Editorial en Ingles I El Puente


	This updated letter, now with 46 signatures and a still wider representation of congregations and denominations! It was first shared with the public at the ecumenical/multi-ethnic worship service, that was held a College Mennonite Church. Thank you again for the part you play in bringing the good news of God’s reconciliation to our community. December 3, 2006 Dear friends and neighbors in Goshen: We are pastors and leaders in different congregations, representing different denominations, with differences in theology. But we are united in our love for Christ, our concern for the community of Goshen, and our heightened distress over the plight of recent immigrants in our midst. In the past months, we have heard from our Hispanic brothers and sisters of a sharp increase in fear, harassment, and perceived targeting by others in the community. These splits in the fabric of our community concern us greatly. As people guided by the Holy Bible, we believe God calls us to treat the stranger who sojourns among us as the native, to love the stranger as our self (Leviticus 19:34); and to welcome the stranger, because in doing so we welcome Jesus (Matthew 25:35). We do not condone illegal activity, but neither do we condone lack of charity, compassion and welcome toward entire ethnic groups. We trust that all civic-minded members of the community, including our public officials, share our desire for a safe, diverse, and harmonious city. The participation of city leaders, such as the mayor and police chief, in the Community Dialogue meetings and other forums has been particularly helpful. We call on all members of the community, in this time of increased tension, to build trust, offer kindness, and “outdo one another in showing honor” (Romans 12:10). In Christ, Neil Amstutz, Pastor/Team Leader Waterford Mennonite Church Deron Brill Bergstresser, Co-Pastor Faith Mennonite Church Kay Bontrager-Singer, Co-Pastor Faith Mennonite Church Jane Stoltzfus Buller, Pastor Walnut Mennonite Church Kevin Farmwald, Pastor Eighth Street Mennonite Church Firman Gingerich, Pastor College Mennonite Church Rev. Alan L. Griffin, Pastor First Presbyterian Church Jose Luis Gutíerrez, Pastor Comunidad Cristiana Adulam A/G David Helmuth, Overseer Iglesia Mennonita del Buen Pastor Samuel Hernández, Pastor Fuente de Vida Rev. Clair Hochstetler, Chaplain Goshen General Hospital Kristen Hoober, Pastor College Mennonite Church Kim Huffman, Sr. Minister Goshen Christian Church Nancy Kauffmann, Conference Minister Indiana-Michigan Mennonite Conference		Douglas Kaufman, Pastor Benton Mennonite Church Lois Kaufmann, Co-Pastor Assembly Mennonite Church Anita Yoder Kehr, Pastor Berkey Avenue Mennonite Fellowship Pastor John von Lackum Plymouth United Church of Christ Dean Linsenmeyer, Lead Pastor North Goshen Mennonite Church Brenda Meyer, Pastor Benton Mennonite Church Victor Mojica, Pastor Iglesia Hermanos Unidos en Cristo José Ortiz, Pastor Iglesia Menonita del Buen Pastor Brenda Sawatzky Paetkau, Pastor Eighth Street Mennonite Church Captain Jason Pollom, Corps Officer The Salvation Army of Goshen Duane Schafer, Pastor Trinity Lutheran Church Tina Schlabach, Pastor of Care Waterford Mennonite Church Dan Schrock, Pastor, Berkey Avenue Mennonite Fellowship Troy Scott, Senior Pastor Goshen First Church of God Karl S. Shelly, Co-Pastor Assembly Mennonite Church Mel L. Shetler, Pastor Maple City Chapel Ben W. Shirk, Pastor Mt Joy Mennonite Church, Goshen Bob Shreiner, Coordinator of Pastoral Care Oaklawn Psychiatric Hospital Steve Slagel, Pastor East Goshen Mennonite Church Rev. Christopher L. Smith, Pastor St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church Klaudia Smucker, Pastor College Mennonite Church Rev. Ron Spyker Jefferson Brethren Church Tim Stair, Minister of Outreach College Mennonite Church David Swartley, Director of Parish Services St. James’ Episcopal Church Steve Thomas, Pastor Walnut Hill Mennonite Church Jorge Vielman, Pastor El Buen Pastor Tim Waits, Pastor Rock Run Church of the Brethren James H. Waltner, Overseer East Goshen Mennonite Church North Goshen Mennonite Church Rosemary Widmer, Pastor College Mennonite Church Mary Lehman Yoder, Co-Pastor Assembly Mennonite Church