The recent decision by the President regarding Muslim immigration has been deeply troubling to the Montclair Presbyterian Church community. We are proud to announce that there have been two strong responses to this Muslim ban.
First, our Faith Trio (a partnership between MPC, Kehilla Synagogue, and the Islamic Cultural Center of Northern California) released a joint statement against the ban. Read the Faith Trio’s Statement (PDF)
Second, on February 7, 2017, the San Francisco Presbytery approved the following resolution in opposition to the President’s ban on Muslims. Several members of MPC took part in the vote in support of this statement.
Whereas, the President of the United States, by Executive Order on January 27th, 2017, has suspended visas or restricted entry for persons from Syria, Iraq, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen (in essence banning the majority of Muslim Refugees) entering into the United States, which serves to further harm those who are the very victims of terrorism, genocide, religious, and gender-based persecution, and civil war,
and
Whereas, this suspension contradicts the very foundations of our biblical faith to welcome the stranger and give safe haven to the refugee,
and
Whereas, Jesus himself, with his family, began life as a refugee,
Be it resolved, the Presbytery of San Francisco, of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), meeting on this 7th day of February, 2017, decries any policy that discriminates against asylees and refugees by nationality, race, color, or religion, as deeply flawed, un-American, immoral and contrary to U.S. tradition and our understanding of the Biblical great ends of the church
and
Further, urges the President to rescind this Executive Order and restore the integrity and values of compassion and hospitality essential to our identity as a nation.
MPC is grateful to all who have worked to oppose this attack on religious freedom and on our Christian imperative to welcome refugees.
Photo of Muslim girl featured on MPC home page by IamNotUnique (link is to Flickr profile page)