또한 정의 항목을 보십시오.

우리의 입장

성경은 모든 사람이 하나님의 형상으로 창조됨을 가르칩니다. 성경은 지속적으로 하나님의 백성들이 주변의 외부인들을 환대하고, 가장 취약한 외부인들에 대한 특별한 돌봄을 그들의 생존을 위협하는 사회적 혹은 경제적 조건으로까지 확대할 것을 명하십니다. 북미주 개혁교회는 환대와 구제에서 이민자들과 난민들에 대한 돌봄의 필요를 인정하고 개교회들이 다음과 같은 일들(이 것들에 제한된 것은 아니지만)을 통해 이러한 관심을 보여주기를 격려합니다. 

  • 이민자들이 다른 나라로 이주하도록 이끄는 원인과 관련한 문제 토론과 기도를 동반한 연구. 이런 훈련들은 많은 사람들이 살아가는 환경에 대한 우리의 이해를 증진시킬 수 있습니다.
  • 서류구비자, 서류미비자, 불법체류자의 곤경에 대한 사려깊은 관심, 도움이 필요한 이민/난민자와 그 자녀들에 대해 경제적 지원, 음식, 옷, 주거지를 통해 사랑으로 돌보는 것.
  • 이민법과 집행에 대한 연구, 지나치게 가혹하거나 불공정한 법과 집행을 개혁하기 위한 노력.
  • 불법 이민자들의 복지와 번영을 추구하고 이민자들이 합법적 지위를 획득하도록 더 많은 기회들을 제공하는 종합적 이민 개혁에 대한 지지.
  • 신분 문제로 체포되고 감금된 사람들에 대한 공정하고 품위있는 대우와 장기간 구금된 사람들에 대한 인간적인 대우에 대한 지지.

북미주 개혁교회의 사회 정의 사역부(미국)와 공적 대화 센터(캐나다)는 인종관계 사역부, 국제구제부 및 다른 사역부서와 함께 우리가 공동체로 살아가도록 창조되었고 하나님께서 역사적으로 외부인들을 환대할 기회들을 통해 교회를 축복해오셨음을 각 교회들이 기억하도록 돕습니다. 이런 사역은 또한 북미주 개혁교회 교인들이 이민자들이 직면한 많은 도전들을 인식하고 그들의 공동체와 나라가 이민자들이 살기에 더 나은 곳이 되도록 실행할 것을 요청합니다.

History

In 2007 synod received an overture raising questions about ministry to undocumented workers, and Synod 2007 responded by appointing a committee to study the matter, under the following mandate:

To study the issue of the migration of workers as it relates to the church’s ministries of inclusion, compassion, and hospitality, and to propose ways for the church to advocate on behalf of those who are marginalized. (Acts of Synod 2007, p. 596)

Synod 2010 received and adopted the report of the Committee to Study the Migration of Workers, highlighting the great need for mercy, compassion, advocacy, and justice in ministering to and for workers and refugees from other countries, as noted in the summary position statement above. In light of this, synod called on the Office of Race Relations, the Office of Social Justice and Hunger Action, and the Committee for Contact with the Government (Canada), to work together with denominational and non-denominational partners toward “policy development and advocacy strategies that will lead to immigration reform and the enactment of fair, just, and equitable laws regarding those without status in Canada and the United States" (Acts of Synod 2010, p. 878).

In response, the offices of Social Justice and Race Relations developed and piloted a curriculum titled Church Between Borders in 2011-2012 and took up the tasks of  “(1) increasing congregations’ capacities to recognize the dynamic challenges that are faced by migrants, (2) helping congregations to remember that we are created to live in community and that throughout history God has blessed the church with opportunities to welcome strangers, and (3) challenging CRC members to personally and publicly commit to taking action to make their communities and nations better places for immigrants to live” (Agenda for Synod 2012, p. 204). Through workshops, newsletters, prayer resources, events, and opportunities to participate in legislative advocacy, these ministries empowered church members to participate in the work of immigration action. In addition, the Timothy Leadership Training Institute expanded the use of its materials “to strengthen the leadership of immigrant churches in our communities and as a tool to encourage the North American churches” to authentic witness in their own communities and beyond (Agenda 2012, p. 284). The Committee for Contact with the Government (Centre for Public Dialogue) followed through with “developing a new research and advocacy priority on refugee issues” (including migrants) based on collaboration with World Renew’s efforts in refugee resettlement in Canada and with the Office of Race Relations (Agenda 2012, p. 192). World Renew, which “has a long history of helping refugees adjust to life in North America” (since 1979), maintains an ongoing refugee resettlement ministry, being “one of about 80 organizations that have been granted a sponsorship agreement by Citizenship and Immigration Canada, which allows it to work with churches to sponsor refugees” (Agenda for Synod 2014, pp. 214-15). Many Christian Reformed communities in Canada have partnered with World Renew in this process, welcoming dozens of immigrant families into Canada each year. In the United States many Christian Reformed churches partner similarly with Bethany Christian Services to help immigrant families learn English as a second language, find jobs, and navigate life in a new homeland.

In 2013 the Office of Social Justice (OSJ) partnered with the Evangelical Immigration Table on organizing and advocacy, joining the CRC’s work together with a broad coalition of evangelical partners. Synod 2014 commended the Committee for Contact with the Government for “pursuing just policies for refugees,” and it commended OSJ for empowering the people of the CRC “to become advocates for those who are poor, oppressed, powerless, and cannot speak for themselves” (Acts of Synod 2014, pp. 557, 560).

In 2016, responding to a report from its Committee to Study Religious Persecution and Liberty, synod advised that World Renew, the Center for Public Dialogue, and the Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations Committee “consider their work with interfaith and refugee groups and . . . strategize ways in which to communicate about the injustice of persecution with the rest of the denomination”; the Office of Social Justice was also tasked “to ensure the collection and distribution of up-to-date information about religious persecution and liberty to CRC congregations” in this regard (Acts of Synod 2016, pp. 862-63). Synod 2017 received a comprehensive report on global humanitarian challenges and adopted a number of recommendations toward ongoing relief, development, and justice efforts, including refugee and immigrant concerns. Synod 2017 also received a report about Churches for Middle East Peace, a coalition of 27 denominations and organizations in which the CRCNA participates along with the Reformed Church in America, and CRC participants noted formation of an ad hoc team “to identify the priorities and strategies for CRC ministries and agencies” in relation to peace-building and other justice issues, including the plight of refugees in the Middle East and causes of displacement (Acts of Synod 2017, pp. 552-55).

Synod 2018, responding to two overtures, asked the executive director to work with agencies and ministries to explore potential processes and resources toward enfolding immigrant churches into the CRCNA, and Synod 2019 received and commended to the classes and congregations a report titled “Assisting Immigrant Churches.” In response to an overture in 2019, synod also instructed that appropriate legal and financial resources be identified for assisting churches and classes with the immigration of pastors and their families.

For updates and ongoing developments about immigration and refugees, visit crcna.org and search the keywords “immigration” and “refugees.”

References to Agendas and Acts of Synod

Agenda for Synod 2007, pp. 402-13
Acts of Synod 2007, pp. 595-96
Agenda for Synod 2010, pp.535-85
Acts of Synod 2010, pp. 875-79
Agenda for Synod 2011, pp. 321
Acts of Synod 2011, pp. 818, 820
Agenda for Synod 2012, pp. 192, 198, 204-205, 284
Acts of Synod 2012, pp. 754
Agenda for Synod 2013, pp. 189, 197, 203-204
Acts of Synod 2013, p. 581
Agenda for Synod 2014, pp. 214-15, 228, 234, 239-40
Acts of Synod 2014, p. 560
Agenda for Synod 2015, pp. 217, 225-26, 228, 237-38
Acts of Synod 2015, p. 671
Agenda for Synod 2016, pp. 203-204, 213-16, 228-29, 231, 471-72, 474
Acts of Synod 2016, pp. 862-63
Agenda for Synod 2017, pp. 146, 159-60, 162, 174-75, 253-54, 261-62, 268, 271-74, 276-77, 279, 285-88, 290-91
Acts of Synod 2017, pp. 470-71, 536-50, 552-55, 633-35, 696-98
Acts of Synod 2018, p. 459
Agenda for Synod 2019, pp. 23, 44-45, 101-110, 513-14, 545-46
Acts of Synod 2019, pp. 777-78