This week, the Regional Ministers of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and our General Minister and President, Rev. Terri Hord-Owens, 
held a retreat in Tucson. As part of their time here, they had the opportunity to hear about the Border Immersion program, a joint venture between Comunidad Limen and our congregation. The immersion experience is designed to inspire participants’ theological imagination and move them towards a Christian praxis for justice.
As the new webpage for the program states, it “uses see-judge-act as a method of analysis to reflect on the realities of border communities and to put our faith values into transformative social action.” That means the program encourages people to see what is happening at the border, including the historical context that shapes current realities; judge realities through the Hebrew Scriptures and Christian Testament; and create an action plan for their faith community.
One point raised in our time together was the ever-changing nature of the border and the constant need to be questioning and seeking to understand current realities and their effect on people, especially as people of faith with a call to be the body of Christ in the world. In fact, we find ourselves in yet another moment of change now as we await the lifting of Title 42. This policy has kept many families and individuals waiting at the border all while breaking international law by preventing people from seeking asylum. As we learn what this change will mean for border communities like ours, we will keep the congregation informed of opportunities to help through Casa Alitas, The Inn, and other endeavors.
In the meantime, we continue our Advent reflection that “In God’s Reign, There Is Room.” We are encouraged to wrestle with what this means for our lives…in God’s reign, there is room!
Blessings,