Advocating for Dreamers: A Wesleyan Approach to U.S. Immigration Reform

This paper argues that Wesley's theology supports radical hospitality toward all U.S. immigrants, regardless of documentation. Specifically, the emphasis John Wesley placed on loving one's neighbor forces us to consider the immigrant's well being alongside our own. Additionally, his u...

Full description

Saved in:  
Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Clapp, Rebekah (Author)
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
Check availability: HBZ Gateway
Journals Online & Print:
Drawer...
Fernleihe:Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste
Published: Seminary [2019]
In: The Asbury journal
Year: 2019, Volume: 74, Issue: 1, Pages: 67-84
IxTheo Classification:CG Christianity and Politics
KAJ Church history 1914-; recent history
KBQ North America
KDD Protestant Church
NCC Social ethics
Online Access: Volltext (doi)
Volltext (kostenfrei)
Description
Summary:This paper argues that Wesley's theology supports radical hospitality toward all U.S. immigrants, regardless of documentation. Specifically, the emphasis John Wesley placed on loving one's neighbor forces us to consider the immigrant's well being alongside our own. Additionally, his understanding of liberty calls for Christians to support human flourishing for all people. Further, Wesley's argument that all humanity is to be considered equal rejects any idea of superiority or supremacy as justification for withholding hospitality. Finally, in John Welsey's daily spiritual practices, he emphasized care for society's most vulnerable members- who must, in contemporary times, include the immigrant. In John Wesley's writing and practice he demonstrated a Christian commitment to public engagement with complex structural realities; his comprehensive perspective of social holiness necessitates a consideration for the justice of the most vulnerable members of our society: the children of undocumented immigrants. This paper was originally presented at a Social Holiness Colloquium held from April 26-27, 2018 at Asbury Theological Seminary.
ISSN:2375-5814
Contains:Enthalten in: The Asbury journal
Persistent identifiers:DOI: 10.7252/Journal.01.2019S.04