Faith leaders and congregations in Central New York will join United Methodists across the country for Faithful Resistance: A Public Witness for Immigrant Justice, a two-day gathering in Syracuse on February 25–26, 2026. The local events coincide with a national United Methodist witness taking place in Washington, D.C., on February 25.
Hosted by University United Methodist Church, May Memorial Unitarian Universalist Society, and Pebble Hill Presbyterian Church, the Syracuse gathering will offer worship, music, dialogue, and public engagement centered on the message: “No Hate. No Fear. Refugees & Immigrants Are Welcome Here.”
The United Methodist Church affirms the sacred worth of all persons and calls the church to works of mercy and justice, including support for humane immigration reform and the protection of refugees, migrants, and asylum seekers. Organizers say the local gathering reflects those longstanding commitments.
Pastor Aaron Carlson of University United Methodist Church said the gathering reflects longstanding Christian convictions about human dignity and compassion: “The United Methodist Church affirms the sacred worth of all persons and calls us to mercy and justice. Wesleyan holiness is not retreat but faithful presence. Faithful Resistance is simply the Church praying, forming disciples, and standing with the vulnerable as an act of holy love.”
The gathering brings together faith communities from across Syracuse in a shared public witness. The Rev. Jennifer “Jo” VonRue of May Memorial Unitarian Universalist Society emphasized the common moral ground that unites the participating congregations: “Unitarian Universalists believe that love is an action, and while our traditions are different, the call to love is still the same. When our neighbors are afraid, we show up because that is what love looks like when it is lived out loud.”
Organizers also emphasize the local significance of the event for Central New York communities, where immigrant and refugee families are neighbors, students, and coworkers. The Rev. Courtney Steininger of Pebble Hill Presbyterian Church underscored the importance of visible solidarity: “In the Parable of the Good Samaritan, Jesus teaches us that being a neighbor is an action. While we also teach that every being is our neighbor, remembering that our literal neighbors were made in the image of God is always important. Thus, supporting the actions of local organizations allows us to live out our faith, to love our neighbor as ourselves, and to honor how God calls us to live in community.”
While connected to the national Faithful Resistance witness in Washington, D.C., the Syracuse events will focus on local relationships, education, and prayerful engagement.
