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Central Conference Approves Immigration Resolution
PRINCETON, IL (May 3, 2006) - Delegates to the 120th Central Conference Annual
Meeting passed a resolution that calls for churches "to faithfully
welcome both documented and undocumented immigrants with the love and
peace of Christ as well as stand in solidarity as a people who bear good
news in thought, word and deed."
Delegates also received three new churches and approved a plan to raise
$13 million to support conference ministries.
After much debate and votes on three amendments to the resolution, the
delegates approved the document 41-16. Adam Phillips, a member of North
Park Covenant Church, brought the resolution.
Two amendments failed by a narrow margin:
- An amendment to remove the words "both documented and undocumented"
failed by one vote.
- The document also states, "Furthermore, we will seek to find
creative ways to work with immigrant work centers, citizenship training
groups, and other church and parachurch organizations in our own
communities." An amendment that would have included the words to
"patriate undocumented immigrants" failed by nine votes. The resolution
would have read, "Furthermore, we will seek to find creative ways to
patriate undocumented workers..."
Delegates approved a third amendment that called on the conference to
submit the resolution to the denomination annual meeting rather than a
document that was "similar."
"The resolution comes out of our church's work with immigrants,"
Phillips said. That includes involvement with the Albany Park Worker's
Center.
Some delegates emphasized the non-political language on an issue that
many believe has become "politicized." Other delegates complained that
the resolution was discussed when many of the delegates already had left
the meeting. Others said the remaining delegates did not have enough
time to reflect on the resolution, which was handed out at the meeting.
Conference Supt. Jerome Nelson said the resolution had been on the
agenda, but was not in the delegate packets because final wording was
being worked out after they were assembled. Although he wished the
resolution had been printed earlier, he noted that anyone could have
brought a resolution from the floor for a vote.
The delegates also received three churches into the conference:
- The House Covenant Church in Chicago, Illinois, has sometimes been
referred to as the "hip-hop church" The monthly worship began three
years ago and draws 500 youth. Phil Jackson is the pastor.
- New Jerusalem Life Covenant Church in Worth, Illinois, was born out
of a teen music ministry. Lawrence Pointer, who grew up in Oakdale
Covenant Church, is the founding pastor. The church is an adoption.
- Community Evangelical Covenant Church in Chicago was a largely
Filipino congregation that is now multiethnic with an attendance of
about 80 people. Leofin Blanco is the pastor.
Delegates also approved a Kingdom Growth Plan announced by Nelson. It
includes the launch of a $10 million estate-giving effort to build an
endowment for the conference, and a $3 million fund-raising effort to
provide money for church planting, revitalization and communication. The
$3 million effort will help sustain the conference's vision announced in
2005: to plant, revitalize and connect conference churches.
In other business, it was noted that the 120th annual meeting was being
held in the same location as the conference's first meeting. Delegates
also affirmed 36 candidates for licensure and commissioning - their
names will be submitted to the denominational annual meeting.
Retired Supt. Herbert Freedholm was warmly recognized as an honorary
delegate.
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