Kingston Congregational Church raised a sign reading “Refugees and Immigrants Welcome” in early January, in response to President Donald Trump’s campaign on mass deportations, according to Rev. Jan Gregory-Charpentier.
“I think we in our Christian tradition, which has historically and significantly voiced support for social justice, that we need to amplify voices and messages of inclusion, and welcome and tolerance when there is so much of the opposite message being amplified in our culture and media,” Gregory-Charpentier said.
Gregory-Charpentier is the senior pastor at Kingston Congregational Church. She has served in New England United Church of Christ congregations for over 25 years, according to the church’s website.
The sign is also important to the University of Rhode Island community because of its large international student body, according to Gregory-Charpentier.
“We have a lot of international students who live right next door to us and walk right by our property every day,” Gregory-Charpentier said. “We have international students that worship with us and they aren’t necessarily immigrants or refugees but they come from countries where some of these issues are really pertinent.”
In addition to the sign, the church has been making monetary donations to several organizations that members of the church are involved in where they serve as refugee mentors, according to Gregory-Charpentier. Some of the organizations include Dorcas International Institute of Rhode Island, Refugee and Migration Ministries of the United Church of Christ and Church World Service.
The church has received few comments from the community or its congregation on the sign, according to Gregory-Charpentier.
One parishioner claimed that they did not feel that the sign was appropriate and was too political, according to Gregory-Charpentier.
“One [parishioner] sent me an email, thanking me for the sign being there,” Gregory-Charpentier said. This parishioner works with an Afghan family in Providence where they help them transition into American life.
The church felt the sign was also relevant as a reminder that Joseph and Mary were refugees in Christian literature, according to Gregory-Charpentier. The sign’s message is about the Judeo-Christian tradition to “welcome the stranger.”
“I think it’s important to represent the part of our American culture that has always, historically, welcomed and supported new citizens,” Gregory-Charpentier said.
The church put up the sign a week after Christmas, when the church celebrates the Feast of the Holy Family, according to Gregory-Charpentier. As an homage to the Holy Family, their profile is featured on the sign as well.
