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In this issue:
May 2010Volume Four, Issue Five
EMerge: Monthly
A Publication of the Presbytery of the Twin Cities Area
PC(USA) Stated Clerk Comes to Town
On April 13, Grayde Parson,the Stated Clerk of the Pres-byterian Church (USA) cameto town to look in on prepara-tions for the 219th General Assembly to be held in Min-neapolis this July.
Call to Annual Meeting Presbytery Planning for the Future
By Bruce Reyes-Chow, Grayde Parsons and Linda Valentine
Ruark
April 29, 2010Dear Members of Congress,We write to express our conviction that you must enact com-prehensive immigration reform this year. As people of faithand the leaders of the PresbyterianChurch (U.S.A.), we are keenly aware ofthe devastating effects our broken immi-gration system has on the lives of indi-viduals, immigrant and non-immigrantfamilies, and our communities. The big-otry, trauma, and fear that will resultfrom the recent new law enacted in Ari-zona, SB 1070, which criminalizesthose who are found “with” undocu-mented persons and requires law en-forcement officers to identify and detainsuch persons, serves to underscore thenecessity of action at the federal level.Churches are on the front lines of caringfor families being ripped apart by ourbroken immigration system. Traumatizedcitizen children left behind when parentsare deported are but one example of theways the current system destroys the fabric of community life,the integrity of healthy families, and the safety of individualpersons. Church workers are also at the forefront of offeringrelief and services to immigrants, regardless of documentationstatus. Arizona’s new law will put at risk those workers andothers who are called simply to offer the most basic of humani-tarian assistance.As Christians, we cannot stand by idly while our brothers andsisters die on our borders from exposure and thirst or languishin poorly equipped detention facilities, nor should we be re-quired to do so by any law.The new Arizona law also puts in jeopardy the public safetyof immigrant communities, already wary of law enforcementfor fear of deportation. Instead of new laws that induce fearand distrust, immigrants should be encouraged to participatewith law enforcement, reporting crimes when they are victimsand offering testimony when they are witnesses. Such trustand participation is impossible if local law enforcement istasked with enforcement of federal immigration laws. SB1070 will only foster more fear among immigrant communi-ties, regardless of documentation status. Comprehensive immi-gration reform at the federal level is essential to override andcounteract the damage done in Arizona by this new law.In the Scriptures of Christians and Jews, we are commanded,“When an immigrant resides with you in your land, you shallnot oppress the immigrant. The immigrant who resides with you shall be to you as the citizen among you; you shall lovethe immigrant as yourself for you were immigrants in the landof Egypt” (Lev. 19:33-34). The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)therefore supports congressional action in 2010 on compre-hensive immigration reform thatcreates a process for undocu-mented immigrants in the U.S. toearn their legal status; reduceswaiting periods and upholds fam-ily unity; protects workers fromexploitation; and provides effi-cient channels of entry for newmigrant workers.
Bruce Reyes-Chow is the Modera- tor for the 218th General Assem- bly. Grayde Parsons is the Stated Clerk of the Presbyterian Church(USA). Linda Valentine is the Ex- ecutive Director of the General Assembly Mission Council of the Presbyterian Church (USA).This letter originally appeared on the Moderator’s blog and can be found at http://www.mod.reyes-chow.com/ .
Inside Note
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“As Christians, we cannotstand by idly while ourbrothers and sisters dieon our borders from ex-posure and thirst or lan-guish in poorly equippeddetention facilities, norshould we be required todo so by any law.”
Congregational Mission Grants
The 2010 Congregational MissionGrants provided by the Missionand Witness Committee of thePresbytery of the Twin Cities Areaare now available. Congrega-tional Mission Grant funding ex-ists to encourage PTCA congrega-tions to develop innovative minis-tries in the local communities.The Mission and Witness Committee is looking forapplications between March and September of2010. If your congregation is interested in applying,please go to the presbytery website( www.presbyterytwincities.org
) and download theapplication or contact committee chair Walter Chu-quimia atmission@ptcaweb.org.
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Page Seven
The Stated Clerk of the Pres-byterian Church (USA) stopsby to see how preparationsare going for GA219.
Page Eight
Donald Hanna comments on Ari-zona’s recent immigration law.Call to the Annual Meeting ofthe Presbytery on May 11.Inside Note Page 2Pre-Presbytery Event on Vet-eransPage 6Third Candidate for Modera-torPage 11 Vice Moderator in Minnesota Page 12Pray for the GA Page 13Transitions Page 14Presbybriefs Page 15 Jobs Page 16Events Calendar Page 17
Page Four
Contents: April 2010
Page Nine
Paul Moore talksabout the Presby-tery’s Long RangeTaskforce Meet-ing.It’s “Lights, camera,action!” for West-minster, Minneapolis youth.
Page Ten
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