North Central Jurisdiction of The United Methodist Church to welcome sojourners

From The United Methodist Church's General Board of Church and Society:

Bishops to speak at conference on immigration reform

At an April rally in Washington, D.C., United Methodist Bishop Minerva Carcaño addresses thousands of protesters calling for fair treatment of undocumented immigrants. She will be a featured speaker at ‘Welcoming the Sojourner’ Oct. 16-18, in Naperville, Ill.
(UMNS photo by Jay Mallin)

Bishop Minerva Carcaño of the Desert Southwest Conference of The United Methodist Church, will be a featured speaker at “Welcoming the Sojourner — Finding the Church’s Voice on Immigration.” The event will be Thursday to Saturday, Oct. 16-18, at the Lisle Hilton in Naperville, Ill.

Carcaño is chair of the United Methodist Council of Bishops committee on immigration. She also heads an interagency task force of the denomination that targets reform of U.S. immigration laws.

”Welcoming the Sojourner” is co-sponsored by the North Central Jurisdiction of The United Methodist Church and the denomination’s General Board of Church & Society (GBCS).

Other featured speakers include Bishop Hee-Soo Jung of the Northern Illinois Conference; the Rev. Mark Sills, executive director of FaithAction International House, Greensboro, N.C., an interfaith, interracial, non-profit organization working to form a united community of many cultures; and José Oliva, an organizer for Interfaith Worker Justice in Chicago.

Workshops at “Welcoming the Sojourner” will include:

The Bible and Immigration

Organizing United Methodists for Comprehensive Immigration Reform

The Local Church as a Place of Outreach and Ministry

Immigration and Racism

The New Sanctuary Movement, and

INS Raids and Your Community

A Continuing Education Credit will be awarded for the event. Registration fee is $95. Go to Registration to register online.

For more information, contact the Rev. Clayton Childers, GBCS director of Annual Conference Relations, at (202) 488-5642.

Another “Welcoming the Sojourner” event will be Sept. 11-13 at Hendrix College in Conway, Ark. That event is co-sponsored the Board of Church and Society of the Arkansas Conference of The United Methodist Church, Justice For Our Neighbors and GBCS. Besides Bishop Carcaño and Sills, featured speakers will include Bill Mefford, director of GBCS’s Civil and Human Rights program. Bishop Charles Crutchfield of Arkansas Conference will lead worship.

Registration for the Arkansas event is $50. Go to Arkansas Registration to register online. For more information, contact the Rev. Steve Copley, Arkansas Justice for Our Neighbors, at (501) 374-3811.

The General Board of Church & Society is one of four international general program boards of The United Methodist Church, which has more than 11 million members worldwide. The board’s primary areas of ministry are Advocacy, Education and Leadership Formation, United Nations and International Affairs, and resourcing these areas for denomination. It has offices on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., and at the Church Center at the United Nations. Its Web site is www.umc-gbcs.org.

Midwest Interfaith Immigration Summit

From The United Methodist Church's General Board of Church and Society:

Sept. 10, 11 in Columbus, Ohio

COLUMUS, OHIO — A Midwest Interfaith Immigration Summit will be Wednesday and Thursday, Sept. 10 and 11, here. The summit, sponsored by the Interfaith Immigration Coalition, will focus on “Mobilizing for Humane Reform.”

Goal of the summit is to provide faith-based leaders and advocates tools they need to educate and mobilize their communities in support of fair and humane immigration reform.

The United Methodist Church is among sponsors of the event.

Other sponsors include American Jewish Committee, Anti-Defamation League, Church World Service, Sojourners, Ohio Council of Churches and Ohio Hispanic Coalition.

For more information, contact Jennifer Hollinger.

Executive Order Banning Torture

From the National Religious Campaign Against Torture:

ENDORSING A DECLARATION OF PRINCIPLES FOR AN EXECUTIVE ORDER BANNING TORTURE

The National Religious Campaign Against Torture, in alliance with Evangelicals for Human Rights and the Center for Victims of Torture, launched an effort that calls upon the President to issue an executive order banning torture based on six core principles embodied in a Declaration of Principles. The groups are calling this effort the "Campaign to Ban Torture."

Since the success of this effort depends upon thousands of people of faith and other opponents of torture joining together to endorse the Declaration of Principles, please endorse the Declaration.

• Individuals can endorse here.
• Institutions can endorse here. The General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA) and other religious bodies have endorsed.

Prominent faith leaders from Catholic, Protestant, Evangelical, Jewish, Muslim, and Sikh communities, as well top officials from every Administration since the 1970s, have joined together to endorse the Declaration of Principles.

Suggestions for other steps you can take and more information:

• For individuals
• For congregations
• For clergy
• For press stories
• For the list of prominent endorsers
• For other Presidential Executive Order resources
• For a petition version of the Declaration. Take the petition to your congregation, the regional body of your denomination or faith group, political events, or anyplace where you think you can garner endorsements. Please return completed petitions to NRCAT.

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Declaration of Principles for a Presidential Executive
Order on Prisoner Treatment, Torture and Cruelty

Though we come from a variety of backgrounds and walks of life, we agree that the use of torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment against prisoners is immoral, unwise, and un-American.

In our effort to secure ourselves, we have resorted to tactics which do not work, which endanger US personnel abroad, which discourage political, military, and intelligence cooperation from our allies, and which ultimately do not enhance our security.

Our President must lead us by our core principles. We must be better than our enemies, and our treatment of prisoners captured in the battle against terrorism must reflect our character and values as Americans.

Therefore, we believe the President of the United States should issue an Executive Order that provides as follows:

The "Golden Rule." We will not authorize or use any methods of interrogation that we would not find acceptable if used against Americans, be they civilians or soldiers.

One national standard. We will have one national standard for all US personnel and agencies for the interrogation and treatment of prisoners. Currently, the best expression of that standard is the US Army Field Manual, which will be used until any other interrogation technique has been approved based on the Golden Rule principle.

The rule of law. We will acknowledge all prisoners to our courts or the International Red Cross. We will in no circumstance hold persons in secret prisons or engage in disappearances. In all cases, prisoners will have the opportunity to prove their innocence in ways that fully conform to American principles of fairness.

Duty to protect. We acknowledge our historical commitment to end the use of torture and cruelty in the world. The US will not transfer any person to countries that use torture or cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment.

Checks and balances. Congress and the courts play an invaluable role in protecting the values and institutions of our nation and must have and will have access to the information they need to be fully informed about our detention and interrogation policies.

Clarity and accountability. All US personnel-whether soldiers or intelligence staff-deserve the certainty that they are implementing policy that complies fully with the law. Henceforth all US officials who authorize, implement, or fail in their duty to prevent the use of torture and ill treatment of prisoners will be held accountable, regardless of rank or position.

Click here for Printable pdf file of Declaration

Demand Congress uphold consular rights. Stop Jose Medellin from being unjustly executed.

From Center for Constitutional Rights:

Texas authorities will execute Jose Medellin, a Mexican national, on August 5, 2008, unless you contact your Representative today and demand Congress uphold consular rights through the passage of H.R. 6481, the "Avena Case Implementation Act of 2008."

H.R. 6481 is a response to the International Court of Justice's Avena decision, which determined whether the Vienna Convention rights of 51 Mexican nationals had been violated when they were detained in the United States. According to the Vienna Convention, local authorities are required to notify consular officers without delay of the detainment of one of their foreign nationals. The ICJ determined that American officials had not done so, violating the foreign nationals' Vienna Convention rights. The US was ordered to provide judicial reviews to determine if those violations affected their convictions or sentences. H.R. 6481 would provide these Avena-mandated judicial reviews.

The impact of the "Avena Case Implementation Act of 2008" will extend to all Americans detained abroad. But this guaranteed visit by an American consular officer is contingent on the weight foreign authorities give to the Vienna Convention right to have consular authorities notified without delay. What goes around comes around with international law, and H.R. 6481 would be noticed by foreign governments, bettering the chances that Americans are ensured their rights when traveling abroad.

One problem is that there is not enough time to pass H.R. 6481 before one Avena defendant, Jose Ernesto Medellin is scheduled for execution on August 5th in Texas. Write your Representative now to make sure H.R. 6481 is passed and a judicial review is applied to Medellin's case. Congress must support a temporary reprieve from execution. Without it, Jose Medellin may be unjustly executed and a dangerous precedent will be set that would jeopardize all Americans abroad.

Read and edit the message before signing and sending.

Launch of Grassroots Statement by Delegates For Platform to Guarantee "Health Care for All"

From Progressive Democrats in America:

July 24, 2008--Rep. John Conyers, a leader for health care reform on Capitol Hill, is the first Democratic National Convention delegate to sign a new statement urging that the convention adopt a plank in the 2008 party platform to "guarantee accessible health care for all."

Launched by Progressive Democrats of America, the grassroots statement aims to gather hundreds of signers among delegates to the party's national convention before it opens in Denver in late August.

The brief document--titled "Statement in Support of Guaranteed Health Care for All as a Plank in the Democratic Party Platform of 2008"--was drafted by two co-chairs of PDA's Healthcare NOT Warfare campaign, Congressman Conyers and Norman Solomon. Both are Obama delegates to the Democratic National Convention. Also signing the statement prior to its national launch on July 23 was Rep. Jim McGovern, a Clinton delegate and PDA board member.

Now, a grassroots effort is starting among activists nationwide to contact and encourage convention delegates to add their names as signers. Delegates can do that online here.

Non-delegates are also invited to go on record in support of the statement, here.

The statement calls for the 2008 Democratic Party Platform to include "a plank calling for our nation to enact universal health care that will":

• "guarantee accessible health care for all";
  
• "create a single standard of high quality, comprehensive, and preventive health care for all";
  
• "allow freedom of choice of physician, hospital, and other health care providers";
  
• "eliminate financial barriers that prevent families and individuals from obtaining the medically necessary care they need";
  
• "allow physicians, nurses and other licenced health care providers to make health care decisions based on what is best for the health of the patient."

PDA is encouraging activists--wherever they live--to contact delegates from their area and urge them to become signers of this statement here.

Promote Human Rights in China

From Amnesty International USA:

President Bush recently announced that he would be attending the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. We are urging him to pressure China for human rights improvements before the Games. Despite promises to improve its human rights record, China has become increasingly repressive in the run up to the Olympics. Human rights activists are detained without trial, journalists are harassed and imprisoned, “re-education through labor” programs continue unabated and China remains the world’s leading executioner.

Urge President Bush to speak out.

Subject: China's Olympics and Human Rights

Dear President Bush,

Your visit to the Olympics Games this summer is a historic moment for you to promote human rights in China, and we urge you to express concern about the increase of repression in the run-up to the Games to the Chinese authorities. As the leader of the United States, your support for human rights would send a clear message to China and the world that Americans are fully committed to the preservation of human dignity - one of the "Fundamental Principles of Olympism".

When applying to the International Olympic Committee in 2001, the Chinese government suggested the Games would act as a catalyst for human rights developments in the country. Unfortunately, as China prepares for the Games, its human rights record has deteriorated. Human right defenders have been arrested, journalists were harassed, “re-education through labor” programs proliferate, and executions continue.

Mr. President, please use your position as leader of the United States to push the Chinese towards upholding their human rights commitments, thus ensuring a positive Olympic legacy.

Tell your Representatives to support impeachment by cosponsoring H. Res. 1345

From Progressive Democrats of America:

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by David Swanson, PDA Board Member, Director AfterDowningStreet.org and Washington Director, Democrats.com

Rep. Dennis Kucinich has led the fight for impeachment since April 2007, when he defied Speaker Pelosi and courageously introduced 3 Articles of Impeachment (H.Res. 333/799) against Vice President Cheney. On June 10, Kucinich defied Speaker Pelosi again and introduced 35 Articles of Impeachment (H.Res. 1258) against President Bush.

When Pelosi refused to allow hearings on any of the 38 Articles of Impeachment, Kucinich returned to the floor of Congress to introduce one more Article of Impeachment against President Bush (H.Res. 1345).
Thanks to massive pressure from PDA, Democrats.com and our pro-impeachment allies, Speaker Pelosi finally allowed Chairman Conyers to hold a hearing this Friday. Kucinich will finally get a few minutes to argue for impeachment, along with Rep. Robert Wexler, former Rep. Liz Holtzman, and former Salt Lake City mayor Rocky Anderson. Kucinich made a video to thank us for our efforts.

H.Res. 1345 focuses on Bush’s ultimate crime - invading Iraq on the basis of lies. The evidence is overwhelming that George Bush, Dick Cheney, Condi Rice, Karl Rove, Andy Card, and other top officials deliberately manufactured those lies to “sell” an invasion whose real purpose was to gain control of Iraq’s oil and establish military bases in the heart of the Middle East.

This was the agenda of the Project for a New American Century that Bush adopted after stealing the 2000 election. And it’s the reason Bush and John McCain are determined to stay in Iraq forever, even though Prime Minister Nouri al Maliki supports Barack Obama’s plan to remove all our troops by 2010.

When Kucinich testified on Friday, he faced hostile questions from rightwing Republicans who impeached President Clinton. But Kucinich also faced hostile questions from key Democrats who oppose impeachment.

Some of these Democrats supported the invasion of Iraq: Howard Berman (CA28), Rick Boucher (VA09), Adam Schiff (CA29), Brad Sherman (CA27), and Anthony Weiner (NY09).

But most of these Democrats oppose impeachment because they are cowering in fear of a counterattack from the White House and FOX News: John Conyers (MI14), Artur Davis (AL07), Bill Delahunt (MA10), Zoe Lofgren (CA16), Jerry Nadler (NY08), Linda Sanchez (CA39), Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL20), Bobby Scott (VA03), Betty Sutton (OH13), and Mel Watt (NC12).

Only a few Judiciary Democrats understand that the Founding Fathers gave Congress the power of impeachment as the only way to stop a President from defying the Constitution and becoming a dictator, as Bush has done: Robert Wexler (FL19), Tammy Baldwin (WI02), Steve Cohen (TN09), Keith Ellison (MN05), Luis Gutierrez (IL04), Sheila Jackson Lee (TX18), Hank Johnson (GA04), and Maxine Waters (CA35).

If anti-impeachment Democrats get their way, Friday’s 2-hour hearing will be the only “impeachment” hearing for this entire Congress - and then Bush will try to pardon himself and everyone else before leaving office next January, just as his father pardoned six Iran-contra criminals.

So it is crucial for all of us - now over 500,000! - to tell our Representatives today to support impeachment by cosponsoring Kucinich’s H. Res. 1345: http://www.democrats.com/peoplesemailnetwork/142

And if you can do more, please make free calls to every Judiciary Democrat who opposes impeachment through CauseCaller: http://www.causecaller.com/causes.php?c=House_Judiciary_Democrats_Impeachment
Simply enter your phone number and click the “Start Calling” button. (Click “Call me back if I accidentally hang up” in case you hang up by mistake.) In a few seconds, your phone will “magically” ring and CauseCaller will say the name of the first Representative on the list. Listen carefully for the name of each Member so you can repeat the name to the receptionist - or just say “The Representative.” Don’t hang up between calls - let the receptionists hang up and CauseCaller will dial the next Representative.

If you want to do even more, call your favorite radio or TV talk shows and tell them how important Friday’s hearings will be, and how strongly you support impeachment for whichever reasons are most important to you. Prepare your thoughts in advance so you sound informed and determined.

Lots more details and actions here: http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/node/34943

Thanks for all you do!

Update 1: The evidence of Bush’s war crimes and other impeachable offenses grows daily. Investigative reporter Jane Mayer’s new book The Dark Side provides more evidence that Bush authorized torture. The British Parliament accused Bush of torture.

Yet Attorney General Mukasey told Congress he won’t prosecute anyone who followed Bush’s illegal torture orders. Even worse, Bush’s rightwing supporters have begun a propaganda campaign for blanket pardons of everyone in the Bush administration!