Being a non-anxious presence

Yesterday morning a Border Patrol car came and parked on campus near the Mail Center for around 35 minutes; the officer did not get out, nor did he speak to anyone. And to the best of our knowledge, he did not drive around the campus.

We live in a season where many are deeply concerned about the extent and reach of immigration enforcement in the United States. Even though everyone who is employed by the Seminary or learns here has legal standing to be in the United States, the presence of immigration enforcement on campus still triggers anxiety.

No one knows why the border guard (which isn’t the same as ICE) sat in his car for 30 minutes or so. I’ve heard everything from ‘having lunch’ to ‘intimidation of VTS for having Bishop Budde here’. But we don’t actually know.

Please do care for each other. Please do be vigilant. But, also, please be measured and precise in your language. As Daniel Bentley suggested in an email to me, “please be a non-anxious presence.”