Bishop Eaton statement on Haitian community in Ohio

​You shall also love the stranger, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt
(Deuteronomy 10:19).

Dear church, 

The recent national spotlight on Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio, clearly has fanned flames of hate and stoked threats of violence. The rhetoric has created discord and mistrust of people who have already suffered civil unrest in their nation and been granted legal protection in the United States. History shows us that this kind of hatred often carries negative national and global consequences. Our church teaches that immigrants are children of God, made in God's image and worthy of respect and lives of dignity. God calls us to witness boldly to this truth when people tell dehumanizing lies that perpetuate racist tropes and support white supremacist narratives. 

As people of faith, we and others look to God's command to "not bear false witness against your neighbor" (Exodus 20:16). Martin Luther explains: "We are to fear and love God, so that we do not tell lies about our neighbors, betray or slander them, or destroy their reputations. Instead we are to come to their defense, speak well of them, and interpret everything they do in the best possible light" (Martin Luther, Small Catechism, Eighth Commandment; Book of Concord, page 353).  

Recognizing historic discriminatory policies and treatment of African descent immigrants, the ELCA has specific commitments to strengthen advocacy, protection and accompaniment of Black migrants. The ELCA participates in and promotes the United Nations International Decade for People of African Descent. We stand in solidarity with the Haitian community in the United States. We pray alongside Bishop Suzanne Darcy Dillahunt and the Southern Ohio Synod, Wittenberg University and Springfield area congregations responding to hateful speech and threats of violence in their communities.  

Please pray and take action to stop the spread of hate. As followers of Christ, we are called to love neighbors. Below are resources to support this call. 

In peace,
The Rev. Elizabeth A. Eaton
Presiding Bishop, ELCA  

For more information and resources see:

Explanation of the Declaration of the ELCA to People of African Descent
Advocate For and Protect Black Migrants - Social Policy Resolution CA22.01.09 
A Message to the Southern Ohio Synod | Southern Ohio Synod
AMMPARO Migrant Ministry 
ELCA Social Message on Immigration