Rev. Reed Lee Pedersen's
During the 2019 Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Churchwide Assembly there was a vote to become a sanctuary denomination. What does this mean? What does this look like? Using the official resources provided by the ELCA[i] it is my hope to answer these questions.
What does it mean to be a sanctuary denomination? ELCA Talking Points: “In its simplest form, becoming a sanctuary denomination means that the ELCA is publicly declaring that walking alongside immigrants and refugees is a matter of faith.” My take: This is not a political stance, but it does have political ramifications. This is a public stance to follow God’s call to take care of travelers and those who are oppressed (i.e. immigrants and refugees) (Deuteronomy 10:19; Leviticus 19:34; Psalm 146:9; Matthew 25:35; Romans 12:13; Hebrews 13:1-3; 3 John 1:15). The ELCA makes a firm declaration that this is an issue of faithfulness to God rather than faithfulness to country or a political party. Is there a historical precedent for doing this? ELCA Overview: Christians have offered sanctuary for two thousand years, continuing an ancient biblical practice in which cities and houses of worship provided refuge and asylum for people fleeing injustice. Started in the 1980s, the Sanctuary Movement was a faith-based initiative to protect Central American refugees fleeing civil war and seeking safety in the U.S. Today, the New Sanctuary Movement is a revived effort for communities of faith to walk alongside immigrants in the U.S. ELCA Taking Points: Except for our members whose ancestors were here before European settlement or others who were forced to come to the U.S. against their will, the ELCA is an immigrant church. Our decadeslong work with immigrants and refugees is how we practice our faith in the world. Lutherans started Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service, one of the nine refugee resettlement agencies in the U.S. My take: The Christian Church has always been one to provide safety for those seeking it. The Lutheran Churches in the United States have been at the forefront of helping immigrants and refugees. Our present time is no different. What does sanctuary actually mean then? ELCA Overview: While there is no uniform definition of sanctuary, its overall purpose is to faithfully and openly act to ensure that all feel safe and welcomed. ELCA Talking Points: Being a sanctuary denomination will look different in different contexts. It may mean providing the space for people to live; providing financial and legal support to those who are working through the immigration system; or supporting other congregations and service providers. We cannot mandate or direct our congregations and ministries to respond in specific ways. Each must work out what this means for them in their context. My take: The definition of sanctuary is meant to be defined at the congregational level. The ELCA is not forcing any of its churches to act in a certain way. This stance as a denomination invites congregations to see how they can help (if they even want to).Being a national denomination the ELCA understands that a church in Arizona may have different definition of providing sanctuary than a church in Andover, Illinois. Is the church asking us to break the law by harboring illegal immigrants? ELCA Overview: One controversial activity that some sanctuary congregations engage in is physically hosting a community member at risk of deportation. While there are varied views as to the interpretation of the law, knowingly concealing, harboring, or shielding (or attempting to conceal, harbor, or shield) an undocumented immigrant from detection by the authorities is illegal. Similarly, knowingly transporting or moving (or attempting to transport or move) an undocumented immigrant from one place to another, where the transportation helps the immigrant remain in the U.S. unlawfully, violates the law. Congregations or individuals that engage in legally controversial practices often view their actions as civil disobedience — knowingly violating a law to shine a light on its injustice. Civil disobedience also has an important and rich history in faith traditions all over the world, but civil disobedience includes accepting the consequences that naturally flow from breaking the law. ELCA Talking Points: Being a sanctuary denomination does not call for any person, congregation or synod to engage in any illegal actions. My take: The ELCA does not require illegal harboring of immigrants, but it also doesn’t criticize it. If you want to provide physical sanctuary, consult a lawyer and move accordingly. If you are willing to break the law as an act of civil disobedience be ready to accept the consequences that come with it. Points to Ponder:
[i] All of this information can be found at https://www.elca.org/SanctuaryChurch.
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AuthorPastor Reed is a first call pastor at Augustana Lutheran Church in Andover, Illinois. Archives
July 2019
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