image above: “We do not come in hatred, we do not come in bigotry, we do not come to put anybody down, we come to lift everybody up. We come in love,” Presiding Bishop Michael Curry told a crowd of more than 1,000 gathered in prayer at the T. Don Hutto Detention Center in Taylor, Texas. Photo: Frank Logue
See all reflections from CNY’s General Convention deputation at cnyepiscopal.org/gc79.
Central New York General Convention deputies traveled with at least 1,000 other Episcopalians to the T. Don Hutto Detention Center in Taylor, Texas on Sunday, July 8th, to pray for and give a public witness supporting immigrants and separated families. The women detained in the Hutto Center—including about 40 mothers recently separated from their children—could hear the prayers of the crowd, according to a tweet by Grassroots Leadership, a partner in organizing the event.
A woman called from Hutto after today’s prayer and told us they were glued to the windows until the last bus left the detention center. Women inside were crying, saying they knew they weren’t alone after seeing so many people there. Thank you @iamepiscopalian! #gc79 pic.twitter.com/7THocwYphq
— GrassrootsLeadership (@Grassroots_News) July 8, 2018
The Rev. Megan Castellan, rector of St. John’s Church in Ithaca, was a lead organizer for the service. She and Bishop DeDe Duncan-Probe are interviewed in this Spectrum News report on the event.
You can watch Presiding Bishop Curry’s sermon at the service or read a transcript.
Episcopal News Service has in-depth coverage of the service.
Want to help?
Grassroots Leadership, the Episcopal Church’s partner in organizing this event, works to post bond for women detained in the Hutto Detention Center and helps them to look for their children. It costs about $2,000—staff and volunteer time not included—to free a woman from Hutto. You can donate to Grassroots Leadership Community Deportation Defense & Bond Fund here.
Presiding Bishop Michael Curry and Central New York Bishop DeDe Duncan-Probe share a hug during the prayer service for immigrants and separated families at the T. Don Hutto Detention Center in Taylor, Texas. Photo: Frank Logue
Bishop David Alvarado of our Companion Diocese of El Salvador and the Rev. Tommy Dillion, an alternate deputy from the Diocese of Louisiana hold up an image of Archbishop Oscar Romero, who was assassinated while standing behind the altar for his social justice work. Photo: Lynette Wilson/Episcopal News Service
Deputy Megan Castellan, rector of St. John’s Church in Ithaca, stands with Presiding Bishop Michael Curry and President of the House of Deputies Gay Clark Jennings at the detention center prayer service. Castellan is one of the organizers of the event. Lynette Wilson/Episcopal News Service
A local family came to support the prayer service. One woman in the family spent eleven months inside the detention center.
