Conference supports call for continuing prayer for comprehensive immigration reform

Members of the 2010 Iowa Annual Conference session supported a resolution calling for “continuing intercessory prayer for comprehensive immigration reform…that is fair and just.” The substitute statement recognized that “God calls for love and justice for everyone.”

 

The originally-proposed resolution, entitled, “Call to Action: Responding to Arizona SB-1070," noted that “We are called through our baptism to stand against evil, injustice and oppression…documented immigrants live with the same fear as un documented immigrants because they are not immune to suspicion and possible detention based solely on the color of their skin…[and that] SB-1070 stands in clear opposition to The United Methodist Church’s call for Comprehensive Immigration Reform.” The original resolution called for a week of intercessory prayer for Comprehensive Immigration Reform during the week of June 13, 2010, in conjunction with other United Methodist Annual Conferences. It also called for advocacy “against any state-based initiatives that are proposed during the 84^th Iowa General Assembly…that would replicate components of Arizona’s SB-1070.”

 

The 2008 General Conference of The United Methodist Church passed a resolution entitled “Welcoming the Migrant to the US,” (Read the full text of the resolution) which stated, “The United Methodist Church affirms the worth, dignity, and inherent value and rights of all persons regardless of their nationality or legal status.” Noting that immigration is a human rights issue, the resolution, approved by the world-wide gathering of the denomination, also stated that “The United Methodist Church is urged to advocate for the comprehensive reform of the US immigration system. Any legislation to reform the US immigration system must affirm the worth, dignity, and inherent value and rights of migrants.”

 

The 2010 Iowa Conference substitute resolution, approved on Tuesday, June 8, asked “all Iowans to study” Comprehensive Immigration Reform. It called for reflection on “all aspects” of the “complex issues of immigration” and urged Iowa United Methodists to speak “to lawmakers.”  It also notes that Arizona SB-1070 illustrates the failures of the present immigration situation."  The substitute was initially apaproved by a vote of 547 in favor, 430 opposed and 38 abstaining.

Resolution text