Sanctuary Team

In February of 2020 the Sanctuary Team introduced the congregation to a proposal, “Calling for St. Andrew Lutheran Church to be a Sanctuary Congregation.” Members of the team shared how they had broadened their understanding of what it means to show hospitality to resident non-citizens.

A key Bible verse grounding this proposal is Leviticus 19:34:

“The non-citizen who resides with you shall be to you as the citizen among you; you shall love the non-citizen as yourself, for you were non-citizens in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God.”

The plan was to have the congregation vote on declaring St. Andrew a sanctuary congregation at a special meeting on Pentecost Sunday. When the pandemic hit, a decision was made to wait until we could meet in person to consider the proposal.

The Sanctuary Team does not want to delay this decision past another Pentecost. When the Council met on April 15, they decided to recommend this sanctuary proposal to the congregation. During this April Table Talk the Sanctuary Team will reintroduce the proposal to participants and invite dialogue on it. You are encouraged to read the Sanctuary Declaration, below, before we gather to discuss it on April 29.

A special congregational meeting to make a decision on declaring St. Andrew a sanctuary congregation is planned between services on Pentecost Sunday, May 23. In all likelihood we will be meeting by Zoom.

Sanctuary Declaration

Whereas (biblical basis):

  • Hebrew scriptures reminded the Israelites, “When an alien resides with you in your land, you shall not oppress the alien. 34 The alien who resides with you shall be to you as the citizen among you; you shall love the alien as yourself, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God” (Lev. 19:33-34, NRSV).
  • Mary, Joseph and Jesus were refugees, fleeing to Egypt to avoid Herod’s violence (see Matt. 2: 13-15, NRSV).
  • Romans 15:7 (NRSV) admonishes us to “welcome one another, therefore, just as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God” and Hebrews 13:2 (NRSV) exclaims, “Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it.”
  • Jesus said we would see him in the hungry, the thirsty, the stranger, the naked, the sick, and the prisoner (see Matt. 25:34-40, NRSV).

Whereas (historical and social context):

  • After World War II one in six Lutherans in the world were refugees or displaced persons; Lutherans and the Lutheran Church in this country, with the participation of 6,000 congregations, resettled 57,000 refugees in the United States.
  • After the fall of Saigon in 1975 St. Andrew Lutheran was among the Lutheran congregations that sponsored over 50,000 refugees from Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos.
  • During these dangerous times, with people forced to flee their homes in the Middle East due to war, St. Andrew has worked with Lutheran Community Services Northwest to resettle, provide shelter and support to a Syrian family in the Portland metro area.
  • With the rise of houselessness in the U.S. and Portland metro area, including Beaverton, St. Andrew Lutheran has joined with Family Promise to welcome, shelter and assist children and families who have no place to live.
  • With 12 million sisters and brothers from Central and South America living in the shadows, while contributing many gifts and talents to the wonderful diversity of this nation, members of St. Andrew Lutheran have worked with the Interfaith Movement for Immigrant Justice (Oregon), advocating for justice on behalf of detainees at the Northern Oregon Regional Correctional Facility, Sheridan Federal Correctional Institution, Tacoma NW Detention Center, and the Washington County Courthouse. We have participated in vigils, accompanied asylum-seekers to court hearings, and created space for the stories of DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) Dreamers.
  • Oregon Synod declared itself a Sanctuary Synod in 2016 and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America became the first North American denomination to declare itself a Sanctuary Denomination in 2019.

Be it resolved:

That St. Andrew Lutheran Church follow the lead of the Oregon Synod and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America in declaring itself a Sanctuary Congregation.

We recognize that “sanctuary” encompasses a wide variety of actions. In declaring ourselves a Sanctuary Congregation, we commit to:

Education

  • Continuing our study of biblical and other stories of migration and hospitality, injustice and hope.
  • Welcoming and listening to first-hand stories of sanctuary in our own community.
  • Building relationships, through worship and other activities, with immigrants and interfaith partners.
  • Educating ourselves about migration patterns; issues facing immigrants, refugees and others in need of sanctuary; and legislation targeting immigration policy reform through Table Talks, forums, and other special events.
  • Cooperating with organizations that work for immigrant justice.

Advocacy

  • Bearing witness through participation in vigils, direct actions, public events, and visits with elected officials.
  • Advocating via letter-writing and phone calls to public officials and decision-makers.
  • Working cooperatively with Oregon Interfaith Movement for Immigrant Justice, Lutheran Community Services Northwest, Muslim Educational Trust, Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon, and other faith-based communities.

Accompaniment

  • Accompanying immigrants, at their request, to immigration hearings, appointments, and meetings as we are able.
  • Seeking ways to provide financial support, when appropriate and needed, because of hardships imposed by immigration-related proceedings and issues.

Shelter and Safety

  • Providing material and/or financial support, as we are able, for sister congregations (e.g., Augustana Lutheran, Cedar Hills United Church of Christ) who offer sanctuary to immigrants at risk.
  • Responding to the call to offer temporary physical shelter and safety to immigrants at risk of deportation. Requests will be considered on a case-by-case basis and in consultation with the Interfaith Movement for Immigrant Justice and confirmed by vote of our Congregational Council.

February 5, 2020

The Oregon Synod is a Sanctuary Synod

The Oregon Synod was the first synod in the ELCA to designate itself as a “Sanctuary Synod” through a vote in 2016. In partnership with the ELCA’s AMMPARO program, Oregon’s Interfaith Movement for Immigrant Justice (IMIrJ) and a focused network of local immigration experts we work for safety, respect, welcome and work for all people.

The ELCA is a Sanctuary Denomination

Evangelical Lutheran Church in America: God's work. Our hands.

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.

Being a sanctuary denomination means that we, as church together, want to be public and vocal about this work. It will look different for everyone, but welcoming people is not a political issue for us – it is a matter of faith.