Florida-Bahamas Synod

Rev. Ralph H. Young aged 91, entered life eternal in Grand Rapids, MI on Sunday, April 28, 2013.

Rev. Neil MacQueen is a Presbyterian minister, and the owner of Sunday Software Inc. located in Sarasota, FL. He is well-known for his catalog of Christian software that's reviewed, tested and proven for use in Christian education.

New! The Evangelical Lutheran Worship Prayer Book for the Armed Services was developed with contributions and the review of chaplains and other service members.

Nine-hundred and fifty-two voting members plus visitors, ecumenical guests, and congregational observers will celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America at the upcoming Churchwide Assembly.

The members of Hope Lutheran Church, Port Charlotte have passed the halfway mark in their commitment to raise enough money to purchase 25 cows for the Lutheran Church of Haiti.

The Reverend Bruce Hobert, Mount Dora, entered the Church Triumphant on May 7, 2013. 

It all started with an air conditioner. More specifically, the lack thereof.

Children's playground equipment will honor the life work of Margarita Romo, Resurrection House Mission/Dade City.  

Members of Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in Holmes Beach spent a good part of a recent Saturday making a Habitat for Humanity house in nearby Ellenton into a home.  

In the interview below, Rev. Dr. Jon Keiser, Senior Pastor of the Lutheran Church of Our Saviour and Chair, Bishop’s Immigration Task Force (Bishop Edward Benoway, Florida-Bahamas Synod), answers questions put to him by Folabi Olagbaju, Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Services National Director for Organizing, conducted the interview by email:   

Folabi Olagnbaju (FO): Why do you think immigration reform is important?

Rev. Dr. Jon Keiser (JK): With myriads of rules, regulations, and over 100 immigration categories, and after years of irregular enforcement policies, the system has morphed to become dysfunctional. It no longer serves our country’s needs. As evidenced by our video, the current system is tearing apart families and killing dreams. It is also hurting our country by preventing qualified persons from entering the work force, professional and otherwise. The current system has created a society of vulnerable and suffering people. It rewards incarceration and costs hundreds of millions of dollars.  Comprehensive reform is necessary to restore the great immigration heritage that is the history of America. We are unique in the world because our American history was, and continues to be, written by immigrants.  From a Christian point of view the system has ceased to serve our Christian and American principles of family, justice, mercy, hope, and second chance opportunity. Both the Hebrew Scriptures and the New Testament place enormous emphasis upon hospitality to the sojourner as God’s purpose.

FO: What prompted you to make a video? http://blog.lirs.org/florida-renews-call-for-immigration-reform-state-action-alert/

JK: This video is the second video made by our team for the Florida-Bahamas Synod Assembly. The current political situation is ripe for a long-awaited complete and comprehensive overhaul. This video shows two stories of young adult DREAMers who could be contributors to our nation’s livelihood. Yet their families have either been wrecked and/or their dreams placed on hold by the current system. Yet, they hold onto their dreams of being productive citizens in this society and culture, the country in which they were raised and schooled. This country is their home. The purpose of the video is to bring their stories to light to engender a sense of patriotism and Christian responsibility to act for justice by contacting their legislators advocating for a just reform, especially providing a reasonable pathway to citizenship, reunification of families, and just and merciful enforcement of policies.

FO: Why does the Immigration Task Force in your synod believe people should take action now?

JK: There has been no better time in recent years to act than now. Finally, the social and political climate is right for Congress to act on a comprehensive reform bill that will be just and fix the dysfunctionality of the system. The entire spectrum of Christian belief is united in one voice for reform. Our Christian responsibilities include ministries of mercy, faithfulness and justice which are the “weightier matters of the Law”. (Matthew 23:23). Thus we are compelled to act by contacting our legislators and by making our principles known to them