Immigration / Refugees
Immigrant Welcoming Conference
After a year of study, at the 2017 Annual Meeting of the Wisconsin Conference, the delegates voted to become an Immigrant Welcoming Conference. You can download the resolution here: Immigrant Welcoming Conference Resolution
Immigration Working Group
The Immigration Working Group is a group of clergy and lay leaders who are concerned about issues around immigration. We are connected with the National Collaborative on Immigration through Justice and Witness Ministries of the United Church of Christ. We work to stay informed about and provide support for efforts in our local congregations to support refugees and immigrants, including those who are seeking asylum in the United States of America.
Stories from the Border
Children are still being held in cages. Find out what’s going on now, during the pandemic, on both sides of the US/Mexico border. Learn about specific actions that you and your congregation can take. This webinar will feature reports from Rev. Randy Mayer of Good Shepherd UCC in Sahuarita, Arizona, and Linda Zuba, an attorney from Rockford, IIlinois, active in immigration advocacy. Noel Andersen, the UCC & CWS Grassroots Coordinator for Immigrants’ Rights, and Katie Adams, Policy Advocate for Domestic Issues in the UCC’s Washington D.C. office, will offer updates on the work being done by the United Church of Christ on the issue of immigration justice. This webinar is presented by the Wisconsin Conference UCC Immigration Working Group and McFarland UCC’s Not In Our Name campaign.
Watch the June 25th “Stories from the Border” webinar here.
Watch the September 29th “More Stories from the Border” webinar here.
Workshop on Immigrant Welcoming Congregations
How are congregations living out our resolution to be an Immigrant-Welcoming Conference? How can churches get involved in their community or at our border? These are the questions addressed in “Immigrant-Welcoming Wisconsin: Living Out the Resolution.” Watch the webinar here.
IMMIGRANT WELCOMING STORY
First Congregational UCC in Janesville has voted to become an immigrant welcoming congregation, after several months of study. Taking their commitment seriously, they already have plans in place to take action, and they invite other churches to join in. Read their story: Immigrant Welcoming Congregation.
WANT TO TAKE ACTION?
- Members of this group are available to work with congregations who are considering becoming an Immigrant Welcoming Congregation, or who would like to know more about the process.
- For information about how to resettle an immigrant family, please contact Bobbie Kuhn.
- Our Hispanic Cultural Awareness Resource person is Martha Boyer.
RESOURCES FOR CONGREGATIONS
Becoming an Immigrant Welcoming Congregation, a study guide from the United Church of Christ
Becoming Welcoming Communities Study Guide and Session Handouts from the Wisconsin Council of Churches
The Sanctuary Movement and Legal Risks, from the United Church of Christ Office of General Counsel
What Scripture Says about Refugees by Rev. Laura Yurs
Becoming an Immigrant Welcoming Community article from First Congregational – La Crosse
Example of an Immigrant Welcoming Congregation Statement from First Congregational UCC, Janesville
Sanctuary Not Deportation: A Faithful Witness to Building Welcoming Communities toolkit
United Church of Christ immigration resources
The following two materials are from the Interfaith Immigration Coalition and Refugees Welcome webinar on November 15, 2016. These resources may be useful as your congregation studies the issue of immigration and our faith:
–PowerPoint slides from webinar (PDF)
Oregon New Sanctuary Movement Faith and Immigration Study Guide
ESTHER Faith Communities United for Justice offers “Walk in Our Shoes” – a simulation event designed to bring community awareness to the challenges Latinos face. Flyer
Christians for Comprehensive Immigration Reform
Green Valley/Sahuarita Samaritans
Interfaith Immigration Coalition
National Immigration Law Center
National Day Labor Organizing Network
Immigration in the news:
1,600 Miles, 85 Hours: A Migrant Family Takes a Greyhound Across America
Entering the U.S. at a rate of more than 5,000 a day, new arrivals from Central America are departing border towns by the busload. And that bus is usually a Greyhound.
Sign up for our newsletter!
Find us on
Contact Us