September 19, 2022

The Christian Church (Disciple of Christ) in the Upper Midwest Anti-Racism/Pro-Reconciliation Team condemns the moving of migrants from border states to other communities and states. 

On August 17, 2022, Gov. Greg Abbott of Texas sent buses of migrants from Texas to Washington, D.C. and on August 24, 2022 sent five buses to New York City, as reported by the Texas Tribune. On September 14, 2022, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis flew two planes of migrants to Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts. Various media reports claim that people were not told clearly where or why they were leaving their present locations and that the receiving locations were not notified of the arrivals of individuals who would need assistance upon arrival.  The city of El Paso, Texas voted on Monday, September 12, 2022 to approve a $2 million contract to bus migrants to other towns, as reported by Fox News.

The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the Upper Midwest Anti-Racism/Pro-Reconciliation Team, gives thanks for the many individuals, organizations, and communities who rallied to receive the migrants and provide them with basic necessities, as well as resourcing them with other needs such as legal and financial assistance. “Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.” (Matthew 5:8)

The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the Upper Midwest Anti-Racism/Pro-Reconciliation Team:

• Affirms the dignity and worth of all people, regardless of race, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, nationality, religion, socio-econoic status, age, disability, origin, political belief, language, and culture.

• Affirms that no person is illegal and all should be granted the opportunity to a path of citizenship. All people have the right to seek a better life and should be granted an equal opportunity to achieve such.

• Affirms that community resources should be spent on supporting all in the community.

• Condemns the use of any person or persons for political gain. 

• Condemns denying human rights and the rights as provided under the laws and policies of the United States to any person.

• Condemns relocating any person or persons without their consent and full knowledge of the action.

• Urges  federal lawmakers to work together to pass meaningful immigration law reform.

The Christian Bible is full of passages that call for radical hospitality of the stranger. Jesus spoke out for those who were on the margins of society and supported these communities. The followers of Jesus, are called to a life of service of others, even those who do not look, speak, or think like us. As we strive to faithfully live into the calling Jesus has put on our lives, we implore the faithful across the United States and specially in Florida and Texas to condemn these actions of their local and state governments, to support organizations and individuals who assist immigrants and refugees in resettling, and to work towards building the kingdom of God here on earth now through their whole lives.

The Upper Midwest Region of the Christian Church (DIsciples of Christ) Anti-Racism/Pro-Reconciliation Team:

Rev. Kate West, Pastor First Congregational UCC, Neligh, NE & Park Center UCC, Elgin, NE

Rev. Gary Sneller, Retired Pastor, the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Cedar Rapids, IA

Rev. Dr. Laurie Pound Feille, Senior Pastor, First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ),  

        Minneapolis, MN and Disciples Public Presence

Rev. Candice K. Brown, Retired Pastor, Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Des Moines, Iowa

Rev. Jill Cameron Michel, Senior Pastor, First Christian Church, Coralville, IA

Rev. Mary Jane Button-Harrison, Minister, First Christian Church (Disciples), Ames, IA

Rev. Linda Ellen Hunsaker, Pastor, First Christian Church, Davenport, IA

Rev. Dawn Ingram, Pastor, Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Des Moines, IA

Dan Mineck, Lay Member, Noelridge Christian Church, Cedar Rapids, IA

Rev. Leslie Dalstra, Pastor First Christian Church, Fort Madison, IA

Malinda Thomas, Lay Member, FCC Iowa City-Coralville, Coralville, IA

Rev. Owen A. Cayton, Senior Pastor, Ankeny Christian Church, Ankeny, IA

Rev. Melea White, Clergy, First Christian Church, Coralville/IC, IA

Other Supporters:

Rev. Dr. Chris Wilson, Senior Pastor, Saint Andrew Christian Church, Olathe, KS

Rev. Leslie A. Dotson, Senior Pastor, Bloomfield Christian Church, Bloomfield, IA

Rev. Laura Kittrell, Pastor, First Christian Church, Coralville, IA

Rev. Mark MacWhorter, Minister, Sac City, IA

Rev. Dr. Bryan Feille, Retired Clergy, First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Minneapolis, MN

Rev. Stephanie Kendell, Executive Minister and COO, Park Avenue Christian Church, New York, NY

Rev. Melissa Guthrie, Executive Director+Minister, AllianceQ-Disciples LGBTQ+ Alliance, Greensboro,NC

Rev. Daniel Romero, Member, First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Minneapolis, MN

Rev. Jacqueline Hickox-Morgan, Pastor, United Church of Christ (Congregational), Yankton, South Dakota

Rev. Larry D. Squier, Retired Clergy, Ankeny Christian Church, Urbandale, IA

Rev. Dr. Sharon G. Stanley Rea, Director, Disciples Refugee & Immigration Ministries, Washington, DC

Rev. Dan Adolphson, Associate Pastor, First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) Minneapolis, MN

Chrissy Stonebraker-Martínez, Co-Director, interReligious Task Force on Central America and Colombia, Cleveland, OH

Rev. Robert L. Welsh, Retired Clergy, First Christian, Coralville, IA

John Turnage, Lay Member and Elder, Pleasantville Christian Church, Pleasantville, IA

Dr. John McKinstry, Retired Clergy, First Christian Church of Iowa City/Coralville, Iowa City, IA

Rev. Kara Seaton, Pastor, First Christian Church Coralville, Coralville, IA

Rev. Mark W. Martin, Pastor Emeritus, Saint Andrew Presbyterian Church, Iowa City, IA

Natalie Teague, Lay Member, Disciples Immigration Legal Counsel, Gibsonville, NC

Rev. Lucy Meissner Maier, Retired Clergy, South Hills Christian Church, Fort Worth, TX

Rev. Dennis Arnold, Pastor, Our Lord's Church, Solon, IA

Rev. Paul Akin, Retired Pastor, First United Methodist Church, Iowa City, IA

Rev. Dr. Mark Pries, Retired Lutheran Pastor, Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, Iowa City, IA

Rabbi Jeff Portman, Rabbi Emeritus, Agudas Achim Congregation, Coralville, IA

Rev. Ana Wilson, Pastor, Grace UCC, Millville, MN

Justin Carlson, Lay Member and Seminarian, First Christian Church, Minneapolis, MN

Kerry Little, Lay Member and Elder, First Christian, Concord, CA

Rev. Wendy Manuel, Retired Clergy, First Christian Church, Minneapolis, MN

Rev. Miriam Gentle, Pastor, Northwest Church, Richland WA

Rev. Susan Parsley, Pastor, Forest Hill Christian Church, San Francisco, CA

Rev. Teri Nilson Baird, Christian Church, Disciples of Christ, Central Rocky Mountain Region, Ramah, CO

The Rev. Dr. Robert O. Weitzeil, Retired Clergy, Spirit Lake, ID

Rene Seidel, Lay Member, West Hollywood UCC, Currently/temporarily living in Hargeisa, Somaliland

Alan Winter, Lay Member and Elder, University Christian Church, Fort Worth, TX

Gerald L Postlethwaite, Lay Member and Trustee, Christian Church of Wilkinsburg, Wilkinsburg, PA

Rev. Terry Overfelt, Pastor, Broadway Christian Church, Columbia, MO

Mel Adams, Lay Member and Elder, North Oak Christian Church (DOC), Kansas City MO

Mary Diane Baker, Lay Member and Social Justice Chair, University Christian Church of Austin, Austin, TX

Rev. Heather Wachendorf, Pastor, Highland Park Christian Church, Des Moines, IA

Rev. Linda M McWhorter, Clinical Chaplain, Hospice, Hospice Austin Christopher House, Austin, TX

Keith Koster, Lay Member and Music Director, Saguaro Christian Church, Tucson, AZ

Rev. Tim Bobbitt, Pastor, First Christian Church, Alexandria, VA

Rev. Laurie Anderson, Pastor, Midway Hills Christian Church, Dallas, TX

Rev. Chuck Snow, Pastor, Moorhead Christian and First Christian Woodbine, Woodbine, IA

Rev. Bruce Fowlkes, Chaplain, Eureka College, Eureka, IL

Carol Doidge, Lay Member, Vine Street Christian Church, Nashville, TN

Rev. Dr. Steven Blinder, Pastor, Royal Palm Christian Church (DOC), Coral Springs, FL

Rev. M. Clifford Cole, Retired Clergy, Support Staff Regional Church, Sierra Christian Church, Loomis, CA

Rev. Héctor J. Hernández Marcial, Pastor, Director of Community Engagement of the NBA, Indianapolis, IN

Kathryn Voiers. Lay Member, Elder, Mill Creek Christian, May Licks KY

Dewey Smith, Lay Member, First Christian Church, Casper, WY

Debra Maddox, Lay Member and Deacon, Edgewood Ave. Christian Church, Jacksonville, FL

Olivia Kay Landrum, Lay Member, University Christian Church, Fort Worth

Rev. Dr. Ronald Greene, Retired Minister, Davenport, WA

Rev. Joel P Aurand, Pastor, Elkhart Christian Church, Elkhart, IA

Dave Hosseini, Lay Member, First Christian Church, Sacramento, CA

Rev. Patricia S. Stalter, Pastor, Woodward Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). Woodward, IA

Martin Eble, Lay Member, Lake Shore Christian, Euclid, OH

Rev. Kevin Baker-Rooks, Pastor, Open Hearts Gathering Christian Church/chair of New and Emerging Church Life NC Region Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Charlotte, NC

Rev. Loren Strait, Pastor, Covenant Christian Church, Urbandale, IA

Rev. Julia Thomas, Deacon, Woodside Village Church , Woodside, CA

Phyllis Fasking, Lay Member, Trustee and Finance Secretary, First Christian Church, Princeton, IL

Liliana Michel, Lay Member and Deacon, Iglesia Cristiana de Capitol Hill, Oklahoma City, OK

Rev. Victor Michel-Sanchez, Pastor, Iglesia Cristiana de Capitol Hill, Oklahoma City, OK

Dr. Marla Banks, Lay Member and Deaconess, Mt. Healthy Christian Church, Cincinnati, OH

Rev. Daniel B. Gulden, Lead Pastor, Geist Christian Church, Fishers, IN

Rev. Colton D. Lott, Senior Minister, First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), El Reno, OK

Allen Foster, Lay Member and Board Moderator, Forest Hill Christian Church/Table of Many Colors, San Francisco, CA

Shannon Grady, Lay Member, First Christian Church, Minneapolis, MN

Lori Bryant, Lay Member, Climate Ambassador and Elder, First Christian Church, Tucson, AZ

Ann Antus, Lay Member, First Christian Church, Minneapolis, MN

Alice Keith, Lay Member, First Christian Church, Minneapolis, MN

Rev. Ronald H. Keith, Clergy and Elder, First Christian Church, Minneapolis, MN

Rev. David Cobb, Staff Chaplain, Children's Minnesota Hospitals and Clinics, Member, First Christian Church, Minneapolis, MN

Mark D. Anderson, Lay Member, President and CEO, National Benevolent Association, St. Louis, MO