Reformed Identity in US Committee shows care for laborers, detainees

On its last day of online deliberation Wednesday, commissioners of the Reformed Identity in the U.S. Committee were busy with issues ranging from a bill of rights for those in forced labor and human rights for those in detention centers and migrants living in fear. 

The committee also referred with comment an overture calling for the reinstatement of the Office of Theology & Worship that fell victim to budget cuts in 2024. RUS-03 was brought by the Presbytery of Susquehanna Valley.

Ivan Herman, overture advocate from North Central California Presbytery, introduced RUS-O4, On Human Trafficking and Forced Labor Bill of Rights. 

He told the committee how a Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Peacemaking travel study seminar to the Philippines and Hong Kong inspired John Wallace of North Central California Presbytery and other travelers to advocate for these workers. 

On the travel study, they met some of those forced into labor. They heard of abuses, poor living conditions, lack of privacy, and theft of personal papers and identifications.

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People forced into labor work in farm fields, homes and in the commercial sex industry. The lack of power that poverty brings leads them into unsafe circumstances. Millions are trafficked in countries all over the world.  

Wallace and the other travelers carried those stories home, prayed and discerned. What resulted was the Forced Labor Bill of Rights, a litany of abuses turned to what should be. 

On Wednesday, the committee got their hands on that list, and continued adding to the list, refining and strengthening it. 

RUS-04 requests that Presbyterian Life & Witness lift Human Trafficking Human Rights: Children of God, Not for Sale, and add the Forced Labor Bill of Rights to it online. It also asks for advocacy for victims of forced labor, for congregations and mid councils and ecumenical partners to pray for and with forced labor workers, learn about the issues and engage in advocacy.  

Asked to help Wallace write RUS-04, Herman noted the great help provided by the Rev. Joram Calimutan of the Asia Pacific Mission for Migrants (APMM), who helped lead the Peacemaking study trip.  

“I want to impress upon the committee how special it is for the General Assembly to hear an overture that is written with our global ecumenical partners to address a problem we all share in common,” Herman said.  

Commissioners wasted no time studying the overture, especially the Bill of Rights honoring those suffering in forced labor.  

Robert Joe Lee, a ruling elder from Southern New Jersey Presbytery, wanted to make it clear that workers should receive 24 hours, a full day, off from work each week. Commissioners debated how to express the fact that workers should work a reasonable workday.  

Aaron Ceradoy, a partner advisory delegate who is also a member of APMM, offered an amendment to the overture to urge Presbyterians to engage migrant workers to join in this advocacy and to support emergency response assistance, “spiritual, mental, physical, legal, etc.,” for victims of forced labor.  

Commissioner the Rev. Jonathan Britt, a teaching elder from the Presbytery of Philadelphia, added “any surveillance” to a line about having a private home free of cameras.  

Commissioner the Rev. Dr. Jason Santos, a teaching elder from the Western Presbytery of Colorado, suggested an amendment to urge Presbyterians to examine personal and corporate consumer practices regarding products made through forced labor.  

While human trafficking is a global issue, there is a high prevalence of forced labor in the U.S., most often in unregulated industries such as agriculture and domestic work.  

Ruling Elder Grace Wang of Seattle Presbytery said that the amendment around advocacy helps engage the church. “This moves beyond education and advocacy,” she said. “The church can actually move forward on the bill of rights.” 

RUS-03, Overture to Reinstate Office of Theology & Worship, requests at least one position be added to work in all necessary areas of theology and worship. 

The Rev. Rachel M. Helgeson and the Rev. Dr. John F. Helgeson brought the overture. When news came that the Office of Theology & Worship had been disbanded, Rev. Dr. Helgeson said someone asked him what had happened to the Presbyterians.  

“He said, ‘have they forgotten how to be a church?’ I didn’t know what to say,” Rev. Dr. Helgeson said. 

The Rev. Dr. Ray Jones, a resource person from Presbyterian Life & Witness, said the duties that had been carried out by the former officer of theology had been shared among several staff members. He said there are plans also to collaborate across the unified agency. 

Commissioners voted to refer the request to the new Presbyterian Life & Witness Board for further study. 

Commissioners also heard three commissioner recommendations: RUS-12, on bringing justice for immigrants in detention centers; RUS-13, on strengthening democracy by checking executive power; and RUS-14, defending human rights of migrants. 

The committee approved all three with amendments.