An Open Letter to Governor Robert Bentley, Senator Scott Beason, and Rep. Micky Hammon:

Forty-eight years ago, while sitting in a Birmingham jail cell, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. wrote that, just as Christians have a moral duty to obey just laws, they also have a moral duty to disobey unjust ones.  We are a group of United Methodist ministers from all across the state of Alabama who believe that HB 56 is an unjust law.  Both proponents and opponents of the bill have described HB 56 as the “toughest immigration law in the country.”  Among other measures to discourage illegal immigration, it gives police the ability to stop anyone they have a “reasonable suspicion” may be here illegally.  It requires schools to verify the immigration or citizenship status of students.  It denies bail to anyone arrested for being here illegally.  And, it makes it a crime for a citizen to associate with undocumented persons, whether that be inviting them to one’s home or church or giving them a ride in a car. 

We know that many who support this law are well-meaning individuals who are seeking to find the state's best interest: they are people who are worried about employment in this fragile economy and some feel that the state is strained to pay for services like health care, police protection, and education for those who may be here illegally.  These are all valid concerns.   

We believe, however, that many elements of this law are not in the state’s best interest.  Teachers and principals are already stretched thin and have suffered tremendous budget cuts.  Requiring them to also verify the immigration status of students will, in all likelihood, cost rather than save money and can only distract them from their most important task: preparing our children to succeed.  Prohibiting bond to people who are here illegally means that more and more people will be kept in jails that are already overcrowded and understaffed.  Finally, this law will most certainly be challenged in court and could cost the state millions of dollars at a time when nearly every state board and agency must accept budget cuts in this economy. 

As Christian ministers, however, we believe that this law is not only impractical, but it also contradicts the essential tenets of the Christian faith.  In Exodus 22:21, God commands the people, “You shall not oppress a resident alien, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt,” and in Leviticus 19:34 God says, “You shall love the alien as yourself.”  In one of his most famous parables, Jesus used the example of the Good Samaritan – someone who was not considered a true Jewish citizen -- who stopped to help a battered and beaten man while the leaders of the people passed him by.  And the apostle Paul taught us that in Christ there is “no longer Jew or Greek, slave or free, male or female, but all are one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:28). 

HB 56 would force many of our churches and many people in our churches to become lawbreakers, because we believe that God has called us to be a church in ministry to ALL people.  United Methodists across the state welcome people regardless of immigration or citizenship status.  Many of our fastest growing churches are Spanish-speaking, and we do not check people’s immigration status at the door.  In response to Jesus’ admonition in the parable of the Last Judgment to feed the hungry, give water to the thirsty, clothe the naked and welcome the stranger, many churches have ministries to care for those who are poor by providing them with food, shelter, and transportation.  Again, we do not check people’s immigration status before inviting them into our church vans and cars.  We United Methodist clergy will continue to be in ministry to all people and we call on all United Methodists to do the same.  We call on the governor to call a special legislative session to review this bill, and we call on the legislature to repeal HB56.

In Christ’s Peace,

Rev. R.G. Lyons, Community Church without Walls United Methodist Church

Rev. Matt Lacey, Woodlawn United Methodist Church

Bishop Will Willimon, bishop of North Alabama Conference of the United Methodist Church

Rev. A. Theodore Peterson, Talladega United Methodist Church

Rev. Abigail L. Carlisle-Wilke, Trinity United Methodist Church, Huntsville

Rev. Alex Beaube, Blountsville United Methodist Church

Rev. Amanda Rochelle, Gurley United Methodist Church

Rev. Amy DeWitte, Highlands United Methodist Church, Huntsville

Rev. Angela Martin, Harpersville United Methodist Church

Rev. Bart Thau, Pleasant Hill Hispancie United Methodist Church

Rev. Becky M. Wadley

Rev. Belinda Freeman, Holt United Methodist Church

Rev. Belinda Rives, Betthany and Bradford United Methodist Churches

Rev. Ben Padgett

Rev. Benjamin Abney, Hurricane and Greens Chapel United Methodist Churches

Rev. Bill Gandy, District Superintendent Mountain Lakes District

Rev. Bill Gunn, retired

Rev. Bill Morgan, Canterbury United Methodist Church, senior pastor

Rev. Billy Timmons, Red Bay United Methodist Church

Rev. Brandon Harris, Avondale United Methodist Church

Rev. Brantlett Butler

Rev. Brian Erickson, Alabaster United Methodist Church, senior pastor

Rev. Dale Capron, Christ and Durr’s Chapel United Methodist Churches

Rev. Dale Clem, Monte Sano, United Methodist Church

Rev. Dalton Styes

Rev. David Barnhart, Trinity United Methodist Church, Homewood

Rev. David Bailey

Rev. David Commer

Rev. David Holmes, Propst Memorial United Methodist Church

Rev. David Lowe, Riverchase United Methodist Church

Rev. Dean Bowers, St. Luke’s United Methodist Church

Rev. Deb Welsh

Rev. Deborah Epley, Central Park United Methodist Church

Rev. Dedric Cowser, Sweet Home United Methodist Church  

Rev. Dee Dowdy, Flint Hill United Methodist Church  

Rev. Denise Mullaney, Alabaster United Methodist Church 

Rev. Disney Weaver, Shady Grove United Methodist Church  

Rev. Donna Godwin, Huffman United Methodist Church  

Rev. Doreen Duley, retired

Rev. Dr. Bill Etheridge, Alexander City United Methodist Church 

Rev. Dr. John Russell, Gandy’s Cover and Falkville United Methodist Churches

Rev. Dr. Richard Stryker, District Superintendent Southeast District

Rev. Dr. Thomas Muhomba

Rev. Drew Holland, Trinity United Methodist Church, Homewood

Rev. Earl Freeman, Hargrove Memorial United Methodist Church  

Rev. Ellin Jimmerson

Rev. Eric Bagwell, Fayette United Methodist Church

Rev. Fernando del Castillo, Riverchase United Methodist Church Hispanic Congregation

Rev. Hampton Kicklighter

Rev. Herb Williamson, retired

Rev. Howard Williamson,

Rev. Hughey Reynolds, Latham United Methodist Church 

Rev. Ian Butler, Liberty United Methodist Church 

Rev. Dr. J Lawrence Brasher, Denson N. Franklin Professor of Religion, Birmingham-Southern College

Rev. Jack Hinnen, Chaplain, Birmingham-Southern College

Rev. Jason Toves, Bayview United Methodist Church

Rev. Jeanet Berruecos, Ethnic Ministries Director, Northeast District

Rev. Jim Napp, retired

Rev. Jim Savage, Riverchase United Methodist Church, senior pastor

Rev. Jim Short, retired

Rev. Jimmy Bassham, Athens First United Methodist Church 

Rev. Joan Napp, retired

Rev. Joe Estes, retired

Rev. Joseph DeWitte, Lacey’s Spring and Mt. Tabor United Methodist Churches

Rev. Julie Holly, Discovery United Methodist Church

Rev. Kathy Griffith, Fayette United Methodist Church 

Rev. Keith Thompson, Birmingham First United Methodist Church, senior pastor

Rev. Kelly Clem, Holmes Street United Methodist Church  

Rev. Ken Smith, retired

Rev. Kevin Higgs, Brownsville United Methodist Church  

Rev. Kevin Payne, Dadeville United Methodist Church 

Rev. L Paul McWhorter, Turkeytown United Methodist Church  

Rev. Larry Horne, retired

Rev. Larry Knedlik, retired

Rev. Lawrence Wilson, retired

Rev. Lillian Eddleman, Church of the Reconciler United Methodist Church 

Rev. Lyle Holland, Church at Cahaba Bend United Methodist Church

Rev. Lynn Dimon, Crumly Chapel United Methodist Church

Rev. Mack Chapman, retired

Rev. Malcolm E. Larkin, retired

Rev. Malinda Jowers Weaver, Ashland First United Methodist Church 

Rev. Marcus Singleton, St. Paul’s United Methodist Church 

Rev. Marjorie Palmer, retired

Rev. Mark Parris, Northport United Methodist Church

Rev. Marshal Kit Carson, retired

Rev. Martha Rovira, director of Hispanic ministries, Alabama-West Florida conference

Rev. Matt Reed, Trinity United Methodist Church, Huntsville

Rev. Matthew M. Smith, Taylorville United Methodist Church 

Rev. Melissa Self Patrick

Rev. Michael T. Edmonson, Helena United Methodist Church 

Rev. Mickey Morgan, retired

Rev. Mike Harper, retired

Rev. Mike Holly, Canterbury United Methodist Church 

Rev. Mitchell Williams, Cullman First United Methodist Church 

Rev. Nancy Hornsby, Vestavia Hills United Methodist Church

Rev. O.C. Brown, retired

Rev. Oliver Clark, retired

Rev. Patricia Goff, Forrest Lake United Methodist Church 

Rev. Patsy Calberg

Rev. Paula Calhoun, Stepping Stone United Methodist Church

Rev. Phillip Huckaby, retired

Rev. R. Neil McDavid, Alabama-West Florida Connectional ministries director

Rev. Reagin Brown, retired

Rev. Robert Benjamin Roundtree, Wesley Chapel and Detroit United Methodist Churches 

Rev. Robert E. Mercer, Helena United Methodist Church 

Rev. Roger K. Thompson, Gadsden First United Methodist Church 

Rev. Roger Wilson, Bothwell and Salem United Methodist Churches 

Rev. Ron Schultz, district superintendent of Central and South Central Districts

Rev. Sally Allocca, East Lake United Methodist Church 

Rev. Sam Frazier, McDonald Chapel United Methodist Church 

Rev. Scott Coats, Mt. Moriah United Methodist Church 

Rev. Sherill Clontz, Assistant District Superintendent, Northeast District

Rev. Stephanie Arnold, Birmingham First United Methodist Church

Rev. Stephen Benefield, Alabaster United Methodist Church

Rev. Steve Baccus, Roanoke First United Methodist Church 

Rev. Steve West 

Rev. Stewart Jackson, retired

Rev. Suzie Knedlk, retired

Rev. Tae-Won Kang, Huntsville Korean Methodist Church

Rev. Terry Greer

Rev. Timothy Tatum

Rev. Tom Betts, Mt. Tabor United Methodist Church 

Rev. Tom Duley, retired

Rev. Tom Salter, Sumiton Unietd Methodist Church 

Rev. Tonny Algood, United Methodist inner city mission, Mobile

Rev. Vicki Cater, Steele United Methodist Church 

Rev. Warren Nash, Canterbury United Methodist Church 

Rev. Herb Robertson, Chaplain, Brookwood Medical Center

Rev. Dr. Lance Moore, Gulf Shores

Rev. Gene Lankford

Rev. Al Lewis, House of Restoration United Methodist Mission

Rev. Dorothy Gerr, Chaplain, Brookwood Medical Center

Rev. Odis Minnitt, Pleasant Grove United Methodist Church 

Bishop Bob Morgan, retired

Rev. Michelle Hunter, Taylorville UMC

Rev. Joe Elmore, retired

Rev. Al Dean, Eva UMC

Rev. Kathy Albers

Rev. R. Thomas Aaron, retired

Rev. Tammy Jackson

Rev. Russell Hestley