Meeting as a congregation, Peace United Church has voted, with overwhelming spirit and deep commitment, to join the New Sanctuary Movement. The congregation's decision comes as immigrant friends face unprecedented antagonism and increasing fears of deportation. We encourage religious communities everywhere to consider this important step of solidarity: as we listen closely to the needs, hopes and passions of the immigrant community here in the U.S. For more on the movement, see: https://vimeo.com/189690725.A SANCTUARY PLEDGE:
WE ARE READY
Adopted and Affirmed by the Congregation on Sunday, April 2, 2017
As people of faith and conscience, Peace United Church of Christ pledges to resist the newly elected
presidential administration’s proposals to target and summarily deport millions
of undocumented immigrants, and to discriminate against marginalized
communities. In
keeping with our core values and Christian practice, we offer
our church as a place of sanctuary and refuge for those targeted by hate, or
for undocumented persons unjustly subjected to deportation actions, and we will
work alongside our friends, families and neighbors to ensure the dignity and
human rights of all people.
Looking to the example of Jesus and the ancient traditions of our Christian faith, we are called to practice extravagant welcome, evangelical courage, merciful justice, and loving-kindness. Honoring the history of our United Church of Christ, which recognized houses of worship as refuge for the runaway slave, the conscientious objector, and the Central American refugee fleeing the civil wars of the 1980s, we are called to serve and include neighbors, refugees and all persons in need.
In this spirit, Peace United Church of Christ now joins the New Sanctuary
Movement, growing once again among communities of faith standing in solidarity
with immigrants and marginalized communities facing immoral, unjust, or
discriminatory immigration law enforcement policies. As people of faith and conscience, we will
take civil initiative grounded in a moral imperative to embody principles of
human rights and dignity, and we will resist harmful law enforcement practices that
undermine due process and lead to racial profiling and civil discrimination.
We find ourselves entering a new phase of U.S. history wherein
the politics of fear have created an atmosphere of racism and xenophobia across
the country. The new administration has not only pledged to criminalize, detain
and deport undocumented people, but to target Muslims in ways that will tear
families and communities apart.
In signing this pledge, we dedicate ourselves to educating and
activating our congregation, to amplifying and responding to the voices of
immigrant leaders, and to speaking out against sanctions oppressing any and all
marginalized people. We are ready to accompany those facing deportation and
discrimination. We remain open to the possibility, when appropriate
and sanctioned by our own Church Council, of offering our own church as a
physical refuge for targeted immigrants with legal and spiritual support.
In addition, we will
support those answering the call to provide sanctuary at churches, schools,
hospitals, college campuses, community centers and family homes. We will work
with partner organizations to create sacred spaces of sanctuary and refuge
wherever needed. Should Peace United not be able to make
space in our own facility, we will offer our energies and support to churches
and organizations that can and do.
For more on this action and Peace United's commitment to the New Sanctuary Movement: contact Dave at dgj@peaceunited.org or 831-426-2010.
