Faith Leaders letter to Hillsboro Tribune
Many of you are aware that I am part of a group of pastors in Hillsboro that spoke out in favor of Hillsboro becoming a sanctuary city. As you know the issue of immigration and the brokenness of our nation's immigration policies are still very much in the news. The announcement from our current administration regarding the rescinding of DACA prompted us to once again speak out in faith and in support of our our most vulnerable immigrant neighbors. The letter that follows was written by my friend and colleague, Clay Andrew, and signed by several pastors in Hillsboro including myself. Knowing that there is a diversity of opinion on this issue within each community of faith, we did not presume to speak for our congregations but as individuals... citizens and pastors.
The letter below will appear in the next issue of the Hillsboro Tribune.
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As faith leaders in our community, we oppose President Trump’s recent decision to eliminate the DACA program.
Humanity always seems to feel pulled between two opposing forces. We have a tendency towards tribalism, building communities with those who are most like us. But we also feel drawn toward a familial connection with all people, despite our differences of culture, ethnicity, and language. Tribalism may be a natural tendency, but in our worst moments it easily metastasizes into far darker urges like racism and nationalism. At our best moments, our sense of kinship with the whole human family elevates us beyond our divisions and illuminates what we truly share.
President Trump’s decision to end the DACA program is wrong for many reasons, but most troublingly it is rooted in a dark version of tribalism that dehumanizes people who are vibrant and committed members of our community. Many of the arguments deployed in support of ending DACA (e.g., “they are criminals,” or “they are taking away our benefits”) are untrue, but stoke the fires of nationalism and racism.
We believe in this simple truth: Our community and our nation are better because of our immigrant sisters and brothers. Immigrants, including those who are undocumented and the DACA participants, are valuable, vital members of our community. DACA participants serve in our military and as first responders, they are well-educated and highly-employable, and they are gifted leaders and passionate participants in our democracy. They are good and beautiful human beings, and a blessing to our community and nation.
Our belief in the value of our immigrant sisters and brothers is rooted in our faith. We serve a Messiah who was himself a refugee from political violence, taken across borders by his parents in the dark of night. We celebrate the story of the Israelites, a wandering people who found a new home in a new land. We proclaim that, wherever we are born, we are ultimately citizens of a kingdom of justice and peace for all people. Our faith compels us to stand up for all people, especially those who are so easily overlooked, oppressed or disadvantaged. But the values of our faith - those values which underlie our commitment to justice - are common to all people.
This last spring, our city council declared that Hillsboro is a “safe and welcoming place where we all work together to lift each other up.” Now is the time to put action to these words. We are a community who believes in family and safety, community and relationships, care and compassion. Now is the time for our community to speak out in support of DACA and, indeed, in support of all immigrants. We urge the people of Hillsboro to contact our political leaders to challenge them to work for the passage of legislation that will reverse President Trump’s short-sighted actions. We urge our political leaders to work to build a truly inclusive, welcoming place for all people.
In times of stress and fear, it is too easy to allow our baser instincts to lead us into fearful decisions. This is precisely the time when we must rise above our fear and build upon the common values that reflect who we truly are: people of compassion and justice, a community of peace and understanding.
We will be part of a peaceful vigil next week in support of our immigrant sisters and brothers. We’ll gather next Monday morning, September 18, at the Washington County Courthouse from 8:00-9:30 am. We hope the citizens of Hillsboro will join us as we all work together to lift each other up.
Rev. Clay Andrew
Rev. Matthew Eagan
Rev. David Eppelsheimer
Rev. Adam Hange
Rev. Jorge Rodriguez
Rev. Julie Smith
Rev. Karen LaJoy Smith
Rev. Bob Stebe
Rev. Karen Tiegs
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