Issue Updates:
Immigration
The New York Times recently reported that 900 migrant children have been taken from their parents since the Trump Administration ended its immoral policy of family separation.
What you can do: Use our tool to email your member of Congress and senators to ask this simple question: "What will you do to stand up for Christian values and demand an end to taking innocent children from their families?"
Email your representative here: https://southernchristians.org/welcome-refugees/
ACA Lawsuit:
Tennessee is part of a lawsuit, Texas v. United States, that could overturn the Affordable Care Act. If the health law is repealed, millions will lose insurance and pre-existing condition protections will vanish. Three members of SCC have requested to meet with Gov. Lee to talk about the consequences of this lawsuit from a faith perspective, but his office has not responded to our latest request.
On July 8, the day before arguments in the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, those three members held a press call to reiterate their request to meet with Gov. Lee to discuss the widespread hurt of ACA repeal and also to understand how Gov. Lee, a man of faith, can be supportive of this harmful lawsuit.
What you can do: Use our tool to email Gov. Lee and ask him to withdraw from the ACA lawsuit
Email Gov. Lee here: https://southernchristians.org/aca-lawsuit/
SCC in the News:
HEALTH CARE | Chattanooga Times Free Press: Christian leaders call on Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee to drop Affordable Care Act lawsuit"
Kelli X, minister at The Village Church in Madison, Tennessee, said the lawsuit is more focused on winning political points than helping people."
"'There seems to be less of a concern about the people that will be affected and more of a concern around making sure that an idea is put across,'" she said. "We have to remember that ideas or political thoughts affect the real lives of Americans and Tennesseans here in our state.'"
Read the story »
HEALTH CARE | Nashville Public Radio: Ministers Ask Tennessee’s Governor To Back Out Of Health Care Lawsuit Ahead Of Court Hearing
"And ministers like Rev. Matt Steinhauer of Faith Lutheran in Lebanon want Governor Lee to do the same, appealing to his Christian faith, which he frequently references."
"'I'd be happy to sit down and listen to governor Lee present why his understanding of Jesus's teaching would be against doing this.'"
Read the story »
IMMIGRATION | Jackson Sun: Madison Co. Sheriff's Office assists ICE in arrests coinciding with immigration crackdown
"'These raids inflict great stress and harm on our immigrant brothers and sisters and traumatize children,' SCC State Director Lenda Sherrell stated in the release. 'Immigrant children are our children. Their families are our families. We, as Christians and faith leaders, are called to love and to care for all families.'"
Read the story »
Thank you for being a part of SCC and speaking up for the values of our shared faith. Please let me know if you have any questions or if SCC can support your work in any way.
Sincerely,
Lenda Sherrell
State Director, Southern Christian Coalition |
