Second Presbyterian Church Comes Out Against English Only

Posted by admin on December 29, 2008

The leadership of the Second Presbyterian Church of Nashville, located on Belmont Blvd. in Green Hills, has issued a formal statement from that congregation in opposition to the English Only referendum. The statement reads:

We, the Session (governing body) of Second Presbyterian Church, with thoughtful consideration, holding dear the values of hospitality and justice which our Christian faith has taught us, oppose the proposed English language charter change.

The Presbyterian General Assembly in 1990 acknowledged “the special claim that immigrants make on Christian conscience and the contributions they make to U.S. society,” and reaffirmed the following principles:

• providing for the human needs of refugees and immigrants;
• non-discrimination in aid and in application of laws and policies,
• upholding constitutional and civil rights;
• protecting lives;
• special consideration for women and children, individuals with special needs, and unification of families;
• provision of adequate resources to communities in order to reduce tensions;
• vigorously combating expressions of racism in policies and their implementation.

The “English only” requirement does not acknowledge the linguistic diversity that has always characterized the U.S. (the result of many factors, including voluntary migration, conquest, employment policies, and compassion toward refugees) and continues today. 

Furthermore it does not manifest the hospitality toward immigrants and refugees that we have every reason to expect in our public and private life. 

We urge the citizens of Nashville to vote No on Amendment One.

The Rev. Jim Kitchens, Senior Pastor of the congregation, said that he believes that Trinity Presbyterian Church is likewise developing a statement against English Only.