Central American Refugees

ELCA Churchwide Assembly Action CA89.07.78

Passed by the 1989 Churchwide Assembly in Chicago, Illinois.

Resolved
To express support and encouragement to individual members, congregations, agencies, and institutions of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America as well as ELCA-related cooperative organizations that are extending hospitality and support to Central American refugees and to encourage others within the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America to respond to the needs of such refugees;

To stand by those members of this church, who, being motivated by deep faith and led by conscience, offer sanctuary to refugees fleeing life-threatening situations;

To affirm continued ELCA support of agencies and projects, providing legal and social services to Central American refugees in the United States, through the First Asylum Program of Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service;

To affirm continued support for legislation that would suspend detention and deportation of Salvadorans and Nicaraguans in the United States; and

To work for legislative or administrative solutions that would also grant temporary sage haven for Guatemalans, who have come to the United States fleeing civil violence, oppression, and persecution in their homeland.