnal, or a communion hymn as in the Lutheran hymnal? Should “Abide With Me” go in the funeral section or the evening hymn section?
Our closing hymn today is another example. “What Wondrous Love Is This” is often thought of as a hymn for Lent — after all, it focuses on the “dreadful curse” of the cross. But other verses make it hard to pigeon-hole.
To God and to the Lamb I will sing, I will sing,
to God and to the Lamb I will sing;
to God and to the Lamb, who is the great I AM
– while millions join the theme, I will sing, I will sing,
while millions join the theme, I will sing.
This verse sings to the Lamb, like the reading today from Revelation 7. It’s a hymn that’s both about the ordeal of the cross, and the joy of faith and the hope of heaven. Hymns aren’t so easy to label, because our faith doesn’t fit into nice little boxes. Just as in Lent we can talk about every Sunday as “a little Easter,” even in the season of Easter we know that we are not immune to pain, disease, sorrow, and death.
The book of Revelation is certainly the most misunderstood book of the Bible. It’s full of tricky images and crazy ideas. Revelation is sometimes interpreted literally, which leads to lots of problems since John (the writer) didn’t intend it to be read that way. But what Revelation does really well, what it does better than any other book of the Bible is speak to us in the midst of an ordeal. The book of Revelation bends those boundaries of easy labeling, but even in the midst of great pain its ultimate message comes through loud and clear: Christ reigns! Evil is in its last death throws for the Lamb is on the throne. Sometimes it might seem otherwise, John is saying, but don’t ever be fooled. God has already won. Death has been defeated forever. The shepherd has called his flock home. … Continue Reading
iPhone or Android, a Letter to Steve Jobs
Dear Steve Jobs,
Hi there. I’m a big fan — of your products, your business, and, well, you too — love the mock turtle necks. I have a conundrum, and I hope you can help me.
I understand that you generally keep product information tip-top secret. I understand this probably helps you make money and the like. But I’d like you to make an exception, just this once. I’m in the market for a new cell phone on the Verizon network, and well, the beloved iPhone is still hog-tied to AT&T.
Here’s the thing, the HTC Incredible is coming out in just a few days. According to all the reviews, it lives up to its name. It’s fast, sleek, and oh-so-ever-smart. As an avid Apple fan, I’m reticent to switch teams, but by all accounts Android is the real deal — not quite an iPhone killer, but a powerful match operating system for operating system.
If I had my druthers, I’d go with the iPhone over Android. An iPhone would probably sync better with my MacBook, and keeping my life together on iCal would be a breeze. I’d rather not fool with syncing Mail on my MacBack and a GMail app on Android. I know “good things come to those who wait,” but the thing is you’re so darn secretive you don’t even let us know if that’s true in this case.
I don’t have much money. If I go with the Android OS, I can’t switch over to the iPhone later. If you gave me the info — say the iPhone would be out on Verizon by June, or even by September I might wait. I probably would wait. But without the information, I can’t make an informed decision. You’re tying my hands behind my back, and I don’t appreciate it. And the flip side, I’m sorry to admhit, might be the opposite. I buy an Android product soon, and love it. Then, even when the next generation iPhone comes available, I might not bother switching back. I don’t like the sound of that — for me, or for you.
So can you level with me, Steve? What would you do — buy an Android product now, or wait for a Verizon iPhone?
Peace,
Adam
Cutting the Automatic Crosspost: The Different Genre of Facebook and Blogging
As technology changes, Facebook continues to grow and blogs seem in somewhat of a decline. You’ll hear no worries from this blogger — that’s the point, technology and social media changes. That’s why it’s fun and works so well.
Related to all this, though, I am strongly considering disconnecting my blog from my facebook page. As I have it set up now, every post I put up here at A Wee Blether is automatically posted on my facebook wall as a note. Sometimes this is fine, but often the different genres bother me.
Sure, it’s subtle, but facebook is a way of connecting that I view as much quicker and more superficial than blogging. I’ll plop stuff on my facebook page without thinking twice, but I reflect a little longer before I post on the blog. I think of facebook as the conversation you have out the car window to someone walking by: “hi,” “beautiful day,” “how’s it going?” And blogging is like the conversations you have with more time and a more relational setting.
Originally, I think I connected the blog to facebook purely because I wanted the hits it might bring me. But, after blogging for going on three years, I’ve realized it’s not about the hits. Mostly, I blog for the positive personal gains — I do think it makes me a better person — but I do love comments too. And, actually, I think the facebook note feature of the blog actually cuts down the number of comments I receive on the blog. In a weird way, facebooking blog posts dumbs them down.
So, unless your comments change my mind, I think I’ll disconnect the connection from WordPress to Facebook. I may still put a link to particular posts on my facebook page, but I won’t automatically crosspost everything. Oh how the world is ever-changing.
Sermon: Swim? Row? Faith., John 21:1-19
Adam J. Copeland
First Presbyterian Church of Hallock, Minn.
April 18, 2010
Swim? Row? Faith.
John 21:1-19
The disciples are overwhelmed. Life, recently, has just been throwing a lot at them. They went from the dire diagnosis that Jesus — their buddy, their Lord — was dead. Crucified at the hands of the Roman authorities egged on by the crowds. Peter lost sleep over his denial. The group was scared, confused. Overwhelmed.
And then word leaked of Jesus’ resurrection. Mary showed up early on the third morning and the tomb was empty! But what did it mean? Mary immediately texted Peter — “OMG the tomb is empty!!!” — and the disciples came running as fast as they could. The tomb was, indeed, empty. A linen shroud was on the ground. Their hearts raced. Their voices trembled. Could it be? Jesus was risen from the dead. Talk about an emotional roller coaster.
Then Jesus starts turning up all over the place. He appears to Mary in the garden — she thought he was the gardener. Jesus pops in when the disciples were hiding from the crowds in a locked room. Jesus breathes the Holy Spirit on them, and takes off. But Thomas was out on a drink run, and he missed the party and didn’t believe. So Jesus makes their hearts flutter one more time, appearing to Thomas. From the devastation of the cross, to the emotional high of the empty tomb, to Jesus’ continued appearances, life as a disciple recently has been as overwhelming as planting season with a broken tractor, no help available, and a tax bill you can’t pay.
Connect Online
