The sanctuary church movement has found its way to Columbia after two churches, Unitarian Universalist Church of Columbia and Rock Bridge Christian Church, voted to open their doors to those facing deportation earlier this year.

 

Sanctuary churches are churches that have said publicly that they will provide a safe space for those at risk of being deported to live in while they try to fight deportation.

 

The two churches join the over 800 sanctuary churches in the Unites States, according to The Huffington Post.

 

The New York Times reported that a total of 34 people have sought sanctuary in churches across the country since President Donald Trump was elected just over a year ago.

 

Both churches held a democratic vote to confirm their sanctuary status.

 

“It’s the right thing to do, we wanted to take care of everyone,” said Stephen Mudrick, longtime Unitarian Universalist Church parishioner.

 

Although both churches approved the vote to become sanctuary churches, there were concerns raised by members when deciding to officially harbor undocumented immigrants.

 

The Rev. Dottie Mathews, a retired pastor at Unitarian Universalist Church, said that most of the questions were about the logistical aspect of housing someone in a church.

Once the concerns were discussed and resolved, there was little opposition to the idea of becoming a sanctuary church in both churches.

 

“We have a very progressive congregation,” said the Rev. Sarah Klaassen, a pastor at Rock Bridge.

 

Both churches have formed committees to start working on the process of creating a living space in their buildings. The two committees work together to come up with ideas on how to implement basic necessities such as a shower into their church space.

 

Klaassen said the process could be accelerated if need be, but the committee is currently “just working through checklists.”

 

The logistics of becoming a sanctuary church is not the only issue these churches have had to discuss. There is also a legal component to the debate.

 

United States law makes it illegal to conceal a person from arrest in the United States. Historically, however, churches have been safe locations.

 

Timothy Payne, an immigration lawyer at Sidley Austin LLP in Chicago, said raiding churches would be bad for the government’s public persona and he doesn’t expect government officials to start raiding churches harboring those facing deportation.

“They are intentionally being disobedient to the law,” Payne said of the churches, but he doesn’t think the government will take action.

 

Payne believes that if more and more organized religions banned together, the government will have a smaller and smaller chance of entering the churches out of fear of a battle forming between church and state.

 

Sanctuary movements are not uncommon in United States history. The Underground Railroad provided safe spaces for slaves as they tried to escape to the north. In the 1980s, a sanctuary movement harbored an estimated 2,000 refugees, according to The New York Times.

 

Historically, concerned residents have come together to defy the government when its actions and policies go against their beliefs.

 

“The pain of this societal unkindness is birthing a willingness to step up,” Mathews said.

 

Kay Martinez, a newcomer to Unitarian Universalist Church, transferred from her previous congregation after the church voted to become a sanctuary church.

 

For now, the two Columbia churches will be waiting to get the call that someone needs sanctuary and continue to prepare for when that time comes. Klaassen said the most common situation for someone seeking refuge would be for them to stay in the church while their lawyer is petitioning for a stay to delay the deportation.