Nashville area pastors who support immigrants and advocate for balanced immigration reform gathered this afternoon at Loew's Vanderbilt Hotel for a viewing of the documentary "Gospel Without Borders."
These clergy are part of an ecumenical organization called "Clergy for Tolerance," which, unlike its name seems to suggest, is not an umbrella group for all liberal agenda items, but instead is a group of concerned pastors and church leaders who are focused on educating their congregation and the wider community on matters related to immigration. The discussion about immigration is not limited to undocumented immigrants, because even legal immigrants face discrimination as they assimilate into American culture. Nonetheless, due to the national political climate, especially as it is an election year, the subject of undocumented immigration arises, as there are many misconceptions surrounding undocumented immigrants - none of which prove true when studied - such as undocumented immigrants intentionally desire to be law-breakers, that they don't pay taxes, and that they are draining our nation's social services.
The place of unity for these pastors (who hold very different theological perspectives) is found in Scripture, Deuteronomy 10:19 "Therefore love the stranger, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt." Typically, Pentecostal Christians do not attend ecumenical events because of the tendency for ecumenism to be equated with inter-faith; this particular gathering was refreshing in that sense because the focus remained on immigration and the Biblically-mandated responsbility that Christians have to love their neighbor and all foreigners.
My husband and I attended and found the documentary to be a helpful congregational tool in the ongoing effort to inform and educate believers and colleagues about the misconceptions surrounding immigration reform as well as challenge our people to love their neighbors, regardless of their country of origin. In the Smyrna/La Vergne area, the Hispanic population is increasing along with other groups that have helped shaped Nashville's diversity including Kurdish, Somali, and Bhutanese (many of whom came to the United States as refugees). It is the responsibility of pastors, of all denominations, to ensure that all people hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ and experience God's love through hospitality. The Gospel truly has no border: God commissioned us to make disciples of all nations, and there should be no barrier if the nations happen to come to us.
One thing the Clergy for Tolerance group is challenging people to do is to "Drop the I-word." In other words, stop using the term "illegal" to describe those people among us who do not have papers. The word "illegal" is dehumanizing and derogatory. The more appropriate term is "undocumented," which simply describes a fact about the person. When people realize they attend church with undocumented people and realize that their neighbors live without documents, they will begin to understand why immigration reform is urgent.
So, will you take the challenge? Will you "Drop the I-word?"
If so, many Nashville pastors salute you, friend.
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