 Dear St. Mary's Family, Each day, it seems that more and more information that is brought to light about the inhumane conditions that exist for children and other asylum seekers in government custody. Many people who are fleeing violence and danger arrive at our borders looking for relief and a safer life for their families, only to find themselves in overcrowded detention centers that lack basic sanitation, causing more suffering and even death. Despite being a news junkie, I find it difficult to sort through all of the issues involved with what is clearly a crisis on the southern border of the United States. What is clear is that there is no simple solution. We can and should respectfully debate the country's immigration laws and policies, but beyond calling our representatives in Congress - an important step, no doubt - what can we do to love and care for these people in Jesus's name? Over the past several weeks, The Episcopal Church has issued a response to the border crisis that includes calls for donations and goods from Episcopal dioceses on the border, prayers for those seeking safety, efforts to engage in advocacy, and pastoral messages from bishops around the Church. You can read the church's response here. A list of resources for education and support is available via the Episcopal Migration Ministries' website here. This crisis extends far beyond the southern border of our country. Immigrants all over the country - both those here legally and illegally - are subject to appalling treatment (click here for a particularly vile example here in Kansas City). We need to prayerfully discern how St. Mary's is called to respond, not only to immigration-related injustice, but other important needs in our city. To that end, I've asked St. Mary's parishioner John Simpson to head up our Social Justice Ministry. He has formed an initial ministry team to begin discerning how we might address injustice in Kansas City. Please share any thoughts you may have directly with him at church or via email. Once this new ministry team formulates a plan of action, you'll hear more about how you can get involved. In the meantime, please join me in praying for immigrants and those who care for them. And please join me and all your brothers and sisters at St. Mary's in treating and serving the foreigners among us as though they are our own citizens, our own neighbors, our own family. (Leviticus 19:33-34). Peace, Fr. Charles “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 the sight to the blind, and to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor” (Luke 4:18-19)  |