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(58,694 posts)NewJeffCT
(56,828 posts)who did this?
Pepsidog
(6,254 posts)demmiblue
(36,875 posts)Earlier in the day, the Rev. Elizabeth Eaton, presiding bishop of the ELCA, joined more than 700 assembly members and others in a march and prayer vigil to the Milwaukee Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) office. The march addressed concerns about the human rights of migrant children and families entering the U.S. along the southern border. Through the ELCA's initiative, Accompanying Migrant Minors with Protection, Advocacy, Representation and Opportunities (AMMPARO), this church is committed to work toward just and humane policies affecting migrants in and outside the U.S.
During morning plenary, the Rev. Chris Boerger, secretary of the ELCA, gave his report to the assembly. Boerger, who is retiring this fall, spent part of his report explaining the role of the secretary and the various responsibilities that come with the office.
"I believe that good structure is necessary for our life together and for the accomplishment of the work that God has given us to do," Boerger said. "I have said often that the primary focus of the church should be the mission that God has given us. The constitutions and policies of the church are to serve that mission. The mission should not be hindered by the constitution or policies of the church."
https://www.elca.org/News-and-Events/8000
MrsCoffee
(5,803 posts)immigrants.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/religion/2019/08/08/an-entire-lutheran-denomination-has-declared-itself-sanctuary-church-body-signaling-support-immigrants/
MILWAUKEE More than 500 years ago, a monk named Martin Luther nailed 95 theses outlining his grievances with the Roman Catholic Church to the door of a church in Wittenberg, Germany.
On Wednesday afternoon, members of the mainline Protestant denomination bearing Luthers name taped 9.5 theses expressing their concern for immigrants and refugees to the door of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement building in Milwaukee.
The action was part of a prayer vigil for migrant children and their families during the ELCA Churchwide Assembly this week at Milwaukees Wisconsin Center.
It took place on the same day the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America declared itself a sanctuary church body, signaling its support for immigrants.
Both came in response to President Trumps policies at the U.S. border with Mexico and his pledge to deport millions.
It just keeps getting worse and worse in terms of unaccompanied children, separated families, detention centers that are just horrific, and so what we wanted to say as a church body, as the Lutheran church, we wanted to now act with our feet and take action, said Evelyn Soto Straw, director of unit operations and programs for the ELCAs Domestic Mission.
More than 570 voting members of the churchwide assembly signed up to participate in the prayer vigil at the ICE building. They were joined by staff from the ELCA and its AMMPARO (Accompanying Migrant Minors with Protection, Advocacy, Representation and Opportunities) ministry, as well as members of the Greater Milwaukee Synod, the New Sanctuary Movement and Voces de la Frontera, a local grass-roots organization.
The group marched nearly a mile from the Wisconsin Center to the ICE building, carrying signs with messages like We put the protest back in Protestant and chanting This is what the love of God looks like.
geardaddy
(24,931 posts)Would never do that.