To the beloved people of the Dakotas-Minnesota Episcopal Area,

Grace and peace to you in the name of Jesus Christ, who proclaimed good news to the poor, freedom for the captives, sight for the blind, and liberation for the oppressed.

I write to you with a heavy heart and a determined spirit as we navigate a time when the sacred spaces of our lives — schools, hospitals, and faith communities — are under threat of violation. No matter our political leanings, recent actions that permit raids by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in these spaces where children are learning, the infirm are receiving care, and congregations are engaged in worship and ministry strike at the heart of who we are as people of faith and as a church committed to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

In Luke 4, Jesus stands in the synagogue and reads from Isaiah: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor...to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free.” These words were not safe or comfortable in his day — they were dangerous. Jesus declared freedom in a world that thrived on captivity and power in a system that demanded submission.

If you have not read through it, please return to Luke 4:14-30 — and ponder what happened that shifted the people from a spirit of hospitality to one of hostility. Suffice to say, those listening to him rapidly moved from rejoicing to rage so much so that by the time Jesus finished speaking, his neighbors rejected him and ran him out of town. You see, they wanted a Messiah who fit their expectations, not one who disrupted systems of oppression. Still, Jesus did not waver, and neither can we.
 

The Gospel demands that we name and resist systems that dehumanize and marginalize. When schools, hospitals, and places of worship — sanctuaries meant for learning, healing, and hope — become battlegrounds for fear and intimidation, we are called to speak with the clarity and courage of Christ: This is not of God.

As followers of Jesus, our prophetic call compels us to proclaim that no human being is illegal in the eyes of God. It insists that every person, regardless of their documentation status, bears the image of the Creator and is worthy of dignity and safety. This call also urges us to work for immigration system reform that reflects the values of compassion, justice, and hospitality, ensuring that laws and policies prioritize the well-being and humanity of those seeking refuge and opportunity.

I would be remiss in my responsibilities to you were I not to note that as we work to uphold the dignity and worth of every person, we also recognize the importance of accountability and oversight in addressing situations where individuals, including violent, undocumented criminals, pose a threat to the community. Ensuring public safety is a necessary part of a just and compassionate society, and we support measures that uphold both the protection of the vulnerable and the principles of fairness and due process. This balance reflects our commitment to both grace and justice in the spirit of Christ’s teaching.
When fear targets our neighbors, we must become sanctuaries of hope. When injustice threatens the vulnerable, we must be steadfast advocates. And when power abuses its authority, we must speak truth, even when it costs us something.

Faith communities cannot remain silent while those entrusted with public safety turn places of refuge into zones of surveillance. If Jesus was willing to stand in the synagogue and announce a kingdom of liberation, then we, His church, must be willing to do the same — especially when it comes to protecting the most vulnerable among us.

Our prophetic witness must also be pastoral. As the body of Christ, we are called to embody radical hospitality and relentless compassion. Let us ensure that our churches, schools, and hospitals remain sanctuaries — not just in name but in action.

This work is not about political ideology; it is about Gospel fidelity. It is about living out the radical love of Jesus Christ, who crossed every boundary to draw people into God’s embrace.

People of the Dakotas-Minnesota Episcopal Area, this is a moment for holy boldness. We must be courageous in our proclamation, uncompromising in our love, and unrelenting in our commitment to justice. The Spirit of the Lord is upon us — this is our call.

Let us remember the words of John Wesley, who urged us to "do all the good we can, by all the means we can, in all the ways we can." This is not a time for timidity; it is a time for faith in action.

Pray with me for those who are living in fear, for those whose lives are being disrupted, and for those who are tasked with enforcing unjust policies. Pray, and then rise up in the power of the Spirit to be the hands, feet, and voice of Christ in a hurting world.

May we have the courage of Jesus, who proclaimed freedom in the face of rejection. May we have the compassion of Jesus, who welcomed the stranger and healed the broken. And may we have the faith of Jesus, who trusted that God’s justice and mercy would prevail.

With hope and resolve,

Bishop Lanette Plambeck 
Resident Bishop, Dakotas-Minnesota Episcopal Area 
The United Methodist Church