Hi Church,

There is a lot of news swirling around us, but I don’t want you to miss this. In case you were wondering where my Easter sermon came from, this is it.  The Sheriff is considering leasing part of the county jail to the federal immigration authorities as a detention center.  The issues are complicated and we hope to host a forum soon to dive in.  The facts are the county needs money, and this will NOT increase the number of undocumented folks from our community being detained.

Why should the church care about this?  Well, we want our church to be radically for the city of Rockford.  We want to support any effort that moves the city forward.  Many of us believe this is a step backward, but that is not why the church should care.  We can easily disagree about that and still be and do church.  We want the church to be for the county.  We want the county to flourish and have the money it needs. I like a balanced budget, but you don’t have to agree with me on that either.  Neither is that why the church should care about this.

This church should care about this because people in our midst, in our community, our very neighbors from whom we buy things, send our kids to school with, who we rely on to keep our city functioning are scared.  I sat in our own church dining room before Easter as Linda Zuba, a local attorney and immigration advocate encourage people to get a power of attorney for the house they own and a custody document for their children.  These are people who are active members of our community.  You know them, trust them and care about them.  But for whatever reason, their paperwork got messed up or maybe they made a big mistake years ago, and they are undocumented.  I cannot imagine having to sign over my children to anyone.  I cannot imagine my children wondering if I would be gone when they got home from school.

The presence of a detention center in Rockford increases fear and deters the very people we rely on from moving here and continuing their businesses here and attracting folks to do business from out of town.  Our larger society mislead immigrants decades ago saying even while it was illegal, “come, there is work here for you.  We need you.”  And now that they have established a family, a community, and a well-being, we are going to deport them?  That is unjust.  Injustice is a matter of church.

The issues are complicated and we do not have to agree.  But the Bible does tell us over and over again to advocate for those who do not have a voice.  The undocumented do not have a voice.  We need to give voice to the voiceless.

My empathy extends beyond just the undocumented. I think about those who give their lives to follow the law.  I sat for a couple hours this week with Sheriff Carauna.  He is a good man, and I do not envy his decision.  He does not make the laws.  He is charged with enforcing the law, which maintains order and decency.

We, the citizens, have to push to change laws that unjust. We, the church, have to work tirelessly to calm fear, bring peace, and share love.

Let’s talk. Keep praying!

Peace,

Rebecca

P.S. If you have a similar or different view, please write in and we can publish our varying opinions.  Oddly enough, Heineken is showing us how to do church this week.