Bishop Julia E. Whitworth issued the following statement to clergy and diocesan and congregational leadership on Jan. 17, 2025, regarding diocesan ministries to and with immigrants.
Beloved of God,
Just before Monday’s inauguration, there exist many uncertainties about the possible impact of a new administration upon the most vulnerable among us, especially women, LGBTQ+ people, and immigrants. This letter concerns our diocesan stance and plans regarding our newest arrived siblings and neighbors as we anticipate possible changes in U.S. immigration policy.
It is a critical moment to state the following:
• In faithfulness to our sacred promises made in Holy Baptism, we will "seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving our neighbors as ourselves" and we will "strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being."
• Our Diocese of Massachusetts stands ready to respond to and follow Jesus’ numerous biblical injunctions to welcome strangers.
As always, but especially in the face of possible deterioration of U.S. immigration policy, The Episcopal Church stands ready to live by Hebrew Scriptures, Jesus’ teachings, and our baptismal covenant as they are manifested through different resolutions by our General Convention. A summary of those resolutions can be found here.
Our diocese has joined in this work by enacting its own governance on immigration policy. A resolution on becoming a safe haven diocese was enacted by Diocesan Convention in 2019, and we continue to support efforts of our leadership in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to continue to be a sanctuary place. We also live into our baptismal covenant and commitment to immigration justice through accompaniment, advocacy, and direct action, especially as led by our Canon for Immigration and Multicultural Ministries, the Rev. Canon Jean Baptiste Ntagengwa. I am tremendously grateful for Canon Ntagengwa’s remarkable ministry as both spiritual leader for so many and as our diocesan Department of Justice (DOJ) accredited representative, providing immigration legal services at low cost. I don’t know of many other dioceses, or clergy, who have invested the time and resources for training as the Diocese of Massachusetts and Canon Ntagengwa. I am so grateful to be joining him and all of you in your ongoing commitment to protect the most vulnerable in our midst, especially at this critical time.
As it happens, Canon Ntagengwa is overdue a well-earned sabbatical, which I have granted him. I write to inform you that he will be taking a three-month break from his duties beginning Feb. 1. This does not mean that we are abandoning his important work for the diocese and the world! Our diocesan staff Administrator for Congregations and Development, Jocelyn Collen (jcollen@diomass.org) has agreed to coordinate the Office of Immigration and Multicultural Ministries. This means she will be supporting the Ministry of Immigration Partnership in its work of building up allies and activists to meet the challenges ahead. She and Canon Ntagengwa are compiling resources for legal advice and advocacy to be available for members of our diocese should issues or threats arise.
Additionally, Jocelyn will be providing staff support and coordination for our Hispanic Ministries Committee, African Clergy Caucus, the African Ministries Center in Everett, the Racial Justice Commission, the Indigenous Allyship Working Group, the Asian Pacific Islander Americans Group, Chinese Ministry, ProGente Connections, and Black Churches United. I am so grateful for her, and especially for the diocesan leaders who continue to do the good work of pursuing justice and promoting dignity for all of God’s people, especially those in historically marginalized populations.
In the coming year, the Office of Immigration and Multicultural Ministries will also organize workshops to provide Christian formation materials on immigration, as well as other resources for educating our congregations. We also recommend that you connect with many other local organizations that are standing in support and solidarity with our immigrant siblings. Some of those organizations will soon be listed on the diocesan Office of Immigration and Multicultural Ministries webpage linked above. As I continue to learn not only this diocese, but this region, I will be connecting with leaders in advocacy here as well. Our friends at Episcopal City Mission and the Massachusetts Council of Churches are helping me in those endeavors.
Finally, the Office of Government Relations of The Episcopal Church updates those who are subscribed to its mailing list about immigration policy, calls for legislative action alerts, and training offerings. Episcopal Migration Ministries also provides resources. We urge you to check those pages regularly and to subscribe to their mailing lists.
As Christian followers of the Way of Love, our church stands ready to support the needs of our immigrant siblings and all who may be in harm’s way. Thank you for being the hands and feet of Christ, in this complex time.
Faithfully,
The Rt. Rev. Julia E. Whitworth
Bishop Diocesan