Stories from the Southeast Conference

Birmingham, AL

Five UCC clergy-persons from Alabama were among nearly 50 religious leaders in the Birmingham metro area to sign a proclamation declaring their places of worship as sanctuaries for those seeking refuge.

---

Pleasant Hill, TN

More than 45 people from Pleasant Hill Community Church, TN are holding weekly vigils at the Cumberland County Courthouse to bring awareness to children being separated from their families at the Southern border of the United States. The vigils are each Monday from 12:30 to 1 p.m. Pleasant Hill CC is a Sanctuary Church which a provided a place for legal services.

---

Atlanta, GA

Central Congregational UCC in Atlanta, GA has been actively supporting the Atlanta Transit Angels, a group of volunteers who daily meet asylum seekers coming from the Southern border as they change buses in Atlanta. The “Angels” provide a warm welcome, Spanish translation services, food, water, toiletries, diapers, toys, etc. Most of all they provide a level of comfort, hope, love, and community, easing some of the sufferings of the migrants’ uprooting and long journey.

---

Mobile, AL

Open Table UCC, Mobile AL has been working on local immigrant bills and involved in various protests in support of immigrants. They support a local organization called Belong, headed by Juan Torres, that advocates for immigrants and tutors immigrant children each Wednesday evening.

---

Knoxville, TN

Church of the Savior is a founding member of a group called Welcoming Immigrants Faith Network. One ministry that has evolved from the network is called “Witnessing Wednesdays” at the local ICE office. Members from 2 network congregations meet each Wednesday outside the ICE building to offer refreshments, information, and smiles to people arriving for their “ICE Check-in” day.

---

Clinton, MS

Safe Habor UCC has supported a member of the church from Nigeria who is seeking asylum. An active member of the church is on the Board of Mississippi Immigrant Rights Alliance and keeps the church connected to what they can do.  

---

Fairfield Glade, TN

Fairfield Glade Community Church works with the Peacemaking Committee of the Presbytery of East Tennessee providing resources to Knoxville Immigrant Transit Assistance. 

---

Greenville, SC

Emmanuel, UCC: A group from the church has gathered at a local senator’s office to protest his support of Trump’s policies and unfair practices toward immigrants.  

Members of our congregation gathered for a community Peaceful Resistance vigil in our downtown area around the time that Trump started separating immigrant parents from their children in the Detention Centers. 

We wrote to members of the House of Representatives to encourage their support of the legislation that would make it possible for Dreamers to receive a professional license. This legislation passed in the House and will go before the Senate early 2020.  

We now have a part of our congregation joining a delegation going to Georgia to Steward Detention Center to support the immigrant children there who have been separated from their parents. The delegation is taking needed supplies: gently used polo shirts, pants, shoes, backpacks as well as news socks and underwear.