Our country stands at a critical point in its history. Our heritage as a nation of immigrants is at stake.

The war on terrorism has made national security a legitimate concern, and a rising deficit, changes brought on by globalization and even the price of oil have thrown the nation's economic health into question.

I think that together the church has learned a lot, and as we know from our own oversight board, the involvement of our wonderful lay leaders has been a real grace.

By and large the United States has been able to resist the temptation to close its doors to the world.