Our every two year General Assemblies of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) are parts business meeting, worship fest, family reunion and ethical bellwether all. There are few other ways to catch a sense of the whole diverse nature of the church than to attend one of these national/international gatherings. I am always come away understanding the local church much better in context.
In addition to installing our new General Minister and President, Rev Dr Terry Hord Owens, we reflected upon "sense of the Assembly" resolutions. These are statements that address some churchly issue or ethical/moral situation. They can be submitted by any combination of local congregations, regional or general ministries. After being vetted by the General Board they are brought to the Assembly floor for presentation, debate and adoption. Over the years we have had a broad variety of resolutions that often addressed matters of social justice. The proper way to understand a resolution is that it is a statement adopted by the gathered church in one place/time and speaks to the church rather than for it. Local congregations are encouraged to take the resolution seriously and discern its meanings and applications.
Two of the resolutions of this Assembly pertained to the current issue of refugees/immigrants and the moral responsibility of faith communities. After describing the situation and reflecting our response in light of Christian faith the adopted resolutions call us to:
"Pray for refugees, for an end to the global conflicts, economic injustices, and impacts of climate change that displace people from their homes, and for welcome for refugees in all nations ... learn about and engage in the refugee resettlement process and the effects of EO 13780 and similar refugee policies, including through volunteering and relationships with refugee resettlement agencies, including our long term partner Church World Service ... ministers of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) to include in their preaching and teaching the stories of refugees and the Christian call to offer hospitality and compassion to refugees ... communicate to their elected representatives-at local, state, and federal levels-concern for refugees, support of the United States refugee resettlement program, desire for increased numbers of refugees resettled in the United States, and opposition to any reduction in refugee admissions and to discrimination against refugees ... connect with their nearest refugee resettlement agency and to support local refugee communities, initial refugee resettlement, and ongoing multi-cultural and inter-faith partnerships with refugee communities." (GA 1739)
"Encourages the church to deepen its commitment to building unity and integration among all our Disciples congregations by issuing a call to congregations to become "immigrant welcoming congregations ...
- engaging in congregational prayer, listening conferences, and action around immigration policies;
- offering mental health training and resources to immigrants and immigrant families, and to those from communities providing support and solidarity to these immigrants and immigrant families, such as clergy and other leaders;
- supporting immigrant families when facing and experiencing separation; and
- promoting ministries of healing for trauma resulting from immigration travel and trafficking
- establishing preventive measures that help immigrant families and individuals avoid fraud and obtain credible legal resources and guidance;
- offering planning and resource materials for individuals and families in the face of detention and deportation risks; and
- offering support for those immigrants and families living in border communities and beyond
- build solidarity between immigrant and non-immigrant congregations;
- consider becoming or assisting congregations offering sanctuary protections to immigrants;
- develop community protection and response models for families facing separation due to detention or deportation;
- educate themselves and others about those immigration policies that support the rights of immigrant families;
- offer support for current Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients, border communities, and victims of hate crimes, fraudulent activity, and sex trafficking." (GA 1723)
