Now is the TIme for Immigration Reform

Christian Churches

Together

January 4, 2013

Message from the Executive Director

May the Spirit of God renew your life and ministry in this new Year!

To much of the surprise of most Christians in our country, a coalition of Evangelical leaders declared their support for immigration reform last June. This development was received with great joy. They added their voice to Historic Protestants, Catholics, and others who for many years have advocated on the need for immigration reform. Evangelical leaders called on President Barack Obama to introduce a bipartisan immigration reform bill within the first 92 days of his second term. It is clear at this point that we have reached a national consensus on the positive effects that such a reform will have in our economy, but most importantly in the life of millions of immigrants who are our neighbors.

Addressing these Evangelical leaders Jim Wallis, said: "Big things don't change in Washington first. They change in the nation's capital last," he said. "Together we will create a national groundswell for comprehensive immigration reform."

Differences still exist on the particulars of how to address the challenges, but the level of agreement is probably the highest ever between the Christian traditions in the US. There is consensus in that the reform must reflect the compassionate and just principles at the core of our Christian faith.

At the end of January leaders from all the Christian traditions in the USA will gather in Austin for the Annual Meeting of Christian Churches Together. Most of the meeting will be dedicated to reflecting on the history of immigration in our country, the contribution of immigrants and the challenges they face. The expectation is that, by the end of the three-day meeting the representatives of the five families represented in CCT may agree on a set of legislative and pastoral principles on immigration reform. Such agreement would be a major contribution to the country's social and political life.

A new day waits for millions of God's children who are living in the shadows of our society. Men and women who have expended the best years of their life to provide hope for their children, and by doing so have make this a better country. We must strengthen our commitment to find a compassionate and just solution to their plight. At the end of this month Christian Churches Together will have the opportunity to unite the voices of Christians in our country. Together we can demonstrate that hope is the preferred option for the followers of Christ.

We invite you to include the work of CCT in your prayers, particularly during our Annual meeting in Austin. The common good that we seek will come about not by political maneuverings, but by the united efforts of God's people.

Rev. Carlos L. Malavé

Invitation to Pray for Our Political Leaders

18 Days of "Prayer for the Nation"

Full Spectrum of National Faith Leaders Commit,

Americans of All Faiths to Join Prayer for the Common Good

President Lincoln Once Called Upon Americans to Find the

"Better Angels of Our Nature" and it is Time for Us To Do That Once Again

WASHINGTON - The Faith & Politics Institute today announced 18 days of a nationwide "Prayer for the Nation" with national faith leaders, denominational and organizational leaders and all Americans, concerned that excessive political polarization is harming America, personally pledging to pray daily, in their own tradition, for civility in the political realm. The prayer commitment is for Jan. 3, 2013, the first day of the new Congress, to Jan. 21, 2013, the day of the President's Inauguration.

Faith leaders, initially engaged, are inviting fellow clergy, political leaders and all Americans, to join in these daily prayers for the new Congress of the United States, the President, and public officials everywhere.

Diverse faith leaders such as Richard Land of the Southern Baptist Convention, Eboo Patel, Rabbi Steve Gutow and Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church Katharine Jefferts Schori are making this call. The shared belief that differences must not polarize and common ground is essential drives this endeavor.

All can sign the pledge at http://faithandpolitics.org/call-to-prayer/to pray daily and join in a public proclamation and commitment of prayer for the United States.

"Differences of opinion must not continue to polarize" stated Peg Chemberlin, Immediate Past President of the National Council of Churches. "Where we disagree, we should do so in a spirit of respect and the desire to find solutions that serve the common good. Through daily prayer, we are calling on the 'better angels of our nature" needed to sustain our nation and solve problems."

This effort grew out of the "Better Angels Summit," hosted by The Faith & Politics Institute in June 2012, which brought together faith leaders from across the ideological spectrum to seek common ground and civil discourse. Many of them formed prayer partnerships. One prayer partnership, between Peg Chemberlin of the National Council of Churches and Pierre Bynum of the Family Research Council, helped inspire this national call to prayer.

"We are extremely pleased to facilitate bringing together the whole diversity of our nation's faith and political leaders and to host a "Call to Prayer" for our nation in a spirit of reconciliation. Our hope is that many more will sign the pledge. As an Institute, we seek to build bridges over those things that polarize, and believe that building bridges to discover our common ground is essential to our future as a healthy democracy," said Liz McCloskey, President of The Faith & Politics Institute.

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The Faith & Politics Institute advances reflective leadership among members of Congress and congressional staff to bridge the divides that arise in a thriving democracy.

Click here to sign the prayer list.

Make Sure These Dates are in Your Calendar

Christian Churches Together 2013 Annual Meeting

General Topic: Immigration

January 29 to February 1, 2013

Omni Southpark Hotel in Austin, Texas

Email us to request registration form.

CCT Response to Dr. King Letter from a Birmingham Jail

a Symposium on Racism

April 14, 6:00 PM to April 15, 4 PM

St. Paul United Methodist Church - Birmingham, AL

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For more information on Christian Churches Together in the USA
contact our Executive Director, Rev. Carlos L. Malavé at

or call 502.509.5168

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www.cctusa.net
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