Update on Sanctuary Project

We want to provide an update on an initiative launched by our former pastor Drew Paton in spring 2019: to build a sanctuary space at South for immigrant families facing threats of deportation and family separation. Funds were raised through the online fundraising platform GoFundMe for the “Sanctuary Project.”

This is the first week that our newly elected Session leadership has been in place, and we wanted to address this as a priority.

For a variety of reasons, the Sanctuary Project will not be moving forward. Last year, COVID played a major role in preventing progress on remodeling a space at South Church where immigrants could reside while their cases were being addressed. Also, our pastor, Drew Paton, who was leading the Sanctuary Project, resigned and moved out of the area. Space at South Church has been reallocated to address additional needs, including accommodating our weekly Food Pantry that has grown to 5 times its 2019 size.

All people and organizations who donated to the Sanctuary Project are being contacted. Their donations will be returned as soon as possible.

We appreciate your patience and understanding.