The Chicago Presbytery on Tuesday issued a statement and call to action for creative action and stubborn hope in response to the ongoing, federally sanctioned violence in the city of Chicago and its suburbs.
Unanimously approved by the presbytery at its Nov. 18 meeting and written both in English and Spanish, the statement cites the Book of Order, noting “the Church is called to undertake this mission even at the risk of losing its life, trusting in God alone as the author and giver of life, sharing the gospel, and doing those deeds in the world that point beyond themselves to the new reality in Christ.”
The call to action also announces the presbytery’s commitment “to follow the lead of, and listen to our Brown and Black siblings, and our immigrant communities who are bearing the brunt of this violence and bring our collective power as the Chicago Presbytery alongside and underneath them.”
The statement reads in full:
We begin by acknowledging that we are not all starting from the same place in face of the violence overwhelming our immigrant siblings. We represent as rich a diversity of contexts as our neighborhoods in Chicago and in our suburbs which means we aren’t all having the same experiences and yet we’re all part of the collective body of Christ.
Empezamos con reconocer que todes de nosotres no empezamos de la misma lugar cuando enfretando la violenza que abruma nuestres hermanes inmigrantes. Representamos una diversidad tan rica de contextos que nuestres venindarios en Chicago y en nuestres suburbios. Es decir, que mientras que no tenemos las mismas experimencias, todes compartimos el cuerpo colectivo del Cristo.
In keeping with our theology and polity which reminds us that the power is in the people, we are asking you, grassroots members and commissioners of this body to engage in, and wrestle with, how we are called, not simply as individuals or single congregations but as a body of the whole to meet this moment with compassion, and a willingness to take risks with creative action, and with stubborn hope.
De acuerdo con nuestra teología y sistema gubermental, tal cual nos recuerda que el poder queda con el pueblo, les preguntamos, miembres comunitaries y comisionades de este cuerpo, a involucrar y luchar con la manera en lo que estamos llamades. No simplemente como individues o congregaciones indivudes, pero como un cuerpo completo a enfrentar este momento con compasión y un voluntad a tomar riesgos con acción creativa y esperanza tenaz.
We are writing as a collective body we call the Chicago Presbytery. This includes each congregation, minister members of the Presbytery, leadership bodies and staff. All of us. We are each a part of the body of Christ, and there are members of our body who are currently under siege, being taken from their homes, schools and places of work and worship, separated from loved ones and from us. These members of our body are living with deep pain and fear, our immigrant siblings in Christ who come to the table every month, are afraid to come to that table.
Escribimos como un cuerpo colectivo que llamamos el Presbytery de Chicago. Este cuerpo incluye cada congregación, miembries ministres del Presbytery, cuerpos del liderazgo y sus empleades. Todes de nosotres. Cada uno de nosotres es un parte del cuerpo del Cristo, y haya miembres de nuestro cuerpo quien ya estan sitiades; secuestrades de sus hogares, escuelas, sitios de trabajar y de adoración; separades de sus querides y de nosotres. Estes miembres de nuestro cuerpo ya viven con un dolor y miedo profundo. Nuestres hermanes en cristo inmigrantes, que vienen a la mesa cada mes, tienen miedo de venir a esa mesa.
This action item is more than a statement, it is also a call to action; both are faithful responses as we endeavor to meet this moment in the face of indiscriminate violence against our communities, neighborhoods and in our congregations on the part of ICE and federal agents as directed by our Federal government. This abuse of power, violence and intimidation is antithetical to the Gospel and to the Tenets of the Reformed Tradition.
Este punto es más que una declaración, también es una llamada a tomar acción. Las dos son respuestas fieles mientras intentamos a enfrentar este momento ante la violencia indiscriminada contra nuestres comunidades, vecindarios, y dentro de nuestres congregaciones por la parte del ICE y agentes federales dirigidas por nuestro gobierno federal. Este abuso de poder, violencia, y intimidación es antitético al Evangelio y a las doctrinas de la Tradición Reformada.
This is a call to action in which we seek the participation and the endorsement of the Chicago Presbytery Assembly. Our intent is to build on the wisdom, work, and solidarity many of our members have been building in their own communities, congregations and neighborhoods. Our commitment is to follow the lead of, and listen to our Brown and Black siblings, and our immigrant communities who are bearing the brunt of this violence and bring our collective power as the Chicago Presbytery alongside and underneath them. Among these siblings, there is great need for legal aid, safe housing and increased solidarity that amplifies the voices of those calling for the release of captives, and who have a vision for a liberative future.
Ésto es una llamada a tomar acción en lo cual buscamos la participación y el apoyo de la Assemblea Presbytery de Chicago. Nuestro propósito es añadir a la sabiduría, labor, y solidaridad que muches de nuestres miembres ya hayan estado construyendo dentro de sus comunidades, congregaciones, y vecindarios. Nuestro compromiso es esto: seguir y escuchar a nuestres hermanes Morenas y Negras, y ademas a nuestres comunidades inmigrantes que aguantan la mayoria de esta violencia; y traemos nuestre poder como el Presbytery Chicago al lado de elles y de bajo de elles. Entre estes hermanes, hay una gran necesidad por ayuda legal, hogares seguras, y una solidaridad aumentada que amplifica las voces de aquelles que llamen por la liberación de les prisioneres.
In solidarity with those among us who are most impacted these are the efforts we ask our members and entities within our body to act upon:
En solidaridad con todes entre nosotres que sean mas impactades estos son los esfuerzos que pedimos a nuestres miembres y entidades dentro de nuestro cuerpo a tomar acción.
- We approve the establishment of a Solidarity (Legal Aid) Support Fund in support of those detained or in need of legal representation. Now more than ever people are desperately seeking funds for legal representation and immigration application fees (which have exorbitantly increased, while federal funding for social-service agencies has decreased).
- Aprobamos la fundación de un Fondo de Asesoramiento Legal por les que estan detenides o que necesitan representación legal. Ahora, más que nunca, la gente busca con desesperación fondos para representación y tarifas inmigraciones (que han aumentado mucho mientras los fondos federales para agencias de servicios sociales han reducidos).
- We endorse the work of our Churches housing immigrants and those sharing funds, furniture, food and other supplies in order to provide the urgent and practical need for housing for migrants and other vulnerable individuals. We encourage congregations each in their own context to assess their capacity and resources available to join these efforts.
- Apoyamos el trabajo de las iglesias que guardan inmigrantes y que comparten fondos, muebles, comida y otras provisiones para proveer por la necesidad urgente y practica de dar la vivienda a les inmigrantes y otres individues vulnerables. Animamos cada congregación a evaluar sus propias capacidades y propios recursos disponibles a unirse en estos esfuerzos, cada cual según sus propios contextos.
- We support and encourage the presence and representation of Presbyterians, who feel safe to do it and are compelled to do it to save their own life, at Broadview ICE facility (and any future area of detention and/or abduction) on Friday mornings. Doing so alongside a long standing and growing interfaith collective as they bear witness to the unlawful detainment of our immigrant siblings and demand access, transparency and accountability at the facility.
- A les que se sientan segures hacerlo y a les que esten obligades hacerlo para salvar sus propias vidas, apoyamos y animamos la presencia y representación de les Presbyterianes en el sitio de ICE en Broadview todos los viernes por la mañana. Hacerlo con un colectivo interconfesional de larga duración, que crece cada día, mientres se da testimonio al detenemiento ilegal de nuestres hermanes inmigrantes y exige acceso, transparencia y responsibilidad en el sitio.
As we come together as a collective body for our Assembly Meeting on November 18th let us take seriously the words of Rev. Magdalena I. García in her recent Pastoral Letter to continue to build upon “all these prayers and actions” and commit wholeheartedly to these efforts. This action is timely, prophetic and demonstrates our willingness to take risks for the sake of the gospel in ways that will both save us and point beyond ourselves and towards a safe and liberative future.
Mientras nos unimos como un cuerpo colectivo en nuestra Reunion de Asemblea el 18 de Noviembre, tomamos en cuento las palabras de Rev Magdalena I. García que dice dentro de su Carta Pastoral reciente a seguir a añadir a “todas estas oraciones y acciones¨ y comprometernos a estos esfuerzos con todo corazon. Esta acción es oportuna y profética y muestra nuestra voluntad a tomar riesgos en nombre del Evangelio en maneras que nos salvaremos y señala hacía un futuro segura y liberatoria.
This Call to Action comes to the body, recommended by Presbytery Coordinating Commission, and by the following minister members of the Presbytery:
Belonging to one another in Christ,
Rev. Shawna Bowman, Friendship Presbyterian Church
Friendship Presbyterian Church Session
Rev. Magdalena Garcia, Ravenswood Presbyterian Church
Rev. Elias Antonio Cabarcas Arroyo, Dia Nuevo
Rev. Dr. Beth Brown Lincoln Park Presbyterian Church
Rev. Emily Heitzman, Loyola University
Rev. Quincy Worthington, Highland Park Presbyterian Church
rev. dr. abby mohaupt, Garrett Seminary
Rev. David Black, First Presbyterian Church of Chicago
Rev. Rebekah Anderson
Rev. Christopher Spotts
Rev. Stefanie Coleman, Mayfair Presbyterian Church
Rev. Ashley McFaul-Erwin, Lake View Presbyterian Church
Rev. Kristin Hutson, Edgewater Presbyterian Church
Rev. Kori Robbins, Fair Oaks Presbyterian Church
Rev. Joy Douglas Strome, Honorably Retired, Presbytery of Chicago
Rev. Lauren G. Cochran, Yorkfield Presbyterian Church
Rev. Erin Marth, Minister Member of Chicago Presbytery
Rev. Paige Stephan, Minister Member of Chicago Presbytery
Rev. Dr. Brian Paulson, First Presbyterian Church of Libertyville
Rev. Nicole Chapman-Farley, First Presbyterian Church of Libertyville
Rev. Amy Heinrich, First Presbyterian Church of Libertyville
Alex Barnes, Pastoral Resident, First Presbyterian Church of Libertyville
Rev. Adam Malak, Tinley Park Presbyterian Church
Rev. Linda Eastwood, Minister Member of Chicago Presbytery
Rev. Barbara Gorsky, Honorably Retired, Presbytery of Chicago
