Dear Deputies and Alternate Deputies:
Each time we gather at Christ’s table, we proclaim an ancient truth that echoes through the centuries: Divine love knows no borders, grace flows as freely as living water, and in the face of the stranger, we may encounter Christ himself. Today, The Episcopal Church stands at a profound crossroads where our deepest theological convictions call us to prophetic action.
Our Sacred Foundation
Like threads woven through Scripture’s tapestry, the story of divine welcome shapes our story—from Abraham’s journey to the Holy Family’s flight into Egypt. When we offer welcome to the stranger, we echo Christ’s own table fellowship with those whom society pushed to the margins. These ministries of welcome are not peripheral programs but vital expressions of who we are as Christ’s body—as essential to our worship as the bread and wine upon our altars.
The Episcopal Church welcomes the stranger. The Episcopal Church upholds the dignity of every human being. The Episcopal Church stands against policies that sow fear, division, and injustice. This is who we are. This is what we believe. And this is what we do.
A Journey of Divine Welcome
I speak these truths not merely from the authority of my office but from the depths of lived experience where divine welcome has transformed shadows into light. As a first-generation American and child of an undocumented Mexican immigrant, my story is woven into the larger tapestry of sacred welcome that defines our church. Though blessed with the privileges of American citizenship, I carry in my heart both the weight of uncertain status as—that quiet ache of belonging yet not belonging—and I have experienced the profound grace of a church that sees beyond borders to behold the image of God in every face. In the embrace of this beloved community, I discovered not just a healing balm from fear, but a deeper truth: that our worth flows not from documents or status but from the indelible mark of divine love that claims each of us as beloved children of God.
The Present Challenge
On January 21, 2025, the rescission of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Sensitive Locations Policy, guidelines that limited immigration enforcement in protected areas such as churches, struck at the very heart of our religious exercise. This policy change threatens to transform our sanctuaries—long havens of safety, community, and worship—into spaces shadowed by fear. When fear of raids keeps families from our sanctuaries, we cannot fully live out Christ’s command to welcome the stranger.
In response, we join with Georgetown Law’s Institute for Constitutional Advocacy and Protection and our ecumenical and interfaith allies in taking legal action—not as political actors, but as communities bound by divine love. This policy shift imposes a substantial burden on our congregations, violating both our First Amendment rights and the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA). These are not mere administrative concerns but direct threats to our ability to live out the Gospel and practice our faith. You can read more about this legal action in our press release here.
Our Church’s Faithful Witness
Through prayerful deliberation, our church has repeatedly affirmed that migration is woven into the human story. Our General Convention resolutions speak with prophetic clarity:
- 2018-D009: Christian Principles on Human Migration affirming migration as part of our sacred story.
- 2018-C033: Denouncing Racism Against Immigrants calls us to confront the sin of racism that often shadows immigration discourse, reminding us that every human being bears the divine image.
- 2024-C031: Migration with Dignity guides us toward a future where human dignity transcends borders, expressing our collective commitment to justice and compassion.
These resolutions, in addition to this summary listing, are not mere policy statements but modern-day psalms, singing our collective commitment to justice and compassion. They express the prayerful discernment of our church, reflecting our identity and mission.
A Message of Sacred Welcome
Immigrants—and everyone on the margins—are the very center of the story Jesus reveals in the Gospels, and we cannot worship freely if any among us live in fear. I know firsthand what impact this has, and I want to tell you, as the daughter of an undocumented immigrant: To every child of God in uncertainty’s shadow, to every parent dreaming of safety for their children, to every person seeking refuge on these shores: The Episcopal Church sees you. We hear you. Your story and lives are sacred, and your dignity is divine.
When you gather courage to enter our sanctuaries, when you share your stories of hope and heartbreak, when you trust us with your fears and dreams—you reveal Christ’s face to us anew. Your presence among us is not a burden but a blessing that enriches our common life.
Our Call to Holy Courage and Action
This season calls us to stand firm in our sacred calling. We invited you to join us as we:
- Enter into deep prayer for those seeking refuge, remembering that the Holy Family were once asylum seekers.
- Raise our voices through the Episcopal Public Policy Network, speaking truth with prophetic love.
- Support Episcopal Migration Ministries as they continue the ancient practice of offering welcome in Christ’s name.
- Stand resolute in our conviction that welcome is not optional—it is essential to who we are as followers of Jesus.
As we navigate these challenging waters, may we be guided by the words of Hebrews 13:2: “Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it.” Let us be the church that future generations will remember as having stood firm in faith, unwavering in welcome, and unshakeable in our commitment to human dignity.
Together, we bear witness to a love that knows no borders, fears no difference, and a God who continually calls us to wider circles of inclusion and deeper practices of hospitality.
In Christ’s transforming love,
Julia Ayala Harris
President of the House of Deputies
The Episcopal Church
