2025 Spring Appeal

The transition into Spring is much more deeply felt in places like Seattle where the gloom of winter seems to stretch on endlessly. The sun coming back, the days growing longer, and the flowers in full bloom restores a sense of hope and renewal. But just as vividly, being unearthed in our nation is an ugliness, the decay of our core values. The rapid transition into fear, uncertainty, and threats carried out against migrant communities, college protestors, trans communities, and all who stand for justice, fosters chaos and feelings of powerlessness. We feel that fear, and yet, we know together we are powerful.

As people of faith and conscience, our traditions require us to build a world when justice is realized. We invite you to join us by taking bold, prophetic, and transformational action in the face of continuous threats and violence. Transformational action is only possible when we are rooted in relationship and accountable those who are most impacted by systemic oppression – simply put, those closest to the problem are closest to the solution. The Church Council has invested in relationships with faith communities and community organizations so that we can be a bridge between faith communities and directly impacted communities. Your financial support ensures that the Church Council will sustain this vital work.

In the summer of 1962, the Church Council launched its first program committed to supporting migrant farm workers and their families living in encampments in Fall City, Bainbridge and Vashon Islands. Grounded in our history of supporting peace globally, the Church Council advocated for an end to US colonialism in Central America. As a result, we called on faith communities to respond by offering Sanctuary to Central American refugees, particularly from Nicaragua and El Salvador. In partnership with University Baptist’s witness, we pushed the Seattle City Council to adopt a city of refuge resolution, one of Seattle’s first steps in becoming a Sanctuary city.

The Church Council relaunched our Sanctuary Network in 2017, supporting three faith communities as they hosted and accompanied migrant families in their buildings. Once again, we are relaunching a statewide Sanctuary Network. This statewide network, while broad in landscape, must be principled in practice – accountable to those seeking sanctuary, the community groups that support them, and to those working together in the network. We are taking lessons learned from our past Sanctuary efforts, married with the tools that have been built by our Faith Land Initiative, to support the discernment that faith communities must undertake. Our work continues to be informed by the leadership of our Grupo de Solidaridad and in coalition with migrant-led community organizations. We know that it will take all of us to protect our communities and hold true to our values.

Your support in this moment is more important than ever. We are in the second year of our 3-year Capital Reserves Campaign, and this year our fundraising goal is $75,000. Thanks to your support, we were able to raise $45,000 of our $50,000 goal last year! The success of last year’s efforts were made possible by two major donors who made up nearly 75% of the funds raised. Having a stable reserves account is crucial to being able to respond when changing circumstances and executive orders from the presidential administration threaten the communities whose leadership we follow.

This year we are going to need more donors if we are going to meet our goal, so we’re asking for two gifts: one to continue building collective power with us in 2025 as we relaunch the Sanctuary Network, build resilience through our Grupo de Solidaridad, continue the work of the Faith Land Initiative, advocate for a just city budget, and collaborate with our community partners. And one to help us withstand the storms of the coming years by rebuilding our Capital Reserves.

If you’ve given to our Capital Reserves Campaign last year, consider making a pledge for the final two years of the campaign! If you give to us regularly, consider shifting your donation to a monthly or quarterly gift!

Whatever your gift amount, thank you for being part of the organized resources in our collective power for transformational change! We appreciate your support and are excited to be building power with you for transformational change in our communities.

With gratitude,

Tara Miller (they) & Joey Lopez (he)

Co-Executive Directors,
The Church Council of Greater Seattle