06/29/2026
As United Methodists, when we are baptized or join the Church as members one of the vows we take is, to "resist evil injustice, and oppression in whatever forms they present themselves". In a recent ruling from the Supreme Court, Mullin vs. Doe, ruled that the Temporary Protected Status for 350,000 Haitians and 6,000 Syrians may be revoked, and opened the door to removing the protected status of nearly 1.3 million others. Additionally, another ruling in Mullin vs. Al Otro Lado would enable the US government to turn away asylum seekers before they land on US soil. As we approach the anniversary of our nation, which has been made great by the many, many immigrants who have come here as colonists, asylum seekers, immigrants, and refugees (of whom pretty much anyone who is not a member of the indigenous tribes is related), we as Americans need to respond to this injustice. As United Methodists specifically, and as Christians more generally, We also have a need to oppose this injustice as it violates the Christian ethics regarding the stranger and the foreigner (see Exo. 23:9, Lev. 19:33-34, Deut. 10:18-19, and Matthew 25:31-46). For more details:
https://www.umcjustice.org/latest/united-methodist-agencies-faith-leaders-immigration-lawyers-react-to-scotus-ruling-on-tps-and-asylum-9844
Two resources for your response:
1) Bishop Tom Berlin has suggested some responses in his letter to the Florida Annual Conference (see link in comments)
2) You can call your elected officials and write letters: For us in Auburndale here are the names and numbers to call.
Scott Franklin (District 18): (863)-344-8215
Darren Soto (District 9): (407) 204-3370
Rick Scott: (407) 872-7161
Ashley Moody: (202) 224-3041
The U.S. Supreme Court issued two devastating rulings that dismantle asylum protections and the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) program in the United States.
