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2010-11-22 issue:

Arizona law and Phoenix convention

by Evan Oswald, Glendale, Ariz.

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Our Seekers Sunday school class of the Bethel College Mennonite Church of North Newton, Kan., has been discussing and reflecting upon the plight of immigrants whose fears are increased by the Arizona law, which many label the "pursuit bill." We read and expressed appreciation for the Mennonite Church USA delegation to Phoenix statement (August): "We desire and are committed to the steps that lead to one church, living the vision of the Lamb of God gathering persons from all tribes, nations and ethnic groups into one inclusive church."

One member, quoting Millard Lind, pointed to the Decalogue's statement of God’s steadfast love extended to aliens, even to Nineveh, Israel's traditional enemy. "You shall love the alien as yourself, for you were an alien in the land of Egypt" (Leviticus 19:34).

In view of the immigrant and alien situation in Arizona, we have pondered statements and letters from Latinos who fear this bill and who do not want to be in Arizona or attend a convention in Phoenix. We reflected upon a statement by Yvonne Diaz, executive director of Iglesia Menonita Hispana, who concludes, "It is not safe for Latinos to be in Arizona."

A member also emphasized studying the thoughts and conclusions from Phoenix churches who deal daily with this issue as found in the June 15 issue of the Christian Century.

We have been serious and prayerful as we pondered the words of Jesus in Luke 4 regarding Jesus’ mission statement: "He has anointed me to bring good news to the poor ... and to proclaim release to the captives."

In our discussion, the following ideas were raised with regard to the 2013 conference:

1. Plan the entire conference around the theme of immigration ("Who is My Neighbor?").

2. On Peace Sunday in our churches, invite pastors to give sermons on immigration as well as invite Hispanic Mennonite congregations to worship with us or worship at their church.

3. Listen and learn from Latino/Hispanic congregations.

4. Raise $400,000 above the convention budget if the convention is held elsewhere. Use the money to support immigrants.

5. By not having the conference in Phoenix, this would enhance communication and could nurture meaningful conversation and problem solving.

6. Have a Christian Peacemaker Team presence for each Hispanic person at Phoenix.

7. Plan meaningful witness actions if the conference is in Phoenix or elsewhere.

8. Wherever the conference location, we suggest attendees support service workers by tipping generously —up to 40 or 50 percent.

9. Our question: "What kind of public policy/systemic change should the church seek and support?" We encourage readers to see Mennonite Central Committee websites for further ideas.—21 members of the Seekers

The Mennonite is full of immigration news, especially since Arizona passed the harsh immigration law that raises many questions about whether Mennonite Church USA should hold its 2013 assembly in Arizona as previously planned before SB 1070 came out.

In 1971, I was at Navajo Community College on the Navajo Reservation in northern Arizona, helping establish the first Native American-controlled college in the United States and Canada. One day I was eating with some Navajo faculty friends when one of them (a Ph.D. from Ohio State University) put his fist under my nose and said, "Oswald, as soon as we can, we are going to send you Anglos packing back to Europe."

History is often a hard teacher. It has shown that we are occupiers of this land. We are illegal immigrants. In the name of the King, gold, God, land and slavery we came. It was posed as a directive from God (manifest destiny) that we Europeans should take over this land for our ever-increasing European hordes.

When we are considering the immigration issues, in all honesty, let us Europeans remember that we are not only illegal immigrants, we are occupiers. And we Mennonites are part of the European hordes that so happily homesteaded on the lands Native Americans were forced to flee from. The apology ("Mennonites Apologize to Native Americans," October) is only one small apology. Mennonites in the United States and Canada owe Native Americans many such apologies.

Associated Issue: A bridge builder - October 2010

Associated Article: MC USA to send delegation to Arizona

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