The History of Sanctuary

Sanctuary is a living tradition, revived by people of conscience throughout history to assert the primacy of God’s love and justice over actions violating basic human rights.

In the Bible, sanctuary describes a holy place claimed for God where people found protection from persecution by avengers or unjust public authorities or policies (see Exodus 21:12-14). It was recognition of the moral limits of a civil order and the primacy of the divine claim on human allegiance. Nineteenth century abolitionists invoked the sanctuary tradition as they defied federal law to harbor fugitive slaves. During the Vietnam War a number of churches opened themselves as sanctuaries for members of the US military who refused to be sent to fight in that imperialist war.

More recently, sanctuary has also referred to the church’s responsibility to protect refugees from actions by the U.S. government that violate its moral responsibility to provide a safe haven for refugees in this country. On March 24, 1982, the Sanctuary Movement for Salvadoran and Guatemalan refugees was born. The Sanctuary Movement dramatically brought to the attention of the American people the unjust policies of the US in Central America and the inhumane policies of the INS of deporting refugees fleeing the US sponsored wars in Central America. Over 500 congregations formally declared themselves Public Sanctuaries, risking felony charges by the Federal government. Thousands of churches, judicatories, municipal and even state governments passed resolutions supporting the Sanctuary Movement. In 1987, after years of struggle, arrests and court cases, the US government was forced to stop the deportation of Salvadoran and Guatemalan refugees and to support a negotiated settlement to the conflicts in Central America. .

Since then, for the past 20 years, the Chicago Metropolitan Sanctuary Alliance has continued working “to make Latin America a sanctuary for its own people,” so that they can live in peace with their families and communities. .

In 2004, congregations throughout the Chicago metropolitan area invoked the sanctuary tradition as they welcomed human rights defenders who are forced to flee Colombia because of repression and death threats. The Chicago Colombia Sanctuary Project was born. Through this ongoing project, chuches in the Chicagoland area help protect the lives of human rights defenders & bring attention to the unjust policies of the US in Colombia.

Since 2006, a “New Sanctuary Movement” has arisen, like the first, in response to the cries of sisters and brothers who have come to our country in order to save their lives and provide for their families, but are threatened with deportation. More than 12 million undocumented immigrants are living, working, studying, worshiping, raising families, and contributing to our society, but without rights or protection. Those who have children born in this country are especially vulnerable to the threat of family separation, and all the suffering that causes. To date, congregations in Chicago, Los Angeles, Washington DC, New York, and Seattle have declared their intention to provide sanctuary to families who are facing the threat of separation through deportation; other congregations are actively supporting their efforts.

As people of Biblical faith, we are called to a ministry with refugees, for “the stranger who sojourns with you shall be as the native among you, and you shall love them as yourself.” (Lev. 19:34). We also recall that Jesus reminds his followers that “I was a stranger and you welcomed me” (Mat. 25:35). Sanctuary is a faithful response to the needs of those who suffer persecution, rejection, and harm at the hands of human-created authorities and policies.