United Methodist Bishops Charge Racism in Visa Denials April 27, 2004 By Linda Bloom* PITTSBURGH
(UMNS) – The U.S. government’s denial of visas for some United
Methodists from Africa and the Philippines is both racist and unjust,
according to the denomination’s Council of Bishops. During
an April 27 press conference here, the bishops expressed concern about
factors that prohibited international delegates from attending the 2004
United Methodist General Conference because of visa problems.  | | Bishop
Marshall L. (Jack) Meadors, flanked by a number of fellow bishops,
speaks out about the U.S. government's denial of visas during a press
conference. A UMNS photo by Mike DuBose. |
Speaking
on a windswept plaza of the city’s federal building, Bishop Marshall L.
(Jack) Meadors, currently teaching at Candler School of Theology in
Atlanta, noted the council’s outrage over the perceived mistreatment of
international delegates because of their race or economic status.Eleven
delegates from the Democratic Republic of Congo, five from Central
Congo and six from the North Katanga Conference have been denied visas.
Two delegates each from Nigeria and Sierra Leone were denied visas, as
was one from Zimbabwe. Two of three delegates from the East Africa
Conference who had been denied visas reapplied and were approved. A
Liberian delegate also reapplied and was approved. In the Philippines,
22 delegates initially were denied visas, but 14 reapplied and were
approved. In
all, 42 of the 189 international delegates were initially denied entry
into the United States. On the opening day of conference, 25 delegates
still had no visas and could not attend the legislative meeting. Three
days earlier the bishops passed a resolution “expressing our deep
concern and outrage regarding the lack of hospitality extended to these
delegates, whose only intention is to fulfill their role as a delegate
to the United Methodist General Conference…” The
council applauded efforts by U.S. Senator Richard Lugar (R-Indiana),
and other legislators in addressing the visa problems and pledged to
work with other church agencies to prevent such a situation in the
future.  | | Bishop
Joseph Humper of Sierra Leone, flanked by a number of fellow bishops,
speaks out about the U.S. government's denial of visas during a press
conference. A UMNS photo by Mike DuBose. |
Bishop
Felton E. May of Washington said the bishops also appreciated the
assistance of the Office of Religious Liberty in the U.S. State
Department regarding the visa problem but felt the loss of those still
barred from entry. “This is their family reunion, and they are not among
us,” he added.Pointing
to the fact that white European delegates did not encounter the same
problem with visas, May declared that “racism is no small part of this
matter.” To
Bishop Joseph Humper of Sierra Leone, the denial of visas “is the
denial of justice and sacrifice for peace, love and unity.” The denials
rob these delegates of the privilege of serving the church and
“diminishes the integrity of the people of Africa,” he said. Bishop
Solito Taquero of the Philippines complained that some delegates who
reapplied were still denied an entry visa. “I hope the U.S. government
will do something about it,” he said. The
Council of Bishops also wants the U.S. government to make sure such
visa problems do not occur when the 2008 General Conference meets in
Fort Worth, Texas. “We want the message to get to Washington,” Meadors
said. *Bloom is the director of the New York office of United Methodist News Service
| 
Korean News
