In this week’s column, I convey the Episcopal Church’s position on immigration and offer ways to get involved.

In any society, there are usually more than enough broken systems and injustices for someone to worry about and to work toward fixing. Climate change and natural disasters, human trafficking, economic disparity, crime and gun violence, education reform, access to health insurance, substance abuse, and addiction, homelessness—these problems comprise just part of a long list. One could make a good case that all these societal issues are in some way interconnected or at least related, but most of us only have the energy—and the God-instilled passion—to tackle one or two at a time. That said, now and again something happens that shocks all of us awake and reminds us that some particular brokenness in the world is calling for our attention. So it has been lately that the forced separation of families at the US/Mexico border has awakened us to the problems with our current system of immigration.

Mindful of my calling to serve and to love all the people of our parish, regardless of political affiliation or position, I try not to assume that my own opinions on a topic are automatically those of others. That neutral stance can be frustrating to some who want their rector to voice positions on every headline-making matter. But instead of simply voicing my own opinions, I try to voice support for the positions the Episcopal Church has taken. I do this because I took ordination vows that include obedience and loyalty, and secondly, I trust that the positions endorsed by our Presiding Bishop are based on broader research and better scholarship than I am capable of producing.

For example, I’ve been a little confused by media reports of missing immigrant children and children separated from their families. Are they one and the same group? The Episcopal Church notes that many are confused about whether or not the “missing” unaccompanied children living in the US are the same children who were separated from their parents at the US/Mexico border, and offers this FAQ sheet: CLICK HERE

I want you to know that the Episcopal Church—and I—stand solidly in support of immigration reform. Specifically, “firmly rooted in our ministry of welcome, the Episcopal Church is committed to advocating for immigration policies that define a pathway to citizenship for undocumented persons in the U.S., uplift humane enforcement, and prioritize family unity.” I encourage you to read the one-page position paper from which this quotation was drawn: CLICK HERE

If you wish to take action, the Episcopal Church suggests three areas of immigration that could use your advocacy: (1) defending access to asylum and stopping families from being separated; (2) defending Temporary Protected Status; (3) supporting Dreamers by defending the DACA act. Please browse the church’s resource page: CLICK HERE You’ll find there many links and resources to help you.

If you wish to make your voice heard about the separation of immigrant families at the US/Mexico border, there are three things you can do this summer:

(1) Get educated! Read the church’s toolkit page:  CLICK HERE

(2) Show up at an event on Saturday, June 30^th. There are several being organized in Longmont, Boulder, and Denver, as part of a national effort. For more information, visit: CLICK HERE Enter your zip code to find details on the event closest to you.

(3) Write to your legislators. Join us on Sunday, July 15th following coffee hour in the parish hall, and gather with other concerned parishioners to write notes to your legislators expressing your feelings and wishes about immigration reform. Pertinent scripture citations and information will be offered but the script is your own, from your heart and reflecting your opinions. We'll provide note cards and envelopes, pens, and legislator contact information. If you've wanted to take action but have been unsure how to proceed, contacting your legislator is a great start! If you wish to make a phone call too, the note you write can help you gather your thoughts as to what you wish to say.

When I consider how comfortable I and most of us are in our houses and condos, I am obliged to remember that much of Hebrew Scripture is the story of a displaced and migrating people wandering about to find a new and better home. I am obliged to remember that we worship a Christ who was himself essentially a homeless and persecuted itinerant who stated that even foxes and birds had more secure dwelling places than he. Given this, to the question, “Where is God” I’d be inclined to answer that God is first and foremost with the displaced, the oppressed, the homeless, and the ones migrating in search of a better life. If God is there, then as followers of Christ we should be too. One way of “being there” is to advocate, to not allow our comfort to let us sleep through the cries of those who need an ally. Each one of us has a voice. We’re being called to awaken and use it.