Mayor Tuerk and Honorable Members of the City Council,

I am Rev. Christopher deForest, and I serve as the bishop of the Northeastern Pennsylvania Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. As Bishop I serve 237 congregations, with roughly 10 thousand members here in the city of Allentown and the Lehigh Valley. We are a diverse body, with a range of backgrounds and political affinities. But we have one common heritage: the Lutheran Church is an immigrant church. Our forebears and families came to Allentown, over the years, to this day, despite the prejudice and fear of some, because there were people who welcomed us, told us we belonged, and included us in the life and work of this community.

Lutherans join other Christians, alongside our Jewish and Muslim neighbors, our neighbors of all faiths, and all neighbors of good will, who stand ready to continue that commitment to welcome. It is deeply embedded in our hearts and minds and souls, for many of us, because it comes from the very Word of God: In Leviticus, God says:  “The alien who resides with you shall be to you, as the native-born among you; you shall love the alien as yourself, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God.” We recall the words of Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew, as he tells through the parable: “I was a stranger and you welcomed me.” We hear St. Paul in his letter to the Romans: “Welcome one another, therefore, just as Christ welcomed you, for the glory of God.”

In my careful study of Bill 4 and all the implications of becoming a “Welcoming City,” I see a clear alignment with the values of my faith, and the values of this community. In an increasingly diverse world, and in this city with such vibrant and interwoven immigrant histories and communities, it is essential that our city fosters an environment where all residents feel safe, supported, and valued. Where all residents have a clear assurance that they will continue to be treated fairly under the law, and given access to the same opportunities available to all residents. By passing this policy, the city would be actively encouraging a sense of belonging and unity among all its residents. And from all the data I have seen, a Welcoming City is a safer city, and a more prosperous city, not just for our immigrant neighbors, but for all of us.

Therefore, I stand in full support of Bill 4, and I encourage you all to vote in favor. May God bless you, and I thank you for your service.