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“Providing sanctuary” enables con- A

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gregations to publicly provide hos- C L Serves as a

pitality and protection to a limited R S number of immigrant individuals A U Sanctuary Church I H (or families) whose legal cases N T C clearly reveal the contradictions S L E A and moral injustice of our country’s PIS C O P current immigration system, while working to support legislation that he Bible continually urges us, would change their situation. Sanc- in both the Hebrew Scriptures tuary churches offer an individual (or family) hospitality. Tand the New Testament, to make the needs of strangers, aliens, The Center for Constitutional Rights and sojourners a high priority. See maintains that if the individual’s Exodus 12:49, Exodus 22:21, Leviti- identity is made public, the congre- cus 19:33-34, Deuteronomy 24:7, gations will not be violating federal Deuteronomy 10:19, Job 31:32, law. However, this argument has Matthew 25:35. Matthew 25:35 is never been tested in court. an important verse, because in it, Our Baptismal Covenant: Jesus says, “I was a stranger, and Will you strive for justice and peace As ASEC moves forward with our among all people decision to shelter an undocument- you welcomed me.” And, as the and respect the dignity of ed immigrant, we will consult legal Rule of St. Benedict says, “All are to every human being? counsel as needed. ACLU (American be welcomed as Christ.” Civil Liberties Union) lawyers offer free legal assistance and advice for sanctuary churches. It is understood that person(s) entering sanctuary at ASEC will:

• Be in the legal process and under an order of deportation All Saints Episcopal Church • Be free of non-immigration 800 Abbot Road felonies East Lansing, Michigan 48823 • Have a good work record Phone: 517.351.7160 • Have a viable case under Website: www.allsaints-el.org current law Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/allsaintsel Twitter: https://twitter.com/RevKit n October 2017, delegates at the 183rd Diocese of Michigan Convention passed a resolution (proposed by All Saints Episcopal Church–East Lansing) in support of sanctuary churches, in support of congregations that offer tangible and spiritual help, and which encouraged all congregations to learn about and consider their roles in immigration sanctuary. Our bishop, the Rt. Rev. Wendell N. Gibbs, Jr., in the Spring 2018 edition of the diocesan Record magazine, spoke out strongly in Isupport of sanctuary. In July 2018 the 79th General Convention of the Episcopal Church adopted Resolution C009, Section 3 of which reads: “Resolved, That The Episcopal Church recommend that its institutions and congregations become places of welcome, refuge, healing, and other forms of material and pastoral support for those targeted for deportation due to immigration status or some perceived status of difference, and that we work alongside our friends, families and neighbors to ensure the dignity and human

rights of all people.”

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Michigan are scheduled for deporta- statement is: “Come A immigrants, but we often miss the H

tion. While it is likely that only a few and be fed, seek L implication this has on our spiritual

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R people will seek sanctuary, the and love God, and S practices and faith tradition. A U

need does exist. From Kalamazoo serve each person I H N T C to Detroit, a coalition of 18 congre- as Christ.” Our bap- S L The second greatest commandment E A gations belong to the sanctuary tismal vows include PIS C O P is to love our neighbour as ourselves church network. As of September, a promise to “strive (Mark 12:31). We must show it by 2018, two were hosting an immi- for justice and peace among all people doing to others as we would want grant in sanctuary. and respect the dignity of every human them to do to us. There is no room being.” We believe that our faith calls us for hatred toward immigrants who As a sanctuary congregation, we will to demonstrate “radical welcome” and seek work, refuge from danger or continue to educate ourselves and “radical hospitality.” persecution. All persons are created our community about immigration in the image of God; thus, we are of issues; commit ourselves to public We believe that God migrated to the one body, of one mankind. Has not advocacy for humane immigration person Jesus, who then became a refu- one Christ redeemed us all? reform that does not tear families gee in Egypt. Beginning with Adam and apart; and possibly, at times, invite Eve, the world’s first immigrants, the For further informationemail Paulette an immigrant who is facing deten- Bible is replete with stories of our faith at [email protected] or visit http:// tion or deportation into sanctuary ancestors being called and sent to lands allsaints-el.org/sanctuary-questions (residence) in our church building. unknown. The story of our faith is told