NOTICE OF CONGREGATIONAL MEETING, SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 12:20 pm
The membership of First Unitarian Church of Salt Lake City will convene for a Congregational Meeting on Sunday, February 4, 2018 at 12:20 pm in the sanctuary. The purpose of this short meeting is to secure a formal vote of our members on the following declaration:
First Unitarian Church of Salt Lake City is declared by its members as a Sanctuary Church.
Definition:
As a Sanctuary Church, First Unitarian Church will offer a place of refuge for both short-term (symbolic) and indefinite-term (physical) sanctuary for individuals and families who face hardship, fear, and targeting by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Agency. First Unitarian Church provides shelter, support, and advocacy in coordination with other faith communities which comprise the Salt Lake City Sanctuary Solidarity Network.
Background:
2008: First Unitarian Church became a pledging member of the New Sanctuary Movement, “a movement of prophetic hospitality and public witness to bring about real change in the immigration policy of the United States.”
2017: First Church became a member faith community of the Salt Lake City Sanctuary Solidarity Network. When Network churches were approached about serving as physical sanctuary, First Church responded in the affirmative.
A town hall meeting of First Church members and friends was held on Sunday, December 10 for the purpose of determining the congregation’s support for making an exception to the rule by transitioning from purely symbolic sanctuary to physical sanctuary. The congregation’s vote was overwhelmingly in favor of pursuing planning to provide physical sanctuary of an indefinite term. At this meeting, the Board of Trustees also voted to proceed with planning.
Following the December meeting, a Sanctuary Organizing Committee was formed by the Social Justice Council. The Committee has developed the infrastructure for soliciting, training, and assigning on-site hosts and other volunteers from First Church and other member congregations of the Sanctuary Solidarity Network. Also since that meeting, work on the necessary physical accommodations was begun by church staff and volunteers.
2018: The Congregational Meeting to be held on February 4 will formalize our decision to become a Sanctuary Church.
ALL INTERESTED CONGREGANTS ARE WELCOME TO ATTEND THE MEETING. CHURCH MEMBERS ONLY MAY PARTICIPATE IN THE VOTING PROCESS.