On the evening of April 3, 2025 National City Christian Church and Foundation (National City) was honored to host the “Sensitive Locations, Sacred Spaces Interfaith Prayer Vigil,” in collaboration with ecumenical and interfaith partners from across the country. The vigil, which welcomed an estimated 600 people in our sanctuary and over 1500 online, provided an interfaith prayer service on the eve of the first hearing of the historic lawsuit against the Department of Homeland Security’s rescission of the sensitive locations memo. This lawsuit was filed on behalf of more than two-dozen Jewish and Christian groups in February, including the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). The prayer vigil included representatives from these groups, as well as, faithful people from across the country concerned about the status of congregations as sensitive locations, where all can worship regardless of immigration status.
As the national church of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the United States and Canada, this work is imperative to live out our call and we were pleased to partner with faith groups and denominations, national justice organizations, and interfaith partners to not only offer physical space for gathering, but a spiritual space for prayer, community care, and justice. Our team at National City serves the wider church to make these events physically safe and welcoming to our partners, as well as provide welcome and leadership during the gathering. The use of our building, specifically our nearing 100 year old sanctuary, for the work of prayer for the world’s deep hurt and our faithful hope for transformation, has been a longstanding ministry of National City. As we look towards a future that broadens and deepens our partnerships as a church and foundation, we look forward to continuing with the relationships that allow us to be faithful followers of God together across individual organizations.
While the lawsuit is ongoing and part of a longer process, we know that God’s people experienced God’s love and support through our time of gathering. National City, and the partners that we gathered with, continue to speak out against the injustices of our world and are committed to building a safe and inclusive Kindom of God.