General Synod Reaffirms Commitment to Justice: Voting in favor of Resolution 8

At the 35th General Synod, delegates responded in favor voting to approve (627 in favor, 8 against, and 1 abstaining) the emergency resolution from the Southwest Conference, calling to reaffirm UCC’s commitment to immigrant, migrant, and refugee rights. The resolution comes amid rising anti-immigrant policies, including expanded detentions and the rollback of protections.

The resolution calls the UCC to prioritize immigrant, migrant, and refugee justice through support of sanctuary churches and immigrant-welcoming congregations, divestment from private detention companies (* Noah Tabor from United Church Funds clarified that the UCC has screened investments in private prisons since 2017), and prophetic public witness. Deliberations emphasized inclusive language, protections for marginalized groups, and the importance of walking alongside immigrants, migrants, and refugees, and not overpower their voices.

A Call for Action

Rev. Clara Sims, Assistant Minister, First Congregational UCC in Albuquerque, presented and released this resolution to the committee, outlining the federal administration’s harmful policies and the need for the church to act. Sims did note that this resolution comes from the Southwest Conference, but primary authorship belongs to the UCC National Collaborative on Immigration Leadership.

During the educational intensive Immigration Rights Advocate Itzel Vargas-Valenzuela, the program director for the Advocates for Immigrant Rights and Reconciliation (AIRR) shared personal experiences of bullying, isolation, and the emotional toll of living undocumented in the United States as a child and the challenges of navigating a system that often dehumanizes immigrants. Her testimony, along with input from congregational leaders, highlighted the urgency of action.

Abigail Cipparone, Policy Advocate for Domestic Issues,from the UCC Office of Public Policy and Advocacy attended most of the committee’s conversations as a visitor offering background and understanding on clarifying questions and gave insight into how the UCC Washington D.C. officeuses resolutions to guide their work.

A Resolution Refined Through Deliberation

While the committee agreed quickly overall in support of this resolution, there were thorough conversations throughout the committee’s deliberations regarding the language that should be used. Committee members gave personal testimonies, stories from their local churches, and raised concerns to ensure that inclusive and proper language was used.

In addition to reaffirming rights and protections, the resolution explicitly condemns the weaponization of policy against immigrant communities and calls for comprehensive support at all levels of the church, from the national setting to local congregations, and urges a unified, prophetic voice grounded in faith, compassion, and justice.

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