Image Courtesy of Rev. Joel Simpson/Facebook
Image Courtesy of Rev. Joel Simpson/Facebook
United Methodists in the Western North Carolina Annual Conference issued a lament and a challenge to the excessive force being used by federal agents in a nationwide crackdown on undocumented immigrants.
The Rev. Joel Simpson posted Feb. 3 on Facebook:
“Today, nearly one thousand individual United Methodists from across western North Carolina signed on to a public statement on behalf of people in our nation harmed by current immigration enforcement policies. This statement has been published in four regional newspapers in western NC.
“This witness is grounded in faith, scripture, the common good, our General Rules (of which the first is to “Do No Harm”), our social principles for United Methodists, and the ideals of our nation.”
Superimposed over the list of signatures, the Western North Carolina statement reads:
“We are horrified and heartbroken that our country has become a battleground riddled with fear and rage. We believe in the God-given dignity of all people, including immigrants. We refuse to remain silent or complicit. We stand with all our neighbors as we pray for and demand an end to the use of brute and deadly force with no accountability. It is time for courage, love, and change. The violence must stop.
“Our faith compels us to show up and seek justice, defend the oppressed, welcome the stranger, and share the relentless love of God who calls to to a more perfect union of love, peace and goodness.”
The ad appeared in the Charlotte Observer newspaper. Signatures are still being accepted on the conference website. Click here to sign.