With refugee and immigration needs bigger than ever, ministries across the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) are stepping up to meet the need and reaffirming historic commitments to welcoming the stranger in our midst.
Week of Compassion has long been dedicated to the work of refugee resettlement. The ministry recently announced that its Board of Stewards has “reaffirmed the priority of refugee work and made the decision to invest more resources in supporting local congregations as they welcome new neighbors. In the weeks and months ahead, Week of Compassion will develop and expand its capacity and resources to provide tangible support for churches as they engage with their local resettlement offices and respond to local needs.”
To that end, Week of Compassion has posted a new position opening for an Associate Director of Refugee and Immigrant Response, who will work with local congregations and regional ministers to equip and connect congregations working with refugees and immigrants.
Disciples Home Missions also has a long-standing history and commitment to equipping Disciples to respond to Jesus’ call to welcome the stranger through Refugee and Immigration Ministries. The expansion of Week of Compassion’s refugee work has provided an opportunity for DHM to evaluate and reaffirm its work as well.
“At Disciples Home Missions, we are called to immigration, refugee resettlement and advocacy,” the DHM Board and President said in a recent statement. “We will continue in our Refugee and Immigration Ministries (RIM) that act on behalf of the displaced in partnership with the local and global church. Jesus calls us to spread His love, ministering to those in need. This transition is an opportunity for DHM to envision the future scope of immigration, refugee resettlement and advocacy ministry. Our plan is to develop a strategy for moving forward, to bring vision to how we can continue to advocate for immigration ministries. It is our mission and commitment to consider the ongoing needs of advocacy around government policy and initiatives, educating and providing resources to congregations. We ask for your prayers for DHM and WOC as we continue to have conversations around ways we can partner in this ministry together. We take this transition as an opportunity for renewed participation, engagement and commitment to centering justice ministries in our work. DHM continues its commitment to connecting people to the life changing love of God through this ministry.”
Questions about these ministries can be directed to Sheila Spencer, Interim President of Disciples Home Missions ([email protected]), or Vy Nguyen, Executive Director of Week of Compassion ([email protected]).
Larry Bowman
As we keep an open door with no border these folks will keep coming. We can not possibly support the world and all its needs as a single country. It seems no one is looking at history. China is on the move and with ever increasing military a war is more than a possibility. Its time to close the border and have a plan to care for this nation and its people.
As a 60+ year member of the DOC with your current views its time for me to denounce my membership in the DOC. So many others in my local church feel the same way. Wake up!!!!
Ken Brooker Langston
You, of course, make a good point in terms of “worldly” fears and concerns. But “spiritual” values say two things with you seem to strongly disagree. First, the Body of Christ and the nation are not the same. The nation has borders. The Church does not. So let some powerful politicians think the way you are thinking, but the Church cannot. Second, the Church must try to follow clear Biblical imperatives, one of which (repeated throughout the Scriptures) is to “welcome the stranger.” In the Holy Word of God, this clearly expressed desire of God often stands along taking care of the widow and the orphan. If America is in any sense a “Christian nation,” then our ethical vision as a nation must take seriously this Biblical imperative, and our elected officials must try to welcome the stranger as practically and humanely and justly as possible. And the Church, through it ethically based advocacy, must stand ready to encourage our lawmakers to make this to happen and, through our resettlement work, help make this happen.
Susan Jarecke
Larry,
How would Jesus respond to your thoughts?
Tina Marie Amodeo
I missed it, I believe, but why would you denounce DOC period and after so long in being a member?
If something is not being followed through Jesus Love, then why not build a circle of doers to make the change
through disciphering what is God’s will rather than turning your back on a walk you followed/believed in for so long?
Just looking to understand the why in a way I might better see your view. Hugs!
Sara Edwards
Before you leave DOC, please take a few moments to go to the website of Southwest Good Samaritan Ministries (SWGSM) in the Lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas, and read the most recent newsletters from their director Feliberto Pereira. Their work has been ongoing for over 30 years and is an outstanding example of ‘care for the strangers and needy among us.’
I understand and appreciate your level of frustration but pray you are open to looking at this ministry and perhaps speaking with Reverend Pereira.
And I would be most interested in your response to what you learn.
Carol Devine
I give great thanks to the work of Rev Sharon Stanley-Rea as the Director or Refugee and Immigration Ministries. I pray that whomever is hired for the WOC position will work closely with her.