Welcome the Stranger: Our Commitment as a Denomination
Knox is a member of Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).
“Guided by our faith’s call to welcome the stranger and belief in the inherent dignity of all people, the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) actively advocates for and works toward more just immigration laws and processes. The PC(USA) seeks to embody Christ’s call to justice, compassion, and welcome for all who journey in search of safety and hope.”
Read more about the work and ministry of PC(USA) here.
Welcome the Stranger: Our Commitment as a Local Church
Guided by God’s love and justice for all people, the Knox Immigration Team (KIT) works to befriend and support immigrants in Southern California.
Our guide: God’s love and justice for all people.
- God created all people in God’s image (Genesis 1:26).
- God hears the cries of the oppressed (Exodus 2:23–25).
- God and God’s people know the heart of the alien (Exodus 23:9; Matthew 2:13–15).
- God commands us to love foreigners as we love ourselves (Leviticus 19:34; Hebrews 13:2).
- God receives welcome when we welcome strangers (Matthew 25:35, 40, 43).
- God sends us messengers in the foreigners who come to us (Hebrews 13:2).
Our work: befriending and supporting immigrants in Southern California.
- We seek to honor the dignity of every individual.
- We seek to learn from our immigrant friends about their lives, their joys, their concerns, their knowledge, and their faith. We share life together.
- We share our resources with migrants who have come to us.
- We meet regularly to discern how to support our immigrant friends.
- We educate ourselves and our church about the issues facing our immigrant friends.
Deeply and actively loving our neighbors, no matter their immigration status, is an essential element of how we practice our faith.