NT-NL Giving Public Witness to Peace and Justice: March 2011

Friday, March 25, 2011

Coming up in April: NT-NL's second immigration reform seminar

NEW - Event info in Spanish

Coming up: NT-NL's second immigration reform seminar
April 9, 2011, at Christ Lutheran Church, 3001 Lovers Lane, Dallas
8:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M.
Registration - $20 at the door, includes lunch.

Who Is My Neighbor? Immigration, Justice, and Congregational Ministry is a one-day seminar that seeks to equip participants to respond from a faith perspective to current immigration concerns, and to continue in our synod a faithful discussion of immigration reform.

To register online send an email to Franz Schemmel, Click here

To download a flyer and registration form to print, click here

Goals:

To look at the biblical question, “Who is my neighbor?” and the theological implications for justice and ministry.
To learn about U.S. immigration law and the economic realities that drive immigration.
To learn about problems with current immigration law and how to be effective advocates for immigration reform in Texas and nationally.
To gain understanding of the needs of immigrants and the challenges of congregations serving them.
To build bridges of love and understanding among all people of our synod.

Speakers:

The Rev. Kevin Kanouse, Bishop
Northern Texas-Northern Louisiana Mission Area, ELCA
Pastors and lay members of NT-NL congregations with immigrant members
Eric Sigmon, Director for Advocacy
Lutheran Immigration and Refuge Service, Washington, D.C.
Dr. Pia M. Orrenius, Economist. Federal Reserve Bank, Dallas
Bee Moorhead, Executive Director, Texas Impact, Austin
Javier (Jay) Alanis, Director
Lutheran Seminary Program of the Southwest, Austin

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Scholarships are available.
Contact Gabriela Dowson
818-400-3754
gabrieladowson@aol.com
For information about this seminar contact:
Rev. Franz Schemmel
817-925-1318
franzschemmel@gmail.com
Chuck Hubbard
214-395-6978
chuck.hubbard@yahoo.com

ELCA and immigration reform in support of families

CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) continues to advocate for comprehensive federal immigration reform as the Senate Judiciary Committee holds hearings on legislation that calls for reform. A bipartisan group of senators introduced a reform bill April 17.

[Read the full story at this link]

In anticipation of the Senate’s bill, Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service sponsored a leadership summit April 14-16 that brought together 40 Lutheran leaders from across the country to Capitol Hill to support the new legislation.

“I’m proud that Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service could convene so many skilled and respected leaders at such a critical time at this year’s Lutheran Immigration Leadership Summit, as the Senate rolls out history-making immigration legislation. There’s never been a more important time for us, as Lutherans and Americans, to make our voices heard,” said Linda Hartke, president and CEO of the service.

Listen: Drug Laws That Changed How We Punish

Sharing this link in preparation for NT-NL's upcoming workshop, The New Jim Crow in Texas. Listen to NPR's news report on how US drug laws changed the way we imprison citizens.

"The United States puts more people behind bars than any other country, five times as many per capita compared with Britain or Spain.It wasn't always like this. Half a century ago, relatively few people were locked up, and those inmates generally served short sentences. But 40 years ago, New York passed strict sentencing guidelines known as the "Rockefeller drug laws" — after their champion, Gov. Nelson Rockefeller — that put even low-level criminals behind bars for decades.Those tough-on-crime policies became the new normal across the country. But a new debate is under way over the effectiveness of tough sentencing laws."