UPDATE: Methodists Strike Back
As TPM and Religion Dispatches noted today, Tea Party Nation founder Judson Phillips recently flew off the handle after learning of the United Methodist Church’s support for the DREAM Act. After returning to his home in Tennessee from a trip to Washington, he wrote on his blog.
When I was in Washington this past Friday, I walked by the United Methodist Building, next to the Russell Office Building. The sign in front of the United Methodist Building said, “Pass the DREAM Act.”
I have a DREAM. That is, no more United Methodist Church.
I grew up in the Methodist church. I left as a teenager because the Methodist Church is little more than the first Church of Karl Marx.
The entire post is worth a read if you enjoy hysterics.
Bill Mefford, Director of Civil and Human Rights for the United Methodist Church General Board of Church and Society, had this to say:
Our support of the DREAM Act is in alignment with the principles of support for immigration reform found in our resolutions passed by General Conference. More importantly, many United Methodists throughout the country are immigrants themselves or are in close, intimate relationships with immigrants through outreach and service. And from the position of these close relationships modeled to us first and foremost by Jesus whose birth we celebrate this week, we advocate for humane and workable solutions to a badly broken immigration system.
Bishop Minerva Carcaño, of the Desert Southwest Conference of the United Methodist Church, said:
I am proud of the fact that our United Methodist Church stands for justice for all of God’s children in the name of Christ Jesus, and I consider it a moral calling to stand up for young immigrants who deserve the opportunities that the DREAM Act would provide.
Mr. Philips’ visceral attacks in response to this advocacy, by contrast, reflect neither American values nor the Christian faith. But as a committed Christian and United Methodist who follows Jesus, I am committed to praying for Mr. Philips. Even while he may dream of the demise of the United Methodist Church, I will pray for abundant life for him, for that is the Christian way.
We must keep raising our voices to counter this loud ignorance. Here is just one great response to this nonsense -
http://fireboy48.wordpress.com/2010/12/21/methodismsocialism/