Media inquires: Please contact Rev. Seymour directly.  Thank you!

UUSGS is a founding member of the Springfield Interfaith Sanctuary Coalition.  In early 2017, UUSGS joined with five other local congregations – with coordination from the Pioneer Valley Project – create a network of faith-based care for Springfield-area residents at risk of immigration injustice.

The Coalition went public in June of 2017: http://www.masslive.com/news/index.ssf/2017/06/activists_open_springfields_so.html

An interfaith prayer service was held shortly thereafter (July 2017): https://www.thereminder.com/localnews/springfield/clergyworshippersg/

In March 2018, the sanctuary network welcomed a family: http://www.masslive.com/news/index.ssf/2018/03/springfield_woman_was_at_brink.html

An inspection of the network’s facilities, ordered by Springfield’s mayor, was conducted in April 2018: http://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2018/04/05/springfield-church-sheltering-family-inspected-amid-dispute-with-mayor/t4JUe7CIDg3YiubpmJhI0L/story.html

Sanctuary work is ongoing.  South Congregational Church (UCC) in Springfield is a Level One congregation in the Coalition, meaning that they agree to physically host individuals/families.  The other supporting congregations (including UUSGS) are Level Two, meaning that we provide wrap-around support and solidarity.  Volunteers are coordinated internally.

UUSGS is one of many Unitarian Universalist congregations nationwide that are engaged in this work.  More information from the UUA here: https://www.uua.org/immigration/witness/partners/newsanctuary and here: https://www.uua.org/loveresists/sanctuary

May our common humanity shine through in this era of divisiveness and dehumanization.  May love indeed prevail.