Comité Anti-racismo del Presbiterio de Florida Central, Un Consejo de la Iglesia Presbiteriana (EE.UU.) Declaración

  Como ciudadanos de los Estados Unidos que hacemos nuestro hogar en el estado de Florida y líderes en la parte de la comunidad de fe aquí que pertenece a la Iglesia Presbiteriana (EE.UU.), nosotros, miembros del Comité Antirracismo del presbiterio, estamos profundamente preocupados por las disposiciones de la legislación que se convierte en ley el 1 de julio de 2023 con respecto a la inmigración.  

Esta ley tendrá un impacto negativo en la economía de Florida tanto para los ciudadanos de Florida como para los inmigrantes. También tiene un impacto negativo directo en la libertad religiosa en Florida.

Como personas de fe, basamos nuestra comprensión del mundo y el lugar de los estados y naciones individuales en él en las palabras del Antiguo y Nuevo Testamento que son Escrituras para nosotros.  Hay muchos pasajes en la Biblia que apuntan a ejemplos de individuos y familias que abandonan sus países, a menudo bajo el mandato percibido de Dios. En Génesis 12, encontramos que a Abraham (Abram) se le dijo que dejara su tierra natal por otra tierra que Dios tenía la intención de mostrarle. Abraham ejerció lo que el Artículo 13 de la Declaración Universal de Derechos Humanos adoptada por las Naciones Unidas en 1948 describe como un "derecho a la libertad de movimiento" y el "derecho a salir de cualquier país". Es fácil encontrar enseñanzas bíblicas que van más allá: llamar a la compasión y crear una demanda de hospitalidad como un aspecto del amor al prójimo.

Cuando un extranjero reside contigo en tu tierra, no oprimirás al extranjero. El extranjero que resida con ustedes será para ustedes como el ciudadano entre ustedes; amarás al extranjero como a ti mismo, porque fuiste extranjero en la tierra de Egipto: Yo soy el Señor tu Dios. (Levítico 19:33-34)

Los mandatos bíblicos más fuertes para cuidar a los refugiados y solicitantes de asilo son pasajes de la Ley Mosaica. El punto crucial que transmiten los pasajes de la Biblia hebrea es que Dios ordena al pueblo de Dios que reciba en sus tierras a aquellos que están desplazados, porque una vez fueron personas desplazadas que recibieron la misericordia de Dios. Esto nos insta a hacer a los demás lo que nuestro Dios misericordioso nos hizo a nosotros.

Cuando Jesús llegó a Nazaret, donde había sido criado, fue a la sinagoga en el día de reposo, como era su costumbre. Se puso de pie para leer, y el rollo del profeta Isaías le fue dado. Desenrolló el rollo y encontró el lugar donde estaba escrito: "El Espíritu del Señor está sobre mí, porque me ha ungido para llevar buenas nuevas a los pobres. Me ha enviado a proclamar la liberación a los cautivos y la recuperación de la vista a los ciegos, a dejar libres a los oprimidos, a proclamar el año de gracia del Señor". (Lucas 4:16-19)

La misión de Jesús estaba profundamente preocupada por la afirmación de la vida, la libertad y la seguridad de los oprimidos. Jesús, y la Biblia hebrea antes que él, enfatizaron los derechos y necesidades de los más oprimidos, no porque importen más que otras personas, sino porque son los menos capaces de protegerse de la injusticia, y su tratamiento, por lo tanto, sirve como un barómetro para la aplicación más amplia y el logro de la justicia. Como seguidores de Cristo, debemos, en consecuencia, preocuparnos por la protección de los derechos de todos, para que cada persona pueda vivir la vida en su plenitud.

Las disposiciones de esta ley tienen un impacto devastador no solo en los derechos de las personas que vienen sin documentación para buscar asilo y seguridad económica en este estado, sino también en la economía del estado y los derechos de sus ciudadanos.  Hay mucho que decir al respecto; Sin embargo, nos preocupa especialmente lo siguiente:

Imposición de restricciones a los viajes interestatales

• La negativa a honrar las licencias de conducir emitidas a personas sin documentación en otros estados hace que sea ilegal que esas personas conduzcan en Florida.  Esta disposición convierte en criminales a las personas que han aprobado sus propios exámenes estatales de licencia de conducir y no respetan los derechos de otros estados en la materia.
• Enmendar el delito de tráfico de personas para establecer que una persona comete un delito grave de tercer grado cuando él o ella a sabiendas y deliberadamente transporta a este estado a un individuo que la persona sabe o razonablemente debería saber que ha ingresado a los Estados Unidos en violación de la ley y no ha sido inspeccionado por el Gobierno Federal desde su entrada ilegal desde otro país significa que las congregaciones que tienen en su membresía personas sin La documentación no puede ofrecer legalmente a esos miembros el privilegio de participar en viajes misioneros o viajar a campamentos y conferencias fuera del estado.  Aquí los miembros ciudadanos corren el riesgo de cometer un delito grave en el que la condena resultaría en multas y encarcelamiento.  Esta última disposición nos concierne no solo por el bienestar de los demás, sino por nuestra propia capacidad y la capacidad de otros en la comunidad de fe para practicar nuestra fe como comunidades de creyentes en las que todos son bienvenidos.  Nos parece que viola nuestros derechos de la primera enmienda bajo la Constitución de los Estados Unidos.

Deportación de los indocumentados y exigir a los empleadores de más de 25 personas que usen E-Verify para demostrar que los contratados están aquí legalmente.  Este requisito se aplica tanto a los inmigrantes recientes como a aquellos que se han quedado más allá de sus visas y no han podido renovarlas, pero han contribuido a la economía de Florida durante años.  La ley afecta aún más a los negocios en Florida al imponer sanciones severas que incluyen multas de hasta $ 1,000 diarios y la posible revocación de licencias comerciales para los empleadores que no cumplen.  Con un desempleo del 2.6%, no hay suficientes ciudadanos de Florida para hacer el trabajo que se necesita hacer en áreas clave de la economía de Florida.

• Los agricultores de Florida necesitan de 150,000 a 200,000 personas cada año para cosechar.  Si bien hay algunos residentes aquí dispuestos a hacer ese trabajo, son pocos y los límites a la inmigración legal significan que sin aquellos que vienen a nosotros dispuestos a trabajar pero indocumentados, nuestros cultivos pueden pudrirse en los campos y el pequeño número que llega a las tiendas será demasiado costoso para pagar.
• La industria hotelera de Florida también depende en gran medida de la mano de obra inmigrante para hacer el trabajo de limpieza y mantenimiento de jardines en nuestros hoteles, restaurantes y parques temáticos que se requieren.
• La industria de la construcción de Florida depende de la mano de obra inmigrante para albergar tanto nuevas construcciones como reparaciones de viviendas, construcción minorista y la construcción de carreteras seguras y otra infraestructura, incluido el transporte público, los servicios públicos y la tecnología.

Exigir al personal hospitalario en los hospitales que reciben pagos de Medicaid que pregunte a aquellos que buscan tratamiento si pueden probar que están aquí legalmente para que el estado pueda tener un registro de los costos para tratar a las personas aquí sin documentación.

• La solicitud de prueba es una solicitud voluntaria.  A nadie se le puede negar el servicio si se niega a responder a la pregunta.
• Las personas que están aquí sin documentación pueden no saber que pueden negarse a responder y, por lo tanto, pueden dudar en buscar atención para ellos y sus hijos, lo que resulta en un mayor riesgo para la salud de ellos y para los demás si no aprovechan la atención médica preventiva, incluidas las vacunas.

Esta ley tendrá un impacto devastador en Florida y será una fuerza divisiva entre la gente de nuestro gran estado. Como comunidades de fe, nuestro papel es promover los valores del amor, el cuidado de nuestro prójimo y la unidad pacífica entre todos. Esta legislación hace lo contrario. 

También oramos para que los miembros de la iglesia en todas las denominaciones en Florida se familiaricen con la ley y compartan con los empleadores, el personal del hospital y los amigos inmigrantes las disposiciones de la ley y los riesgos que ofrece tanto a los ciudadanos como a las personas en este estado sin documentación.

Reverenda Erika Rembert Smith

Presidente, Comité Anti-racismo del Presbiterio de Florida Central

Dra. Paige McRight, Moderadora, Presbiterio de Florida Central

Dra. Cheryl Carson, Presbítero Ejecutivo Asociado

Reverendo Omar Gonzales

Anciana gobernante Nina Wilson Jones

Rev. Jody Mask

Anciana gobernante Ralphetta Aker McClary, JD

Anciana gobernante Cris Heceta

Señora Katie Rives

Anciana gobernante Mary Hoffmann

Central Florida Presbytery Anti-Racism Committee Statement on Florida Immigration Law

As citizens of the United States who make our home in the state of Florida and leaders in the part of the faith community here that belongs to the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), we, members of the presbytery’s Anti-Racism Committee, are deeply troubled by the provisions of legislation that becomes law Jul 1, 2023 regarding immigration.  

This law will negatively impact the Florida economy both for citizens of Florida and for immigrants. It also has direct negative impact on religious freedom in Florida.

As people of faith, we base our understanding of the world and the place of individual states and nations in it in the words of the Old and New Testaments which are Scripture for us.  There are many passages in the Bible that point to examples of individuals and families leaving their countries, often under the perceived command of God. In Genesis 12, we find that Abraham (Abram) was told to leave his native land for another land God intended to show him. Abraham exercised what Universal Declaration of Human Rights Article 13 adopted by the United Nations in 1948 describes as a “right to freedom of movement” and the “right to leave any country.” Biblical teachings are easily found that go further—to call for compassion, and to create a demand for hospitality as an aspect of neighborly love.

When an alien resides with you in your land, you shall not oppress the alien. The alien who resides with you shall be to you as the citizen among you; you shall love the alien as yourself, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God. (Leviticus 19:33-34)

The strongest biblical mandates for caring for refugees and asylum seekers are passages in the Mosaic Law. The crucial point the Hebrew Bible passages convey is that God commands God’s people to receive into their lands those who are displaced, because they were once displaced people who received God’s mercy. This urges us to do unto others as our gracious God did unto us.

When Jesus came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, he went to the synagogue on the sabbath day, as was his custom. He stood up to read, and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” (Luke 4:16-19)

Jesus’ mission was deeply concerned with the affirmation of the life, liberty, and security of the oppressed. Jesus, and the Hebrew Bible before him, emphasized the rights and needs of the most oppressed, not because they matter more than other people, but because they are the least able to protect themselves from injustice, and their treatment, therefore, serves as a barometer for the broader application and attainment of justice. As followers of Christ, we must, accordingly, concern ourselves with the protection of the rights of all, so that every person may live life in its fullness.

The provisions of this law have devastating impact not only on the rights of persons who come without documentation to seek asylum and economic security in this state but on the economy of the state and the rights of its citizens as well.  There is much to be said about this; however, we have particular concern with the following:

Imposition of restrictions on interstate travel

• Refusal to honor drivers’ licenses issued to persons without documentation in other states makes it illegal for those persons to drive in Florida.  This provision both makes criminals of people who have passed their own state drivers’ license exams and fails to honor the rights of other states in the matter.
• Amending the crime of human smuggling to provide that a person commits a third degree felony when he or she knowingly and willfully transports into this state an individual whom the person knows or reasonably should know has entered the United States in violation of the law and has not been inspected by the Federal Government since his or her unlawful entry from another country means that congregations which have in their membership people without documentation cannot legally offer to those members the privilege of participating in mission trips or travel to camps and conferences outside the state.  Here the citizen members are at risk of committing a felony in which conviction would result in fines and imprisonment.  This last provision concerns us not only for the welfare of others but for our own ability and the ability of others in the faith community to practice our faith as communities of believers in which all are welcome.  It seems to us to violate our first amendment rights under the United States Constitution.

Deportation of the undocumented and requiring employers of more than 25 persons to use E-Verify to prove that those hired are here legally.  This requirement applies both to recent immigrants and those who have overstayed their visas and been unable to renew them but have contributed to the Florida economy for years.  The law further impacts business in Florida by imposing stiff penalties including fines of up to $1,000 daily and possible revoking of business licenses for employers who fail to comply.  With unemployment at 2.6%, there are not enough citizens of Florida to do the work that needs to be done in key areas of Florida’s economy.

• Florida farmers need 150,000 to 200,000 people each year to harvest crops.  While there are some residents here willing to do that work, they are few and the limits on legal immigration mean that without those who come to us willing to work but undocumented our crops may well rot in the fields and the small number that make it into stores be too costly to afford.
• Florida hospitality industry also relies heavily on immigrant labor to do the cleaning and groundskeeping work in our hotels, restaurants and theme parks that are required.
• Florida’s construction industry relies on immigrant labor for housing both new construction and home repairs, retail construction, and the building of safe roads and other infrastructure including public transportation, utilities, and technology.

Requiring hospital personnel in hospitals that receive Medicaid payments to ask those seeking treatment whether they can prove that they are here legally so that the state can have a record of the costs to treat persons here without documentation.

• The request for proof is a voluntary request.  No one can be denied service who refuses to answer the question.
• People who are here without documentation may well not know that they can refuse to answer and thus may be hesitant to seek care for themselves and their children resulting in greater health risk for themselves and for others if they do not take advantage of preventative health care including vaccinations.

This law will have a devastating impact on Florida and will be a divisive force among the people of our great state. As faith communities, our role is to promote the values of love, care for our neighbors, and peaceful unity among all. This legislation does the opposite. 

We also pray that church members in all denominations in Florida will acquaint themselves with the law and share with employers, hospital personnel and immigrant friends the provisions of the law and the risks it offers both to citizens and persons in this state without documentation.

Rev. Erika Rembert Smith

Chair, Central Florida Presbytery Anti-Racism Committee

Rev. Dr. Paige McRight, Moderator, Central Florida Presbytery

Dr. Cheryl Carson, Associate Executive Presbyter

Rev. Omar Gonzales

Ruling Elder Nina Wilson Jones

Rev. Jody Mask

Ruling Elder Ralphetta Aker McClary, JD

Ruling Elder Cris Heceta

Mrs. Katie Rives

Link to CFP ARC post

Ruling Elder Mary Hoffmann

A Legacy Of Seeking to Right Racist Wrongs

 

image Art in the Christian Tradition: Copyright © 2024 Jean and Alexander Heard Libraries, Vanderbilt University

used Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial use

By Mary Beardall Hoffman, First Presbyterian, DeLand, Anti-Racism Committee Member

The only thing necessary for evil to triumph if for good men to do nothing – Edmund Burke

Amos 5:24 But Let Justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream

Micah 6:8 What does the Lord require of you but to do justice, love kindness and walk humbly with your God

For good people to do nothing. Wow! Are we doing nothing or are we doing something? Growing up in Orlando, I remember the “colored” water fountains in the Dickson-Ives department store. I remember when people of color were not allowed to swim in the ocean at New Smyrna Beach. I remember when people of color were only allowed to attend the Central Florida Fair on Tuesdays. I remember seeing signs posted in the windows of restaurants that said Whites Only. To this day I am haunted by the memory of the director of the Winter Park Youth Center crossing the dance floor to tell our star football player who was having a great time but happened to be black that he had to leave the building. I was paralyzed, traumatized but did nothing.

I experienced racism within my own family. I am embarrassed to say that my maternal grandfather, who was an elder in his Presbyterian church in Montgomery, Alabama, was assigned to guard the door to keep any people of color from entering the worship service. Why would the grandmother that I loved so much tell me not to sit next to any of the students that were being integrated into Glenridge Junior High. Why were my grandparents so upset when my parents entertained people of color in our home? Why!!!

On the flip side, I was blessed to have family members who did speak out and do something. In the fall of 1972 my father, William Beardall wrote this to me in a letter (I am paraphrasing here):

I am very much disturbed at the Orlando Rotary Club. I proposed Rufus Brooks & Wilbur Gary (Principal of Jones) for membership. The board of directors unanimously approved their admittance but they had to be approved by the club as a whole. Several members led a concerted drive by telephone & letter soliciting objections to having a black man as a member. As a result, there were 18 objections out of a club of 231 members. Even after very strong pleas at the board meeting for admitting them by the pastor at 1st Presbyterian and others, 3 board members changed their votes to no which was enough to keep Mr. Brooks & Mr. Gary from membership. The objections included the statement that the club just wasn’t ready to admit a black man at this time. No one raised any objection to their qualifications other than that they were black & there were occasions when we had social functions with the wives or when members had occasion to be invited to other members homes & blacks just would not fit in. It is beyond me to see how people can be so blind. It certainly violates every principal of Rotary. Right now, I'm struggling with the problem of how I can remain a member of a club which takes such a stand, but I have been counseled by members for whom I have a great deal of respect that I should stay in and keep fighting and it will come about sooner than I think. I really don't know which way to go. While I feel that a majority of the club, if given all the facts, would vote in favor of admitting them a small minority can raise enough hell to make the rest feel like they don't want to rock the boat or stir things up. I'm not at all sure that many members of the club want to stand up and be counted or put out the effort it would take to get the board to reverse its actions.

Central Florida Presbytery Web page for ARC

GA ministry Coordination Committee approves creating permanent advocacy committee

by Darla Carter | General Assembly News - June 30, 2022

LOUISVILLE

The General Assembly Ministry Coordination Committee engages in small group discussions on June 30, 2022 as part of the 225th General Assembly of Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) at the Presbyterian Center in Louisville, Kentucky. (Photo by Rich Copley)

The General Assembly Ministry Coordination Committee voted Thursday in favor of creating a permanent LGBTQIA+ Equity Advocacy Committee following passionate comments on both sides of the issue, and prayer. It also heard a presentation designed to help GA committee members begin to consider what format the 226th GA (2024) should be conducted in.

The Ministry Coordination committee voted 30-5 to approve the LGBTQIA+ advocacy committee after considering the proposal (GA-MC 05) for more than an hour. The idea from an LGBTQIA+ advocacy task force was initially to be considered by the 224th GA (2020) but business ended up being scaled back due to the pandemic.

Today, there’s an even stronger need for the task force, given “the growing rise of anti-trans and anti-LGBT legislation at the state level” and the overturning of Roe v. Wade, M. Shea McGinnis told General Assembly News.

McGinnis is moderator of the Task Force to Investigate the Need for a LGBTQIA+ Advocacy Committee, which came out of the 2018 GA, and he made an appearance at Thursday’s GA committee to support it. But a few people spoke against it.

One of the biggest opponents was Commissioner John McKell of North Alabama Presbytery, who said he had read some alarming materials before GA and considered not coming at all.

“I am a white cisgender heterosexual male,” he said. “I feel this denomination is moving towards a way to tell me I should feel guilty for who I am and the problems I have caused. Well, I don't feel guilty. I have worked for 34 years now, trying to build up this church and to speak God's truth in love and to care for all people in this denomination, so I resent the moves of this denomination to exclude my voice.”

McKell went on to challenge the legitimacy of the TQIA+ portion of the community, adding, “We should be transformed, not conformed to the world.”

Commissioner Heather McIntyre of Charlotte Presbytery was among those who expressed strong support for the LGBTQIA+ proposal.

“I want to commend our denomination for doing some of the things that we have done, for extending marriage equality and for extending ordination equality, at least on paper,” McIntyre said. “But the fact of the matter is, the work is not done. There are micro- and macro-aggressions against LGBTQIA siblings in Christ every day, in different levels of our denomination,” and it’s not always clear who to go to for help.

McIntyre went on to say, “What I think this task force (advocacy committee) would do is not tell people to be ashamed of who they are, or to make people feel guilty, but to give people a place to go when they do have concerns” and provide “someone who can speak to them who understands the concerns and who is willing to be that advocate to say that we truly are invested in being the open and affirming denomination we have proclaimed ourselves to be.”

Kyle Hite of Trinity Presbytery spoke against the measure, citing financial implications and noting there’s sometimes been a lack of responsiveness on the part of the General Assembly when local congregations need help.  “I see that we're allocating our resources now towards advocacy groups as opposed to the survival and the growth and evangelism and stewardship and the proclamation within local congregations.”

Ultimately, the measure passed after Vice-Moderator Warren McNeill took a moment to say a prayer, asking for God’s wisdom and guidance and that all would feel welcome and affirmed.

In other business, the committee approved an item, GA-MC-07, that calls for the addition of inclusive gender options when gender information is collected by any entity of the PC(USA), and GA-MC-11, which calls for changing the term “AIDS” to “all people living with HIV” in the Presbyterian Planning Calendar and new publications.

The last part of the meeting was devoted to hearing a presentation on GA-MC-15 on determining the format of the next General Assembly. The Committee on the Office of the General Assembly (COGA) has approved a document listing four possible formats: completely in person in Salt Lake City; committees in person in Salt Lake City and plenaries online (similar to this year’s format); committees online and plenaries in person in Salt Lake City; and completely online.

The Rev. Eliana Maxim, COGA’s vice moderator, told the group, “you may come up with your own format,” but “we would invite you to somehow set aside an emotional response. Perhaps, you might be wanting to seek or re-seek to recapture what was before the pandemic. Rather, we ask you to look with an eye towards who we are today and what direction the church needs to go in the future.”

Ministry Coordination Committee Moderator Anne Wilson asked its members to break into small groups to think about what they themselves value about General Assembly and report back. Those who opted to speak included Young Adult Advisory Delegate Daniel Presa, who said community is something he’s valued about GA.

The committee, which will continue discussions Friday, also got to ask COGA questions, including why it would cost $1.2 million to have the assembly all online.

“At least half of that cost would be cancellation fees related to facilities in Salt Lake City,” said Kerry Rice, Deputy Stated Clerk in the Office of the General Assembly. “The other parts of that are for the tech that you see before you and the management and the production team for all of that technology. Online meetings are not free.”

To see what other business the committee addressed on Thursday, go here.

ordinal link

https://www.pcusa.org/news/2015/3/20/what-same-sex-marriage-means-presbyterians/