Recommended Readings: United Methodists on immigration reform

With immigration reform legislation submitted to the United States Congress, United Methodists have been speaking out from their faith perspectives on the issue of immigration to the United States.  Initially, this issue may seem like solely one that concerns Americans.  It is, after all, a political discussion within the United States about immigration to the United States.  Yet immigration is a global issue as well, determining in part the relationship between the United States and the rest of the world.  It is an issue important not only to United Methodists in the U.S., but also United Methodists around the world, many of whom have friends or relatives who have immigrated to the United States or who may harbor hopes of immigrating themselves.  Immigrant congregants and pastors continue to make important contributions to United Methodism in the United States (as they have for centuries - Francis Asbury was an immigrant, to cite just one important example) and help forge important ties between United Methodism in the US and United Methodism throughout the rest of the world.  Check out the links below for more on how United Methodists are addressing the issue of immigration reform.

UMNS article on Methodists and immigration reform: http://www.umc.org/site/apps/nlnet/content3.aspx?c=lwL4KnN1LtH&b=5259669&ct=13116021
Statement by bishops and others on immigration reform: http://umc-gbcs.org/press-releases/statement-on-border-security-economic-opportunity-immigration-modernization
Blog post from Jim Winkler, General Secretary, GBCS: http://umc-gbcs.org/faith-in-action/word-from-winkler-at-long-last-hope-of-progress
Blog by Mistead Sai, US-2 missionary: http://mfsaweb.org/?p=7101