What the conference is doing in the areas of migration/immigration and immigration reform
For several years now, the Desert Southwest Conference has been involved in the issues surrounding immigration, especially questions of how to increase its ministry with its immigrant communities. The following initiatives are in process or in planning.
- Biblical Musings on Immigration - Monday musings on the lectionary readings for the following Sunday
- Immigration Reform 101 and Arizona Law SB 1070
- Conference United Methodist Women's Immigration Task Force
- Civic Academies for Education and Discussion of Immigration Reform
- The Holy Conversation Project
- Collaboration with the Arizona Interfaith Network and the General Board of Church and Society in church-based organizing around immigration reform
- Collaboration with Arizonans for Immigration Reform, the Rapid Response team of the United Methodist Interagency Task Force on Immigration, and the Arizona Ecumenical Council in advocacy for the passage on comprehensive immigration reform
- Church to church
- Hispanic Initiative
Since the reaction time to Arizona law SB 1070, the conference has begun to rethink where the issue of immigration needs to go in the future. Jim Perdue, Missionary for Immigration and Border Issues has produced a PowerPoint show that explores options and learning.
In the summer of 2010, the Desert Southwest Conference Covenant Council invited each of its pastors to preach on the issue of immigration at their Labor Day services. The goal of this invitation is to continue dialogue and Christian conferencing around this difficult issue. More information is available in the August 1 issue of The Desert Connection.
Now that Labor Day has passed, the Covenant Council invites pastors of local churches to share their sermons on immigration with the entire conference. Pastors willing to share their sermons are invited to send copies directly to Communications(at)desertsw.org. Links to audio or video copies of sermons may also be sent to Communications(at)desertsw.org.
The sermons submitted so far are available here.