Dear Saints,
The recent executive orders by the President affecting the immigrant community among us are causing great concern and distress. These orders are already in effect in California, where ICE raids have commenced in the Central Valley. As members of the Body of Christ, as creators of the Beloved Community of the Diocese of California, we are reminded that these are our siblings and are under our care.
“But the stranger that dwelleth with you shall be unto you as one born among you, and thou shalt love him as thyself; for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God.” — Leviticus 19:34
In times such as these, we are called to “strive for justice and peace among all people.” I call upon our people, our congregations to be present for local immigrant communities. To that effect, I offer the following resources as starting points:
- National Immigrant Justice Center: Know Your Rights – If You Encounter ICE: https://immigrantjustice.org/know-your-rights/ice-encounter (Important information to know)
- ACLU Know Your Rights Training – Jan. 30, 2025: https://act.aclu.org/a/2025-kyr-training-2
- Episcopal Migration Ministries: https://episcopalmigrationministries.org/essential-resources-immigrant-families/
- Faith in Action Bay Area: https://faithinactionba.org/
- Interfaith Movement for Human Integrity: https://www.im4humanintegrity.org/
This work will be hard, but let us remember Bishop Austin’s message to us:
“But most of all, I will continue to look to God and the foundations of our faith when anxiety, fear, and opposition threaten to overwhelm me, and I will couple that deepening dependence on God with the conviction that, regardless of what is to come—if we face it together as a community—Christ will be among us.”
Thank you all for your blessed ministries and for building the Beloved Community of God.
Blessings,
Rev. Ericm
