Mail Archive of the old Santa Clara Valley Lutheran Parish

I adjure you by the Lord that this letter be read to all the brethren. (Thessalonians 5:27)
Subject: Executive Order Immigration Issues and our Churches
Date: Wed, 15 Feb 2017 21:09:37 -0800
From: John Goldstein <johngold9@gmail.com>
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From: John Goldstein <johngold9@gmail.com>
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Subject: Executive Order Immigration Issues and our Churches
Message-Id: <EC8C4796-74C4-4765-B307-76B7638B0D64@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 15 Feb 2017 21:09:37 -0800
To: Santa Clara Parish Conference <scvlp@googlegroups.com>
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Dear Fellow Pastors  & Church Leaders,

I just sent the following letter to the Bishop, the Presiding Bishop and LI=
RS.  I meant to copy you also:


Dear Bishop Mark

The recent rash of executive orders by our nation=E2=80=99s President leave=
s everyone caught within a morass of confusion.  I am wondering whether our=
 Church through the Office of the Presiding Bishop or the Lutheran Immigrat=
ion and Refugee Service are going to say anything or give any directives on=
 how to handle immigration raids when they come to our community and are sp=
ecifically directed toward the facilities of the Church and the people who =
happen to be present on that Church property?

Today their was an ICE raid on a low income medical clinic in Half Moon Bay=
 and ICE agents were active outside of a Costco in Richmond.  One can only =
anticipate that actions will be targeted toward facilities and institutions=
 to create the highest level of fear and intimidation. In the 1980=E2=80=99=
s Alzona Lutheran Church, Arizona was infiltrated by undercover immigration=
 agents and arrested Central American refugees.  These are less gentle time=
s.

We have churches within the ELCA which have declared themselves Sanctuary C=
hurches.  Other churches like my own offer service to immigrants and are kn=
ow to do so. We have many immigrants on our Church campus and within our co=
mmunity.  They are potential targets for an immigration raid.  How should P=
astors and staff react to the presence of ICE agents on Church property?  D=
o we have the legal Right to demand that ICE leave Church facilities due to=
 the =E2=80=98separation of Church and State=E2=80=99 and can we expect the=
m to do so? Should we anticipate that we too shall be arrested for interfer=
ing with their enforcement efforts?

I understand that ICE can enter public areas but they cannot enter private =
areas without a warrant.  This seems to place churches in an awkward situat=
ion since Churches offer Services to the community and are generally treate=
d as public areas where all are welcome.  Can a congregation legally declar=
e its facilities private areas and inaccessible without a warrant? =20

I have heard that within the Executive Orders are new instructions giving I=
CE the Right to detain persons whom they have the slightest feeling may be =
here illegally.  The current suggestion from the Legal community is to refu=
se to open doors and to not answer any questions of ICE representatives. Th=
is appears to be meaningless if ICE can detain under pure suspicion.

I wait impatiently for the Church leadership to provide some meaningful gui=
dance in these matters from the Churches point of view.  It is only a matte=
r of time before one of us will be confronted with ICE.

Yours in Christ=20


John Goldstein, Lead Pastor
Pastor@GraceChurchSJ.net

Grace Church of Evergreen
=E2=80=98Serving The Evergreen Area for over 50 years'
2650 Aborn Road
San Jose CA 95121
www.GraceChurchSJ.net
408 274 1200
Like us on Facebook. Receive our weekly 'Focus on Faith'. Simply request by=
 sending a reply email!
Follow Pastor's blog at johngoldsteinministries.wordpress.com

The information contained in this email message may be privileged, confiden=
tial and protected from disclosure. If you are not the intended recipient, =
any dissemination, distribution or copying is strictly prohibited. If you t=
hink that you received this email message in error, please email the sender=
 at pastor@GraceChurchSJ.net






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<html><head><meta http-equiv=3D"Content-Type" content=3D"text/html charset=
=3Dutf-8"></head><body style=3D"word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: s=
pace; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space;" class=3D"">Dear Fellow Pastor=
s &nbsp;&amp; Church Leaders,<div class=3D""><br class=3D""></div><div clas=
s=3D"">I just sent the following letter to the Bishop, the Presiding Bishop=
 and LIRS. &nbsp;I meant to copy you also:</div><div class=3D""><br class=
=3D""></div><div class=3D""><br class=3D""></div><div style=3D"margin: 0px;=
 line-height: normal; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text=
-stroke-width: initial;" class=3D""><span style=3D"font-kerning: none" clas=
s=3D"">Dear Bishop Mark</span></div><div style=3D"margin: 0px; line-height:=
 normal; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width=
: initial; min-height: 13px;" class=3D""><span style=3D"font-kerning: none"=
 class=3D""></span><br class=3D""></div><div style=3D"margin: 0px; line-hei=
ght: normal; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-w=
idth: initial;" class=3D""><span style=3D"font-kerning: none" class=3D"">Th=
e recent rash of executive orders by our nation=E2=80=99s President leaves =
everyone caught within a morass of confusion.&nbsp; I am wondering whether =
our Church through the Office of the Presiding Bishop or the Lutheran Immig=
ration and Refugee Service are going to say anything or give any directives=
 on how to handle immigration raids when they come to our community and are=
 specifically directed toward the facilities of the Church and the people w=
ho happen to be present on that Church property?</span></div><div style=3D"=
margin: 0px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); =
-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; min-height: 13px;" class=3D""><span sty=
le=3D"font-kerning: none" class=3D""></span><br class=3D""></div><div style=
=3D"margin: 0px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, =
0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;" class=3D""><span style=3D"font-ker=
ning: none" class=3D"">Today their was an ICE raid on a low income medical =
clinic in Half Moon Bay and ICE agents were active outside of a Costco in R=
ichmond.&nbsp; One can only anticipate that actions will be targeted toward=
 facilities and institutions to create the highest level of fear and intimi=
dation. In the 1980=E2=80=99s Alzona Lutheran Church, Arizona was infiltrat=
ed by undercover immigration agents and arrested Central American refugees.=
&nbsp; These are less gentle times.</span></div><div style=3D"margin: 0px; =
line-height: normal; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-=
stroke-width: initial; min-height: 13px;" class=3D""><span style=3D"font-ke=
rning: none" class=3D""></span><br class=3D""></div><div style=3D"margin: 0=
px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-t=
ext-stroke-width: initial;" class=3D""><span style=3D"font-kerning: none" c=
lass=3D"">We have churches within the ELCA which have declared themselves S=
anctuary Churches.&nbsp; Other churches like my own offer service to immigr=
ants and are know to do so. We have many immigrants on our Church campus an=
d within our community.&nbsp; They are potential targets for an immigration=
 raid.&nbsp; How should Pastors and staff react to the presence of ICE agen=
ts on Church property?&nbsp; Do we have the legal Right to demand that ICE =
leave Church facilities due to the =E2=80=98separation of Church and State=
=E2=80=99 and can we expect them to do so? Should we anticipate that we too=
 shall be arrested for interfering with their enforcement efforts?</span></=
div><div style=3D"margin: 0px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-stroke-col=
or: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; min-height: 13px;" cl=
ass=3D""><span style=3D"font-kerning: none" class=3D""></span><br class=3D"=
"></div><div style=3D"margin: 0px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-stroke=
-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;" class=3D""><span=
 style=3D"font-kerning: none" class=3D"">I understand that ICE can enter pu=
blic areas but they cannot enter private areas without a warrant.&nbsp; Thi=
s seems to place churches in an awkward situation since Churches offer Serv=
ices to the community and are generally treated as public areas where all a=
re welcome.&nbsp; Can a congregation legally declare its facilities private=
 areas and inaccessible without a warrant? &nbsp;</span></div><div style=3D=
"margin: 0px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);=
 -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; min-height: 13px;" class=3D""><span st=
yle=3D"font-kerning: none" class=3D""></span><br class=3D""></div><div styl=
e=3D"margin: 0px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0,=
 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;" class=3D""><span style=3D"font-ke=
rning: none" class=3D"">I have heard that within the Executive Orders are n=
ew instructions giving ICE the Right to detain persons whom they have the s=
lightest feeling may be here illegally.&nbsp; The current suggestion from t=
he Legal community is to refuse to open doors and to not answer any questio=
ns of ICE representatives. This appears to be meaningless if ICE can detain=
 under pure suspicion.</span></div><div style=3D"margin: 0px; line-height: =
normal; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width:=
 initial; min-height: 13px;" class=3D""><span style=3D"font-kerning: none" =
class=3D""></span><br class=3D""></div><div style=3D"margin: 0px; line-heig=
ht: normal; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-wi=
dth: initial;" class=3D""><span style=3D"font-kerning: none" class=3D"">I w=
ait impatiently for the Church leadership to provide some meaningful guidan=
ce in these matters from the Churches point of view.&nbsp; It is only a mat=
ter of time before one of us will be confronted with ICE.</span></div><div =
style=3D"margin: 0px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0=
, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; min-height: 13px;" class=3D"">=
<span style=3D"font-kerning: none" class=3D""></span><br class=3D""></div><=
div style=3D"margin: 0px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-stroke-color: r=
gb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;" class=3D""><span style=3D=
"font-kerning: none" class=3D"">Yours in Christ</span><span style=3D"-webki=
t-text-stroke-width: initial;" class=3D"">&nbsp;</span></div><div style=3D"=
margin: 0px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); =
-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; min-height: 13px;" class=3D""><span sty=
le=3D"font-kerning: none" class=3D""></span></div><br class=3D""><br class=
=3D""><div class=3D"">
<div style=3D"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; t=
ext-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: norm=
al; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; word-w=
rap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-=
space;" class=3D""><div style=3D"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); letter-spacing: norma=
l; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none=
; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke=
-width: 0px; word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-=
break: after-white-space;" class=3D""><div style=3D"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); le=
tter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; t=
ext-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px; =
-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: s=
pace; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space;" class=3D""><div style=3D"colo=
r: rgb(0, 0, 0); letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; =
text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; =
word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; word-wrap: break-word; -=
webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space;" class=3D""=
><div style=3D"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; =
text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: nor=
mal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; word-=
wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white=
-space;" class=3D""><div style=3D"color: rgb(0, 0, 0); letter-spacing: norm=
al; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: non=
e; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-strok=
e-width: 0px; word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line=
-break: after-white-space;" class=3D"">John Goldstein, Lead Pastor<br class=
=3D""><a href=3D"mailto:Pastor@gracechurchsj.net" class=3D"">Pastor@GraceCh=
urchSJ.net</a><br class=3D""><br class=3D"">Grace Church of Evergreen<br cl=
ass=3D""><i class=3D"">=E2=80=98Serving The Evergreen Area for over 50 year=
s'</i><br class=3D"">2650 Aborn Road<br class=3D"">San Jose CA 95121<br cla=
ss=3D"">www.GraceChurchSJ.net<br class=3D"">408 274 1200<br class=3D"">Like=
 us on Facebook. Receive our weekly&nbsp;'Focus on Faith'. Simply request b=
y&nbsp;sending a reply email!<br class=3D"">Follow Pastor's blog at&nbsp;jo=
hngoldsteinministries.wordpress.com<br class=3D""><br class=3D"">The inform=
ation contained in this email&nbsp;message may be privileged, confidential&=
nbsp;and protected from disclosure. If you are&nbsp;not the intended recipi=
ent, any&nbsp;dissemination, distribution or copying is&nbsp;strictly prohi=
bited. If you think that you&nbsp;received this email message in error,&nbs=
p;please email the sender at&nbsp;pastor@GraceChurchSJ.net<br class=3D""><b=
r class=3D""><br class=3D""><br class=3D""><br class=3D""></div></div></div=
></div></div></div>
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