The Honorable Barack Obama
President of the United States
Washington, D.C.
Dear Mr. President:
We congratulate you on your historic victory and the mandate for change that came so clearly out of your election this past November. As Hispanic Evangelical leaders and pastors of churches around the country, we stand ready to do our part to realize the promise of change. In our communities, an essential part of that change means enacting just and humane immigration reform.
We are leaders serving a diverse spectrum of churches, but we are united in the belief that every human being is created in the image of God. We take seriously the Gospel’s call to treat the foreigner with respect and compassion. Acting on this call means raising a public voice for immigration reform as a moral and spiritual issue.
When our current approaches leave families afraid to send their children to school, go to the grocery store, talk to the police during an emergency, or even answer a knock at the door, regardless of the nature of their immigration status, we must speak up. A divided, polarized, and frightened community works in complete contrast to the message of Christ’s love and reconciliation we strive to communicate in our world.
Congress’s failure to pass immigration reform in 2007 has only exacerbated the problem, confusing enforcement procedures at the state and local level and contributing to a climate where hateful rhetoric dominates the national dialogue. It was exactly this climate that drove so many Hispanic voters to the polls in November. Our community turned out to vote in record numbers, largely motivated by the negative rhetoric of the immigration debates in 2006 and 2007. We are looking for a solution.
We were encouraged by your campaign promise to act on immigration reform in the first year of your administration and we commit to working with you to achieve this goal. We urge an end to raids that divide and terrorize families and support a comprehensive reform that would prioritize family unity so husbands, wives, parents and children won’t be forced to wait years to reunite with their loved ones. We must effectively enforce our borders and restore the rule of law in this country, but we must also look with compassion upon the immigrants who are here.
We pray that your administration will work with Congress to take action on comprehensive immigration reform by Thanksgiving of 2009. As Americans we must not forget our history and values as a welcoming nation. It’s time for our country to come together so that all members of our society can share in the responsibility and the promise of making America the best it can be.
Sincerely,
Tell a Friend of a Family Member!
STEERING COMMITTEE/ DRAFTERS:
The Rev. Luis Cortés, Jr. President/CEO, Esperanza
The Rev. Gabriel A. Salguero,
Executive, The Latino Leadership Circle,
Director, Hispanic Leadership Program, Princeton Theological Seminary,
The Rev. Wilfredo DeJesus,
Senior Pastor, New Life Church, Chicago, IL
The Rev. Dr. Raymond Rivera,
Pastor/Executive Director, The Latino Pastoral Action Center, Bronx, NY
The Rev. Joshua Rodriguez
Senior Pastor, The Cityline Church, Jersey City, NJ
Bishop Dr. Héctor L. Bonano
Presiding Bishop, CONLICO), NY, NY
CHARTER SIGNATURES:
The Rev. Dr. Nino González,
Senior Pastor/District Superintendent
El Calvario, Southeastern Spanish District Assemblies of God, FL
The Rev. Dr. Rogelio Ovalle,
Assistant Superintendent. NPLAD, Sacramento, CA
The Rev. David Ramos,
President/Convener, The Latino Leadership Circle, NY
The Rev. Dr. Isaías Mercado
Pastor/Vice-President, The Carpenter’s House/The Latino Leadership Foundation, Chicago, IL
The Rev. Dr. Roberto Hodgson Director, Hispanic Missions USA/Canada Church of the Nazarene, KS
The Rev. Luis A. Carlo, Ed.D
Associate Dean, Alliance Theological Seminary, NY
The Rev. Dr. Elizabeth D. Rios
Executive Pastor/President
Save The Nations/Center for Emerging Female Leadership, Orlando, FL
HISPANIC EVANGELICAL LEADERS:
The Rev. Edwin Vargas,
President, Dia Nacional de Oración en Puerto Rico, P.R.
The Rev. Brigido Cabrera
Executive Director, Hispanic Ministries Reformed Church in America, NY
The Rev. Dr. Samuel Pagán,
Academic Dean, FCTS
The Rev. Maribel Zacapa
California Women’s Ministry Director, CA
Church Of God of Prophecy
The Rev. Eugenio Ambert
Executive & Senior Pastor, Centro de Embajadores, PR
Rev. Marilyn Hartman
El Shaddai Bethlehem, Bethlehem, PA
Fred Estrada
Bethel Temple Community Bible Church, Philadelphia, PA
Dr. Eldin Villafane
Gordon-Conwell Theological seminary, Boston, MA
Dr. Peter Ramos
The Christian University, Paterson, NJ
Angel Melo
Iglesia Bautista de las Americas, Queens Village, NY
Dr. Mario Mencos
RED MINISTERIAL DE COORADO, Denver, CO
Luis Alvarez
Park Slope Christian Tabernacle, Brooklyn, NY
Miriam Baez
Esperanza, Philadelphia, PA
Hector Gonzalez
Templo Calvario, Santa Ana, CA
Rev. Gerardo Colon
The New International Church, PA
Rev. Osvaldo Silveira D'Avila
EFC. CRISTO ES LA ROCA, WAUCONDA, IL
Rev. Jose Nora
Ministerio Restauracion Uncion Boston, Boston, MA
Rene Stella
Iglesia de Dios Restauracion, Orlando, FL
Rev. Elida Frangioni
Asambleas de Dios, Orlando, FL
Frances Aleman
Primera Iglesia Hispana, Reeders, PA
Evelyn Nazario
IDDPMI, Tampa, FL
Leo Chavarria
Iglesia de Dios Shalom, Bensalem, PA
Bishop Florencio Torres
Church of God Kissimmee, Inc., Kissimmee, FL
Gamaniel Valle
Nueva Vision Covenant Church, Winnetka, CA
Lilian Cotto
Lehman United Methodist Church, Hartboro, PA
Librado Valencia
Radiant Church, AZ
Rev. Miriam L. Torres
House of Restoration Church, Hartford, CT
Rev. Franklin W. Simpson
Evangelical Lutheran of the Resurrection, Bronx, NY
Edwin Morales
Defenders of the Christian Faith, Boston, MA
Hector Luis Rodriguez
Presbyterian Church (USA), Louisville, KY
Rev. Lee DeLeon
Templo El Calvario, Santa Ana, CA
Dr. Rigoberto Ramos
Church of God - Cleveland, TN
Rev. Dr. Sergio Navarrete
Southern Pacific District of the Assemblies of God, Fontana, CA
Pastor Daniel Teo
Ministerio Evangelico Rio De Agua Viva, Waltham, MA
Pastor Rebecca Teo
Ministerio Evangelico Rio De Agua Viva, Waltham, MA
Orbi Gonzales
Young Life, Phoenix, AZ
Carlos Malave
Presbyterian Church USA, Louisville, KY
Rosa J. Caraballo
Crossroads Tabernacle, Bronx, NY
Candita Alicea
Abundant Life Christian Center, Yonkers, NY
Adlin Quiles
Second Spanish Baptist Church, Philadelphia, PA
Rev. Verardo Acosta
Assemblies of God, Elizabeth, NJ
Ricardo Moreno
Bread for the World, Pasadena, CA
Rev. Julio & Wendy Pichardo
Plenitud De Vida Christian Ctr., Elmont, NY
Rev. Abraham Soto
Fundacion Cristiana Internacional de Desarrollo, Inc., Elmsford, NY
Dr. Ralph Holland
Mundo de Fe, Carrollton, TX
Mrs. Donna Holland
Mundo de Fe, Carrollton, TX
Joseph Carillo
Iglesa de cristo, Phoenix, AZ
Francisco Robledo
Ekklesia Global, Miami, FL
PROMINENT FAITH LEADERS:
The Rev. Dr. Joel C. Hunter,
Senior Pastor, Northland – A Church Distributed
The Rev. Ronald Sider, Ph.D
President, Evangelicals for Social Action
David P. Gushee, Ph.D
President, Evangelicals for Human Rights
Distinguished University Professor of Christian Ethics, Mercer University, Atlanta, GA
Bart Campolo,
Leader, The Walnut Hills Fellowship, Cincinnati, OH
Executive Director, EAPE
The Rev. Dr. Oliver R. Phillips
Director, Mission Strategy for the Church of the Nazarene, Lenexa, KS
Lisa Sharon Harper
Executive Director, NY Faith & Justice, NY
The Rev. Jimmy Seong G. Lim
Executive Director,The Council of Churches of the City of New York
The Rev. Luke A. Powery, Ph.D
Perry and Georgia Engle Assistant Professor of Homiletics
Princeton Theological Seminary, Princeton, NJ
Brian McLaren, author and speaker
Danny Cortes
Esperanza, Philadelphia, PA
Richard Waldrop
Church of God World Missions, Cleveland, TN
Erwin Carrera
New Life Family Center, Chicago, IL
Noel Castellanos
CCDA/Member of President's Council on Faith and Neighborhood Partnerships, Chicago, IL
Annie Rawlings, M.Div.
Presbytery of New York City, New York, NY
Jim Tomberlin
Third Quarter Consulting, Scottsdale, AZ
David Sharpes
CrossRoads Church of the Nazarene, Chandler, AZ
Ana Carpio
Jesus Ministry & Unisal, Unisal, NC
Dr. Corey MacPherson
Eastern Nazarene College, Quincy, MA
Gary Nelson
Scottsdale Vineyard Christian Fellowship, Scottsdale, AR
SUPPORTERS:
Noemí Ayuso
Esperanza, Philadelphia, PA
Sandra Roman
St. Veronica, Philadelphia, PA
Delia Marmara
St. Martin Of Tours, Bethpage, NY
Marquetta Stewart
Esperanza, Philadelphia, PA
Yurizan Galicia
Catholic Social Services, Philadelphia, PA
Teresa Palacios
Eastmont Community Center, Los Angeles, CA
Kristyn Komarnicki
PRISM / ESA, Wynnewood, PA
Marta Hernandez
Primera Iglesia Hispana Bautista de Trenton, Trenton, PA
Javier Toro
South Bethlehem Neighborhood Center, Bethlehem, PA
Marisabel Isel
Centro de Apoyo Comunitario, Upper Darby, PA
Maria Jannarelli
Esperanza, Philadelphia, PA
Christina Morales
Esperanza, Philadelphia, PA
David Saldana
St. Joseph's Parish, Santa Ana, CA
Didimo Arreola
Iglesia Vida Nueva, Sturgis, MI
Keidy Ortiz
Esperanza, Philadelphia, PA
Reyna Moncayo
Familia Cristiana Verbo, Verbo Norte de USA, CA
Esperanza Quezada
Epiphany Lutheran Church, Hempstead, NY
Carlos E Huertas
Iglesia Cristiana Discipulos de Cristo, Guaynabo, PR
Gerardo Lopez
Crystal Cathedral, Garden Grove, CA
EYRA MAZARIEGOS
CHURCH OF GOD, CALIFORNIA, MO
Rossemary Torrico
Centro Cristiano de Restauracion, Orlando, PA
Angie Alamo
Christ Church of Orlando, Orlando, FL
Raymond Torres
Iglesia Cristiana Discipulos de Cristo de Miami, FL, Miami, FL
Mark Padgett-Rubio
MCCSD, San Diego, CA
Joanne Rodriguez
Hispanic Theological Initiative, Princeton, NJ
Lilian Puga
Village Covenant Church, Azusa, CA
Rev. David del Valle
Valley Evangelical Free Church, West Des Moines, IA
Will Rocha
Esperanza, Philadelpia, PA
John Rice
Tabernacle United Church, Philadelphia, PA
Emily Torres
Esperanza, Philadelpia, PA
Jerry Clampet
Evangelicals for Social Action, Wynnewood, PA
Ramon Rios
Esperanza, Philadelpia, PA
Ernesto J. Lassus
Defenders of the Christian Faith Movement, Roxbury, MA
Lisa Rios
The Bridge, Santa Rosa, CA
Hader Rivas
Proclaiming His Word Fellowship, Pleasantville, NJ
Marite Cabrera
Mary Immaculate, Queens, NY
Frances Jenkins
Condit Presbyterian Church, Sunbury, OH
Hector Burgos
First United Methodist Church - Hispanic Ministry House of Hope, Tuckerton, NJ
Rebecca Gallardo
Cathedral of Faith/NAHREP, San Jose, CA
Suzana Sandoval
Faith Clinic Christian Center, Amarillo, TX
Paola Aguilar
Assembly of God, Middletown, NY
Mrs. Magaly Judice
Parroquia La Salle, Bayamon, PR
Mrs. Jessica Gonzalez
Nueva Esperanza, Philadelphia, PA
Luis Solis
Our Lady of Perpetual Sorrow, Corona, NY
Mr. Marco Cabrera
St. Joaquim, Valley Stream, NY
Mr. Ricardo Curo
Holy Family, Flushing, NY
Mrs. Erika Menacho
Holy Family Church, Flushing, NY
Mrs. Sylvia Terpstra
Grace Fellowship Community Church, San Francisco, CA
Wade McComas
Apex Community Church, Dayton, OH
Sandy Mason
Desert View Bible Church, Phoenix, AR
David Sharpes
CrossRoads Nazarene Church, Chandler, AR
Javier Cintron
Bethel Temple Community Bible Church, Philadelphia, PA
Virginia Kavage
Condit Presbyterian Church, Sunbury, OH
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