Moderator's Message
Welcoming the Stranger - Part 2
Mary Friedman sends this article from Rev. Tracy Howe Wispelway, UCC Minister of Congregational & Community Engagement, who writes about what the Bible tells us about the conditions under which we are to welcome the stranger: no conditions. Please consider her message as we prepare to welcome Jesus into our lives anew during Advent.
Rev. Wispelway references the current debate about young immigrants in the DACA program. Her article then continues:
“I recently shared an update on this issue from a young Dreamer on social media using the hashtag, #HereToStay.
A social media "friend" of mine, someone I have not spoken to in years but with whom I went to high school, commented on the hashtag writing, "yes, they can stay if they immigrate legally like my grandparents did from Sweden." Swedish flag emojis and exclamation marks followed. People of privilege often make the assumption that what worked for them or their family must be possible for everyone. However, our immigration policy and history is full of racism, exclusion and economic preference, all written into law.
The policies, economics and history driving different groups of people to our country are complex and interconnected. But as people of faith, the just and right response is simple and clear: welcome the stranger and care for the immigrant. It is a clarion call throughout scripture. There are no caveats made, no conditions that if the stranger is only a first-generation arrival, then we don’t have to welcome or care for them; or if they are an immigrant with brown or black skin they can be treated differently than immigrants of European descent. Our call is simple, recognize humanity; welcome and care for humanity.
Advent is right around the corner and with it the reminder that Jesus was born a refugee fleeing state violence. King Herod, feeling threatened and angry that another "king" was being born, ordered all children two years old and under killed. Who could inflict such massive violence and suffering in the name of protecting their own
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