I’m sure many of you are as concerned as I am about the current state of affairs concerning our immigrant neighbors, especially Muslim and Hispanic people of all ages and walks of life. We are not alone in our worry.
Last Sunday there was a meeting sponsored by the Church Council of Greater Seattle and held at University Unitarian that addressed the issue of sanctuary. About 80 people from area congregations attended the meeting, which included speakers from churches that have offered sanctuary as well as lawyers who work in immigration.
For those of you unfamiliar with the term, sanctuary is a place of safety or refuge. An early form of sanctuary in our country was the underground railroad. During the Central American crisis, some churches* provided sanctuary to undocumented immigrants. (This was different than the Vietnamese refugee/resettlement issue.) In recent years, a few houses of worship have offered sanctuary for those who face deportation. Today, in light of changing policies, many congregations are considering what it would look like for their churches to offer sanctuary in these times. Unlike earlier, those most at risk today fall into three classes: professional, DACA or Dreamers, and those already residing in the U.S.
The meeting on Sunday covered many aspects of what it means to protect or harbor a person or family at risk of deportation. Yes, it is against the law but is long believed to be protected under the first amendment’s provision of religious freedom and expression. Earlier administrations have not entered into houses of worship (or schools or hospitals) to detain individuals. It is unclear what the current administration will set as policy. However, churches across the country are either already providing sanctuary or are actively considering it.
In the Seattle area, there is an active conversation about which churches might be in the position to provide sanctuary and which ones can support those that do. It was noted that congregations do this with strong ‘buy-in’ from their congregants, knowing that providing sanctuary is risky, could be of indeterminate length, and needs a lot of support. Churches, and their members, are having this conversation because they feel strongly about acting out what it means to love your neighbor and to work for justice. For Unitarian Universalists, it is showing up on the side of love.
The felt immediacy of the crisis generated by the travel ban and increased raids and arrests, has escalated both fear and compassion. There will be additional meetings to coordinate and educate leaders and congregations on what it would mean to provide sanctuary.
I will keep you posted and hope that Northlakers can also have a conversation.
Blessings,
Rev. Marian
*During the Central American crisis, Northlake voted to be a Sanctuary church. When I asked about this, it was remembered by long-time members as mostly symbolic in support for our sister congregation, East Shore, and their vote to be Sanctuary.
First Unitarian Society of Denver is in the news as a sanctuary church.
This Huffington Post articleincludes a moving and informative video.
This is a cnn.com article dated 2/17/17.