Sunday,
July 6, 2003
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Mennonites stand by immigrants
By CHARLES T. JONES
Mennonite Mission Network Sunday, July 6, 2003
Marked by objections to tone and calls for clarification, the Mennonite Church USA delegate assembly yesterday nevertheless approved a churchwide policy of support and encouragement of immigrants who have arrived or will come – legally or otherwise – into the United States in search of a better life. Document drafters who reasoned that most Mennonites were immigrants once stated, “We believe that when we welcome strangers, we welcome Jesus.” Welcoming strangers is one thing, some delegates said, while registering complaints that the document is too shrill in its criticism of the U.S. government and its increasingly strict immigration policies. Delegates were given about 15 minutes to comment on the proposal after the position document was presented by the church’s peace advocate, Susan Mark Landis, and by the moderator for the fast-growing Hispanic Mennonite Church, Marco Güete. “We reject our country’s mistreatment of immigrants, repent of our silence, and commit ourselves to act with and on behalf of our immigrant brothers and sisters, regardless of their legal status,” the document states. A delegate, Lois Hochstetler, said those at her table were concerned about what she called the “arrogant” and “blanket” rejection of current U.S. immigration laws. “We need to not be arrogant in deciding what we can do away with,” she said. “We have a need for laws that regulate immigration. We need to respect them, but also address those that are unjust.” Another delegate, Keith Swartzendruber of Arlington, Va., concurred. “We’re concerned about the negative language against the U.S.,” he said. He complained that the document talks down to church members, and “tends to be a little paternalistic in its language.” Overall, he said, “We are concerned about unjust laws that hinder legal immigration and are applied inconsistently to illegal immigrants after they’re here.” Neil Amstutz of McPherson, Kan., said he and his neighbors back home were concerned about what isn’t in the statement. “What’s absent here are some of the links to what is responsible immigration policy post 9-11, but cutting down some of the abuses,” he said. Patrick McFarren of Ashville, N.C., said the statement on immigration is basically a starting point for study. “What are ‘Mennos’ doing about it?” he asked.  |
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