The Beyond Bond & Legal Defense Fund

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Dear WUS congregants,

The January 7, 2018 anniversary of our vote to become a Level 2 sanctuary support congregation is rapidly approaching.  At this time, we would like to provide an update to you of what’s happening at the First Parish of Bedford as well as other efforts the WUS Sanctuary Task Force and our Social Action and Outreach Committee (SAOC) are pursuing with, we hope, your help.  

First, Bedford. “Maria” is still pursuing her case.  Apparently, the rules changed since she entered sanctuary so her lawyer and now a team working with them (consists of another lawyer and a consultant) are working on a new plan for asylum.  It’s a long process…realistically months away.

With “Maria” coming up on her one year in sanctuary, Bedford will be hosting a Recommitment and Remembrance service in January. Given limited seating, it will only be open to the 350+ volunteers from WUS and the other nine houses of worship.

You may recall that in the lead-up to our January vote, we started with 33 volunteers.  We’re proud to say that over the course of the year, we added nine more for a total of 42 WUS volunteers.  And, many of us participated in Jericho Walks at the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) office in Burlington, MA and attended vigils in the South Boston ICE Detention Center. When immigrant children were being separated from their parents at the border, we also co-led a vigil on Winchester town common with the MultiCultural Network and the Epiphany Church. If you have some time and are now interested in becoming a sanctuary volunteer in 2019, please e-mail marilynmullane@me.com as Bedford training will resume in the new year.

Now, for Winchester’s new effort.  In October, Beyond Bond & Legal Defense Fund representatives met with the First Parish of Bedford in the hopes of securing a donation of $25,000 toward an overall goal of $500,0000. The Beyond Bond & Legal Defense Fund is held by the Episcopal City Mission, a 501c3 organization to pay bond for people in immigration prison at risk of deportation. The Episcopal City Mission has been doing mission work in the Boston area since 1844.  The UU Mass Action has been partnering with them for about a year on this bond fund. See Beyond Bond Boston for Frequently Asked Questions.

Bedford couldn’t commit to $25,000 but offered to reach out to its Level 2 support congregations.  The Sanctuary Task Force brought the challenge of WUS raising $5,000 to the SAOC. The SAOC developed a plan which has received key support, as highlighted below:

  • SAOC will match up to $2,000 of congregant donations to the Episcopal City Mission.
  • The Standing Committee has authorized this direct appeal for congregation donations.
  • Heather has agreed to have the Episcopal City Mission be the recipient of all four Share-the-Plates in January.

The amount actually raised depends entirely on individual congregants like you and us.

Checks can be made out to Episcopal City Mission with “Beyond Bond Fund” in the memo line but need to be mailed to WUS so that SAOC can keep track of congregant donations and its match. All donations are tax deductible.

Those of us able to cover shifts at First Parish know that we are helping one individual and, of course, her family.  But through this bond fund, all congregants can help many detained immigrants now. In fact, as of the end of November, donations from other congregations have already helped free 45 people from ICE detention.

There is much work to be done and we need your help now.  

Marilyn Mullane and Gordy McIntosh

Sanctuary Task Force Chair, Social Action and Outreach Committee