More than 300 faith leaders from 39 states will be visiting members of Congress on Capitol Hill today to push for comprehensive and compassionate immigration reform. The group includes Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori and the Rev. Gay Clark Jennings, president of the House of Deputies.
Lynette Wilson of Episcopal News Service has the story:
The federal government shutdown did not deter ecumenical immigration activists from spending 12 hours on Oct. 7 at National City Christian Church preparing for their Oct. 8 scheduled congressional visits.
“The government is shutdown and we’re still here doing this work,” said Jen Smyers, Church World Service’s associate director for immigration and refugee policy, adding that the U.S. House of Representatives was expected to add immigration reform to its October legislative calendar. “We do see hope. We could still pass comprehensive immigration reform.”
More than 250 ecumenical immigration advocates – some 20 Episcopalians including Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori and House of Deputies President the Rev. Gay Clark Jennings – are gathered for the Church World Service Summit on Immigration Reform in the nation’s capital Oct. 7-8 to strategize ways to advance immigrants’ rights through immigration reform and to build more welcoming communities in solidarity with immigrants.
Church World Service has published a brief release on yesterday’s activities. The hashtag is #immigrationsummit . Episcopal News Service (@episcopal_news) the House of Deputies (@HouseDeps) are both tweeting from the events.
Today’s activities include two prayer services, one for those participating in the lobbying efforts this morning, and another this afternoon for a larger gathering. Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde of the Diocese of Washington will offer prayers at the afternoon service.