Communities of Refuge and Hope: Resources for the Journey
The Church faces growing challenges in the United States as we seek to be the beloved community and the presence of Christ in our world. The threat of the mass deportation of immigrants, the growing boldness of hate groups to recruit, train and demonstrate, the deterioration of social trust, and the rise in Christian Nationalism are some of the challenges we face. Ephesians 3:10-13a states, “Through the church the wisdom of God in its rich variety might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places.This was in accordance with the eternal purpose that he has carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have access in boldness and confidence through faith in him.I pray, therefore, that you may not lose heart.”
I have been heartened by three pastor peer conversations that took place in December. We have been able to encourage, resource, and support one another as we seek to be the Church God is calling us to be today. Indeed, God’s Wisdom is being made known.
Following are various themes and resources that came out of these discussions and other conversations that I’ve had. I am grateful to all who shared resources. Please feel free to add additional resources as you learn of them.
-Doug Luginbill, CDC Conference Minister, January 2025
Biblical and Theological Foundations
Our Anabaptist faith calls us to actions of compassion, care for the oppressed and marginalized, and providing communities of hospitality and welcome to the stranger. These values are deeply rooted in scripture and our Anabaptist stories. And we can do much more when we partner and collaborate with other organizations that are equipped, informed, and trained to provide support to marginalized people, including immigrants, refugees, and asylum seekers. Congregations are encouraged to find, build partnerships with and provide support to local organizations who are already doing this good work.
Churchwide Statement on Immigration 2014 Revision of 2003 Statement:
The MC USA delegates affirmed this statement at the convention in 2013. This statement provides many resources for the church.
Here With Purpose: Immigration, Service, Justice.
This is a podcast moderated by Wil LaVeist, Mission Network Senior Executive of Advancement. A panel of members of the Mission Network community share their first-hand accounts of the human suffering and loss experienced at the United States-Mexico border. These stories highlight the unjust conditions faced by many individuals and families attempting to cross the border. The panelists discuss the profound impact these experiences had on their own lives, shaping their personal and professional choices.
Immigration and the Bible – Mennonite Mission Network
For most people, including many members of the Christian community, foundational understandings of immigration come from the news, their neighbors’ opinions, from national security needs, or the country’s legal framework. M. Daniel Carroll R. firmly believes that God’s people can and must do better than this. “Christians should respond self-consciously as Christians to immigration,” he claims, “and the Bible should be their fundamental resource.” -Quoted from the MMN website
What comes next? A moral theologian’s 5 post-election takeaways
Jesuit leader, James F. Keenan, offers observations and opportunities for the church following the 2024 presidential election. He reflects on populism, the erosion of social trust, and the threat of mass deportation.
Finding steady ground https://www.findingsteadyground.com/
This resource provides self-care suggestions when one is feeling overwhelmed. The website states, “When we’re in bad shape, our power is diminished — we’re less creative, more reactive, and less able to plan strategically. If we intend to stay active and effective in the world, we have a responsibility to tend to our spirits.
Communities of Refuge and Hope: A Bold Vision for this Season
Conference Minister, Doug Luginbill, reflects on common themes across Central District Conference that can provide guidance on who we are and how we are called to be the church today.
Educational Resources
Few of us church leaders have much experience with immigration law, responding to the needs of immigrants, and understanding options available for support. It is important that we have some basic understanding of the law and potential legal ramifications of conscientiously disobeying the law.
Recommendations for asylum seekers after the 2024 presidential election
This two-minute YouTube video created by the Asylum Seekers Advocacy Project (ASAP) provides practical advice and counsel to asylum seekers.
Who is My Neighbor: A Summit on Immigration, Springfield, and the Church
This summit is being held in Columbus, OH on Saturday, January 18. The summit is designed to equip Christians with the tools to care for and advocate on behalf of their immigrant neighbors.
Red Cards provide succinct, practical guidance and legal advice to immigrants. All people in the United States, regardless of immigration status, have certain rights and protections under the U.S. Constitution. The ILRC’s Red Cards help people assert their rights and defend themselves in many situations, such as when ICE agents go to a home. You can order Red Cards here: https://www.ilrc.org/red-cards
A December 2024 Anabaptist World article tells about a process used by Columbus Mennonite to discern next steps in their consideration of being a Sanctuary congregation under the new administration. Columbus Mennonite Church considers what sanctuary might look like in Trump’s second term | Anabaptist World
In 2021, Secretary of Homeland Security, Mayorkas, issued new guidance to the Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection regarding “protected areas.” Churches are one of these “protected areas.” The incoming Trump administration has threatened to eliminate the “protected areas” designation. You can see the list of “protected areas” here: https://www.dhs.gov/news/2021/10/27/secretary-mayorkas-issues-new-guidance-enforcement-action-protected-areas
For basic immigration information by the numbers, see https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2024/09/27/key-findings-about-us-immigrants/
Other Practical Suggestions
When the Goshen Mennonite pastors got together on December 5, they provided the following list:
- One of the important things that churches can do is set up legal assistance funds (immigration is expensive).
- Create or maintain good partnerships with immigration aid organizations near you and listen to their advice.
- Because traffic stops will be one way they catch people, providing rides to work will be helpful.
- Churches need to be safe spaces, finding ways to open our doors to protect people.
- When there are fears and misinformation being spread, we need to add a voice of comfort and reassurance.
- Felipe Merino (immigration attorney in Goshen) wrote a book called something like “10 Things Immigrants shouldn’t do.” This is in Spanish now and is being translated to English.
