[amc] FW: FW: Mennonite Church USA News Service release: Visas denied for speakers for Women of Color Gathering
- From: "garland robertson" <pastor@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: "Austin Mennonite Church" <amc@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Tue, 9 Oct 2007 09:59:19 -0600
Members and Friends of Austin Mennonite Church
I am forwarding the information below for you awareness.
May it go well with you. Sincerely,
Garland Robertson
...always hold firmly to the thought that each one of us can do something to
bring some portion of misery to an end
_____
From: MC USA News Service
Sent: Friday, October 05, 2007 10:55 AM
Subject: Mennonite Church USA News Service release: Visas denied for
speakers for Women of Color Gathering
Note the news release that just went out. If you feel so inclined a letter
to the state department would be appreciated.
October 5, 2007
Visas denied for speakers for Women of Color Gathering
By Marathana Prothro
NEWTON, Kan. - After months of preparation for a gathering of women of color
titled "Encountering the face of God" to be hosted at Associated Mennonite
Biblical Seminary in Elkhart, Ind., Oct. 5 to 7, organizers received
confirmation Tuesday that visas were denied for two of the event's featured
speakers, Ofelia Garcia of Mexico City and Sidonie Swana Falanga of
Kinshasa, Congo.
The Encountering the Face of God/Encontrándonos con el Rostro de Dios event
- organized by Mennonite Church USA, MCC U.S., Associated Mennonite Biblical
Seminary and Mennonite Women USA - will provide a space for Mennonite
Racial/Ethnic women to gather and share of their experiences, support one
another and explore Anabaptist theology through their unique lenses. The
sharing at this event will join the work of other Latina theologians
throughout the Americas and will come together at Mennonite World Conference
in Paraguay in 2009.
Garcia and Falanga originally were invited to participate in the event
because of their previous experience exploring theology together. Falanga
works with women theologians in Democratic Republic of Congo, and Garcia has
worked alongside Alix Lozano of Colombia to explore Anabaptist theology with
Latinas. Elizabeth Soto, one of the conference organizers, will present on
behalf of Garcia this weekend.
"We want them to know that they were an integral part of what we were hoping
and dreaming about and part of what the conference was all about was what
we're experiencing," says Iris de León-Hartshorn, director of Intercultural
Relations for Mennonite Church USA Executive Leadership.
In response to the denied visas, Mennonite Church USA Executive Leadership,
MCC U.S. and others have been writing letters of protest to the State
Department expressing concern over the situation. De León-Hartshorn says the
letters also will help Garcia and Falanga feel the support of their sisters
and brothers in the United States.
The U.S. State Department cited a lack of assets as a key reason for denying
the visas, says de León-Hartshorn. "Apparently," she said "the government
does not see their work, churches, communities and families as assets" that
would bring them back to their home countries.
De León-Hartshorn says Garcia and Falanga's absence is representative of
part of the issues bringing the women together at Encountering the Face of
God/Encontrándonos con el Rostro de Dios event. Not only is it an example of
migration and immigration issues that separate Anabaptist women across
borders; it also illustrates the strength women of color gain from each
other, de León-Hartshorn says.
"One of the things is that in the midst of struggle, women of color have
found ways to connect, no matter what," de León-Hartshorn says. "We're not
going to let this barrier dictate how or whether we connect with our
sisters. We're going to find a way to do that. I don't know what it is, but
I'm sure that with God's leading and Spirit, something will come up."
De León-Hartshorn explains that the average person in Mennonite Church USA
should be concerned about the denial of these visas because the situation is
representative of previous and future situations that will make it difficult
for the church to pursue mutually beneficial relationships with Mennonites
in other parts of the world. Making and strengthening global connections is
one of four missional churchwide priorities adopted by the Mennonite Church
USA Executive Board in 2006.
A 13-member Mennonite Church USA delegation visited Democratic Republic of
Congo in February in an effort to build church-to-church relationships with
Mennonite churches in Congo. The visit came almost two years after visas
were denied to a group of Congolese Mennonite leaders trying to visit the
United States for a Mennonite World Conference gathering in 2005. Falanga's
visa was denied then as well.
"Unless the United States changes its policy, it's going to be very hard for
the Christian church, in general, to have global partnerships that are
mutual. There will always be the country that has the power, the access and
the money to be able to make the connections and the trips while others do
not."
Photos Available.
Ofelia Garcia
Sidonie Swana Falanga
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