Letter to all Florida clergy:
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, whose perfect love casts out fear, and who comes to us in the stranger:
As United Methodist Bishops assigned to Florida, we offer a pastoral response to the destructive consequences resulting from the war in Syria and the rise of ISIS. Our hearts break over the violent terrorist attacks in Africa, Europe and the Middle East, and the awareness of the increasing number of vulnerable families, women, and children, who are fleeing Syria in search of safety. We are aware that many of those seeking freedom are Syrian Christians. As we approach Christmas, we remember that the Gospel of Matthew, written in Syria, tells the story of the Holy Family who flee the violence of their own home.
We call upon our churches to welcome our brothers and sisters, of all faiths. We also are reminded that the re-settling process of a refugee in the United States often takes eighteen to twenty-four months and includes a screening process. We take seriously the need to balance security with hospitality.
We invite our communities to join our Christian sisters and brothers in prayer and advocacy on behalf of this growing international crisis.
Let us pray:
Rev. Jack Amick, Assistant General Secretary for International Disaster Response, United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR), has noted that since its founding 75 years ago, UMCOR provides assistance to all. He said, “The stories we hear about Christian communities being persecuted break our hearts. But, as Jesus’ story of the Good Samaritan reminds us, all human suffering should break our hearts such that we take action regardless of human divisions and labels of race, creed, religion.”
As advocates and partners addressing this refugee crisis, we give thanks for the work UMCOR is doing, in providing space heaters, mattresses, blankets, soap, diapers, and sanitary pads as a first response to basic human need. We also trust that our local churches, over the coming years, will partner with ecumenical relief organizations in resettling displaced families and welcoming them, in the name of Jesus, into redemptive communities of peace, safety and hope.
Bishop Paul L. Leeland
Resident Bishop, Alabama-West Florida Conference
Bishop Ken Carter
Resident Bishop, Florida Conference
Letter to all Alabama clergy:
“ . . . for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me . . . ”
-Matthew 25:35
As United Methodist Bishops assigned to Alabama, we offer a pastoral response to the destructive consequences resulting from the war in Syria and the rise of ISIS. Our hearts break over the violent terrorist attacks in Africa, Europe and the Middle East, and with the awareness of the increasing number of vulnerable families, women, and children, who are fleeing Syria in search of safety. We recognize that many of those seeking freedom are Syrian Christians. As we approach Christmas, we remember that the Gospel of Matthew, likely written in Syria, tells the story of the Holy Family who flee the violence of their own home.
We take seriously the need to balance hospitality and security. We call upon our churches to welcome our brothers and sisters, of all faiths. We also recognize the necessity of our government agencies doing thorough security screenings in re-settling refugees in the United States. (The re-settling process of a refugee from any country to the United States typically takes 18-24 months and involves a screening process).
We invite our communities to join our Christian sisters and brothers in prayer and advocacy on behalf of this growing international crisis.
Let us pray:
Rev. Jack Amick, Assistant General Secretary for International Disaster Response, United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR), has noted that since its founding 75 years ago, UMCOR provides assistance to all. He said, “The stories we hear about Christian communities being persecuted break our hearts. But, as Jesus’ story of the Good Samaritan reminds us, all human suffering should break our hearts such that we take action regardless of human divisions and labels of race, creed, religion.”
As advocates and partners addressing this refugee crisis, we give thanks for the work UMCOR is doing, in providing space heaters, mattresses, blankets, soap, diapers, and sanitary pads as a first response to basic human need. We also trust that our local churches, over the coming years, will partner with ecumenical relief organizations in resettling displaced families and welcoming them, in the name of Jesus, into redemptive communities of peace, safety and hope.
Bishop Paul L. Leeland
Resident Bishop, Alabama-West Florida Conference
Bishop Debra Wallace-Padgett
Resident Bishop, North Alabama Conference