NT-NL Giving Public Witness to Peace and Justice: Stand for Welcome with LIRS

Saturday, January 5, 2013

Stand for Welcome with LIRS

Stand for Welcome during Epiphany

Across the country, Lutheran congregations are setting aside one Sunday in the spring of 2013 to dedicate a few intentional moments of worship or study time to increase awareness and connect people to action. Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Services invites us to find the best way for NT-NL Mission Area congregtaions to take part.

Engage your congregation in discussion about immigration issues and share the tools to speak up for migrants through faith-based advocacy and prayer. LIRS resources will give you everything you need to plan a Stand for Welcome Sunday.

As you plan your Stand for Welcome emphasis Sunday, take a look at this interview with author/attorney Richard T. Herman (Immigrant Inc.). Herman makes an impressive case for the economic advantages of welcoming immigrants, and thinking like an immigrant!

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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."