The Christian's Attitude About the Issue of Immigration: A Nazarene Episcopal Perspective

Last Thursday, November 12, I received a "Pursuing . . . The Way of Holiness" email from the Board of General Superintendents of the Church of the Nazarene.  "Pursuing . . . The Way of Holiness"  is a newsletter that features episcopal statements, thoughts, words of inspiration, etc. from our various general superintendents.  This particular one was adapted from a Holiness Today article from May/June of 2012. 

The article is important as we hear political candidates debate concerning what to do with our "undocumented" or "illegal" immigrants in the United States.  Added to this is the refugee crisis that we and especially those in Europe face.  -  I think that it is important to note that this article was emailed just before the terrorist attacks in Paris.  That horrific event admittedly adds another dimension to the discussion.  Nevertheless, I think that this is a very good reminder and example of how our faith shapes our actions and attitudes in this world.  It is also noteworthy that this article was not written as a reaction to the current immigrant debates, but rather was originally published in 2012.

This coming Sunday is Christ the King Sunday.  I expect to be preaching from the Gospel lectionary passage where Jesus is being questioned by Pilate.  I find the contrast to be striking when comparing some of the rather . . . enthusiastic comments by some Christians on Facebook concerning France's military retaliation for the terrorist attacks, and the equally enthusiastic calls for U.S. action, over against Jesus' words in response to Pilate.  There, Jesus said, "My kingdom is not from this world.  If my kingdom were from this world, my followers would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews.  But as it is, my kingdom is not from here." 

It seems to me that, as those who are first and foremost citizens of the Kingdom of God, we have to determine how that citizenship influences how we act as citizens of the United States.  While I think that there should be space to think through and debate what our government's actions ought to be concerning terrorism, I also think that an attitude consistent with the Kingdom of God should at least squelch the kind of "all in," enthusiastic calls for "nuking them" and "bombing them to the stone age."  -  I would note that when Dietrich Bonhoeffer participated in the assassination attempt on Adolf Hitler, he did not do so with the kind of enthusiasm I hear from some of my sisters and brothers.  Even though he concluded that he needed to be a part of the plan to kill Hitler, he did so knowing that he was taking guilt upon himself.  He said, "Before other men he is justified by dire necessity; before himself he is acquitted by his conscience, but before God he hopes only for grace."

++ Jerry D. Porter

The article by our general superintendent, the Rev'd. Dr. Jerry D. Porter, brings the "Kingdom attitude" to bear on the issue of immigration. 

Since the email indicated that the article was "used with permission," and since it did not allow Facebook sharing, I am not copying it, here.  Nevertheless I encourage you to follow the link to its original source.  The Immigrant Among Us

Episcopal Statement Issued from the Board of General Superintendents Concerning NPH

Today, Nazarene Communications Network published the following "Pastoral Letter" from the Board of General Superintendents.  This is a follow-up from the previous article posted on this blog.

 

To the Global Nazarene Family:

We are deeply saddened to inform you of the news that Nazarene Publishing House (NPH) will cease their current operations as of 1 December 2014. This date was announced to comply with the WARN Act (The Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act), a Federal law in the United States. This act offers protection to workers, their families, and communities by providing notice 60 days in advance of large layoffs. Steps have been taken at this time to ensure that all NPH employees will retain their positions through 1 December 2014, with a severance package if they remain as employees through that date.

Hundreds of our Nazarene family members have sent letters and emails expressing concern and asking questions about what has happened and what is being done to deal with this crisis. This is evidence of how much you love your church and care about her mission. We wish there was a way to answer every inquiry personally. However, this letter is an attempt to address the church corporately.

There is much that could be said about how we have come to this point – certainly more than any letter can contain. But we feel it is important to try.

NPH has served its mission and our denomination faithfully and well for 102 years. It has provided excellent holiness literature, music, and resources. Hundreds of godly men and women have served the church through NPH. We owe them a debt of gratitude from the entire denomination. Words are not adequate to express our heartfelt thanks for their selfless, Christ-honoring service.

As a business, NPH has experienced many profitable years. A great deal of the income that has been generated through NPH has been poured back into the mission and work of the church, even beyond the walls of the House. Recent years have been more financially difficult. Due to shifting cultural circumstances including changes in the church, NPH has found itself having to adapt to new paradigms in order to maintain financial stability and sustainability. Net profits have decreased dramatically over the last decade to the point that the company was forced to draw heavily on financial reserves to stay afloat. The economic downturn of 2008 only deepened the pending crisis.

In 2012, with the election of a new leader for NPH by the General Board, plans were laid for yet another change in paradigm for NPH, including the acquisition of a new business unit for NPH. This was done with the sincere hope that NPH would be set on new trajectory and ultimately be stronger. Simply put: it did not work. It was a miscalculation on many levels. While it was obvious that the business model for NPH needed to change, we now know that these decisions likely hastened the crisis.

Over the course of the past year, many steps have been taken to try and rescue what we could. We have worked within our denominational structures, including the elected NPH Board of Directors, the Church of the Nazarene General Board Executive Committee, and many other individuals and entities to bring about the best resolutions possible. All of these individuals have worked faithfully and diligently navigating these difficult waters.

We have all done our best to act within the structures of our polity and to act on the information we had at any given moment. But we also acknowledge, that in the process, mistakes have been made, some systems have been inadequate, and even our best attempts for good and godly decisions have fallen short. This includes some actions of the Board of General Superintendents. We fully own and regret the ways we have contributed to the problems at hand.

In the midst of everything that has happened, perhaps our biggest regret is the breach of trust felt by many. We apologize for what has appeared as poor decisions, a failure to act sooner, or even the appearance of wrongdoing. There have been many times when the complexities of legal, financial, business, and polity issues prevented us from speaking widely about the issues at hand. We now realize our communication could have been and should have been much better. We ask your forgiveness for this.

Despite many opinions to the contrary, it is important to say, we do not believe anyone has made intentional decisions to hurt the church. Additionally, no World Evangelism Funds have been used to support the losses of NPH.

This has been a very difficult year for all involved. One member of our Board recently reflected, "This is the most difficult, complex crisis I have faced in all my years as a general superintendent." Hundreds of hours have been spent in conversation and prayer. There have been many times that we found ourselves at such a loss in knowing what to do next that we fell on our faces before God, crying out for His wisdom and discernment. God has been faithful to help.

We believe that God is even now at work to help us forge a new path.

The Board of General Superintendents took action several weeks ago to declare NPH in crisis. Since that time, a new crisis management team of advisors has been formed and is beginning the careful work of closing down the current operations of NPH.

Furthermore, in consultation with the General Board Executive Committee, we are also appointing a task force to help envision how holiness material will be provided for the future. While the current business model of NPH will be closing, this new way will continue to provide the necessary resources to educate and equip our pastors and laypersons around the world. NPH maintains resources that will help give birth to a new, dynamic publishing model.

More information regarding this new model will be forthcoming. In the meantime, several months of Sunday school curriculum is already prepared and will be available to our churches. NPH is in the process of shipping the December-January-February curriculum. They are also accepting orders, and working through the details with the intent to ship the March-April-May curriculum during the month of December.

We covet your continued prayers as we move forward. Most of all, we ask you to support the current NPH employees through prayer and any other way possible. They are our friends and loved ones.

We realize this letter will not answer every question and address every concern. Please receive it with the humility in which it is intended.

May God help us as we forge a new path to provide Wesleyan-Holiness resources that support our mission to make Christlike disciples in the nations.

Grace and peace,

--Board of General Superintendents

The letter, above, was originally published, here.  Let us be in prayer for the employees of NPH, for the future of NPH & for the bgs.

Nazarene Publishing House in Financial Crisis

Nazarene Communications Network has just published the following news release:

Board of General Superintendents declares Nazarene Publishing House in financial crisis       

Monday, September 29, 2014

Kansas City, Missouri

In light of the most recent report to the Board of General Superintendents (BGS) from the leadership of Nazarene Publishing House (NPH), the BGS unanimously moved to declare NPH in financial crisis. This action was taken in consultation with and support of the Executive Committee of the General Board.

Additionally, in further consultation with the BGS and the Executive Committee of the General Board, members of the NPH board of directors have resigned from their positions in order to create a small interim crisis management team to help navigate next steps. The BGS expresses appreciation for their service during this challenging time. The members of this crisis management team will be nominated by the BGS to serve as an interim board of directors of NPH.

Speaking on behalf of the Board of General Superintendents, David Graves, BGS chair, emphasized that "the long-term publishing goal is to have a sustainable Wesleyan-Holiness voice representing the Church of the Nazarene and its mission to make Christlike disciples in the nations."

Further announcements will be made as recommendations and plans are approved.

The church is asked to remember NPH and its employees in prayer.

--Board of General Superintendents

(The original post can be found here.)

Nazarene Call For Prayer For the Middle East

Earlier this month, the Board of General Superintendents of the Church of the Nazarene issued an episcopal call for prayer concerning the turmoil throughout the Middle East.  Specifically, the General Superintendents have called us to pray for the following concerns:

• Pray for peace in Israel and the Palestinian Territories, for a just and lasting solution that allows all people to live with dignity and respect in the absence of violence. Pray for the comfort of those who have lost family members and friends.
• Pray for peace in Syria, for an immediate end to the conflict, and for protection of human life. More than 100,000 people have been killed; there are 6.5 million internally displaced people in Syria and 2.5 million Syrian refugees who have fled to neighboring countries. Pray for their many needs to be met and for hope in the face of long-term displacement.
• Pray for the persecuted church across the region that is in danger because of faith in Christ, that those who are oppressed would know the strength and courage that comes from fellowship with God. Pray that people of different faiths could live in peace with one another.
• Pray for the protection of children throughout the region and for all people who have experienced trauma.
• Pray for local churches that are working in partnership with Nazarene Compassionate Ministries (and other ministries and agencies) to alleviate suffering as they care for the vulnerable in volatile, insecure conditions

I want to encourage my fellow Nazarenes, and all of the readers of this blog to answer this call for prayer.

The full article can be found at this link.

2014 Annual Report of the Board of General Superintendents

For those who may have missed it (and who are interested!), the Rev'd. Dr. David Busic, general superintendent (bishop) in the Church of the Nazarene, on behalf of the Board of General Superintendents, presented their annual report to the General Board on February 23, 2014.  The report was titled, "For Such A Time As This," and it can be viewed, here.

Or, if one would prefer, you can listen to the audio of the report: