The Oregon-Idaho Chapter of the Methodist Federation for Social Action
an independent movement of progressive United Methodists taking action on issues of Justice, Peace, and Liberation

It is easy for many of us to know what we are against in immigration policy, but much harder to describe what a just policy would be. If this describes you, join us for our annual spring event on Saturday, April 2 at Portland First UMC. The focus of the event will be on personal stories of immigrants and on the components of a policy that would be just and humane. A brochure and registration information should be available soon.

Several anti-immigrant bills have been introduced into the Oregon legislature this session. Executive committee member Loerna Simpson has written a petition to legislators for use in her church in Corvallis. She encourages us to use these in our own churches and send the signatures to our legislators. She has written the first page of the petition as a summary and information sheet that can be handed out to people for their consideration.

You can download the Petition to Oregon legislators and print as many copies as you would like. Be sure to insert your own legislators’ names and church name before printing this for your use.

Here are links to the bills that have been introduced: Immigration Bill HB2802, Immigration Bill HB 2803, Immigration Bill HB 2804, Immigration Bill 2805, Immigration Bill HB 2806, Immigration Bill SB 182

As far as we are aware, no immigration bills have been introduced this year in the Idaho legislature.

Loerna has also compiled a summary of UMC positions on immigration that may be useful background as you discuss these issues in church settings.

Time to Kill the Death Penalty? That is the theme of the 2010 spring event. The event will be held Saturday, March 6, at First United Methodist Church in Portland. Registration begins at 8:30 am with the event beginning at 9:00. Closing worship will end by 3:00 pm. We will share stories, wrestle with our convictions, and be informed of ways we can work together to abolish the death penalty in the State of Oregon.

Our featured speakers will include Aba Gayle, one whose life was changed forever by a horrific murder in her family, and Naseem Rakha, award-winning author of The Crying Tree. Our opening worship and theological grounding will be led by Rev Lowell Greathouse of Portland First UMC. Clarence Pugh, chair of Oregonians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty, will lead us in a time of discussion of what we can do with what we have learned.

The fee for the day is $25 for MFSA members and $30 for non-members if registered by Feb. 26. After that date the fee is $35. Your registration fee includes lunch. Send your check with the registration form from the brochure to MFSA, PO Box 134, Salem, OR  97308. You can register at the door, but please contact us at jannelson515@msn.com so we can include you in the lunch count.

Spring Event Brochure 2010

In addition to supporting the national priorities of MFSA, the chapter Executive Team has identified several priorities for 2010:

• Heighten awareness of the issue of abolishing the death penalty and work with the Bishop’s Task Force to promote education and action.
• Promote just and comprehensive immigration reform.
• Promote a more just and universal healthcare system.
• Promote reduction fo defense spending in favor of domestic uses.
• Grow the membership of our Oregon-Idaho chapter.

We invite everyone to join us in working on these goals.