This past Labor Day weekend, East Bay Pastors invited immigrant workers to the pulpits of over a dozen predominantly African-American congregations, where they shared powerful stories of exploitative conditions and shattered families. Pastors described how reform would move all forward together in the face of economic crisis and reflect core religious values like the biblical call to "welcome the stranger.”

At EBASE, we know that a humane immigration reform that protects immigrant workers' rights is a key part of economic recovery. That's why, this year, EBASE’s Interfaith Committee for Worker Justice partnered with the Black Alliance for a Just Immigration, the East Bay Sanctuary Covenant, and East Bay Housing Organizations to organize our 10th annual "Labor in the Pulpits" program. In the words of one faith leader: "We urgently need a new system that protects workers from exploitation and allows all of God’s children to rise together to shared prosperity."

One example of the day's transformative power was the service at Bay Area Christian Connection in downtown Oakland, where immigrant day laborer Rolando shared his story. "I don’t know, one day to the next, whether I’ll find work – and sometimes, even when do get work, I don’t get paid, Rolando told the congregation. He concluded with a message of solidarity: "I hope you see me as a friend." Servant Brian Woodson, the congregation's pastor, underscored the call for unity in his sermon:  "We must understand that Rolando's story is also our story. ... If we come together rather than stand apart, we could accomplish what we never will accomplish if we don’t come together."

Labor in the Pulpits was a time of powerful fellowship for everyone.  Workers were empowered and touched by the warmth and hospitality of the congregations, and worshippers were inspired by the stories of hardship, endurance, and hope that the workers shared.

The stories weren’t just shared with the congregations that we visited, though – several leading news outlets covered the event and further lifted up the workers’ stories. To read some of the workers’ stories, check out the media coverage of Labor in the Pulpits 2009.

To get involved with our work to protect the rights of immigrant workers, email Diana Rashid (Diana[at]workingeastbay.org).  If you’d like your faith community to be involved in the work of the Interfaith Committee for Worker Justice, email Kristi Laughlin (Kristi[at]workingeastbay.org).