April 3, 2006 

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.      (Leviticus 19:33-34)

Dear Sisters and Brothers of the New York Area: 

In this Lenten Season, I greet you in the name of Jesus Christ, whose life, death and resurrection has forever changed our lives and our world! 

As you may know, Congress continues to debate the fate of some 11 million undocumented persons who have come to America to work and raise their families.  One bill that has passed the House would make it a crime to be in the United States without status and would criminalize attempts to provide assistance by the Church.  I hope and pray that an avenue for achieving citizenship upon completion of certain requirements will be taken by the Congress. 

We, as Christians, are reminded that we were once excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise ….. But we are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God’s people and members of God’s household (Ephesians 2:12 and 19).  I would hope that this story of ours would help all of us identify with the story of those who live as aliens among us.  I also hope that the immigration reform will reflect the spirit of openness, compassion, and hospitality in response to the inhumane plight of the undocumented residents among us. 

Let us lift up the wonderful words of Emma Lazarus, engraved on a table within the pedestal on which stands our Statue of Liberty that welcomed so many generations of newcomers:  Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,…Send these, the homeless, tempest-toss to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!  This spirit is America at its best!  It is who we are at our best! 

I urge all United Methodists to be in prayer and in solidarity that we will represent the Church of Jesus Christ at its best, on behalf of the most underprivileged among us.

In Christ Jesus,

 Jeremiah J. Park