Published: Feb. 15, 2025
Dear Friends,
Last Sunday, Pacific Yearly Meeting called for Clerks and Representatives of Monthly Meetings to address a question posed by Friends General Conference as to whether we wanted to be named as a Yearly Meeting supporting a suit responding to an executive order that rescinded ICE’s sensitive locations (churches, schools, hospitals) policy. This followed several days of discernment by clerks, reps, and monthly meetings to season how they could help FGC achieve standing in the lawsuit that was filed February 11, 2025. Many monthly meetings returned detailed questionnaires by the stated deadline. Quickly and discreetly is not how Friends usually make decisions, but both speed and circumspection were asked of us.
The called meeting opened with worship and a brief description and context of the lawsuit. Friends were reminded that only the question of being named in our support or not was at issue. There are reasons to be named as well as to remain anonymous. Friends united in the minute below.
2025-2-9 At a called meeting of Monthly Meeting Clerks and Representatives, Friends found unity to have the name Pacific Yearly Meeting published as supporting the standing of Friends General Conference in a lawsuit led by the Institute for Constitutional Advocacy and Protection to overturn the executive order that allows agents of the Immigration Customs Enforcement Agency (ICE) to enter houses of worship.
Barry Crossno’s (FGC) letter thanking us, giving some background, explanation, and links to more complete information is below.
Love and blessings,
Robin DuRant, (she or they)
Clerk, Pacific Yearly Meeting
Sarah Rose House-Lightner (she/her)
Assistant to the Clerk, Pacific Yearly Meeting
Dear Pacific Yearly Meeting Friends:
Thank you for the care and commitment so many of you have shown.
Because of the faithful work of many Friends including those from within your Yearly Meeting, Friends General Conference has joined a multifaith coalition and the Institute for Constitutional Advocacy and Protection (ICAP) in opposition to the rescission of ICE’s sensitive locations policy, which is a direct violation of the First Amendment and the Religious Freedom Restoration Act.
From the text of the litigation filed today:
Plaintiffs and their members are Baptist, Brethren, Conservative Jewish, Episcopalian, Evangelical, Mennonite, Quaker, Pentecostal, Presbyterian, Reconstructionist Jewish, Reform Jewish, Unitarian Universalist, United Methodist, Zion Methodist, and more. They bring this suit unified on a fundamental belief: Every human being, regardless of birthplace, is a child of God worthy of dignity, care, and love.
The repeal of the sensitive locations policy directly interferes with the ability of meetings and churches within FGC to fulfill our spirit-led obligations and priorities. FGC strives to support all our meetings and attenders in the spirit of the equality testimony, and with the dignity that all people deserve.
FGC was able to join this suit, on behalf of all our affiliates, because of Friends who mobilized, discerned, and committed within a handful of days. This included the leadership of and many Friends within Pacific Yearly Meeting, Intermountain Yearly Meeting (IMYM), Southern Appalachian Yearly Meeting and Association (SAYMA), and South Central Yearly Meeting (SCYM). Deep gratitude. The information you shared with ICAP through FGC spoke to just how deeply many FGC Friends take our religious commitment to serve, with immigrants, refugees and asylum seekers being a particular concern. As it is written, “For I was hungry, and you gave me food, I was thirsty, and you gave me drink, I was a stranger, and you welcomed me.” (Matthew 25:35). Further proof of that commitment are the additional meetings who wanted to provide evidence and participate. However, it wasn’t possible for some meetings given the ICAP deadlines. Even so, this helped demonstrate the widespread unity of FGC affiliated Friends on this matter.
We don’t take this step lightly, but this action from the United States government challenges a foundation of our faith and threatens the peace of our meetinghouses and our communities. We are compelled by our religious convictions and the movement of Spirit to take a stand and protect our places of worship.
Click here to read more about this lawsuit.
Click here to sign a petition of support.
In Service,
Barry Crossno (He/Him)
General Secretary
Friends General Conference