February 10, 2026
Being a Non-Anxious Presence: Responding Faithfully to ICE Activity in Our Communities
Clergy across our connection are asking an important and urgent question: How do we respond faithfully and responsibly if there is ICE activity in our communities or at our churches?
This 90-minute Zoom webinar is designed to resource clergy with practical information, pastoral wisdom, and spiritual grounding for these moments. Together, we’ll share clear facts about what clergy and congregations should know, explore strategies for responding with calm and care, and reflect on our calling to be a non-anxious presence in anxious times.
The gathering will also create space for questions—because real situations are rarely tidy—and for intentional prayer for those already impacted by immigration enforcement and those who may be at risk. This is not about stoking fear or offering easy answers; it’s about equipping leaders to lead with courage, clarity, and compassion.
In this webinar, participants will:
- Receive practical guidance on how to respond if ICE activity occurs in their community or at their church
- Reflect on the pastoral and theological grounding for being a non-anxious presence
- Ask questions in a supportive, clergy-only space
- Join in prayer for individuals, families, and communities impacted by immigration enforcement
Date: February 18, 2026, 12 noon to 1:30 pm
Format: 90-minute Zoom gathering
Facilitated by Rev. Lan Davis Wilson, the Director for Belonging and Advocacy, and Rev. Dr. Jason Stanley, the Director for Call and Candidacy, with guest Rev. Dr. Barry Penn Hollar. Barry is a retired UMC elder, and professor emeritus of religion and philosophy at Shenandoah University. He is a Duke Divinity School graduate and also holds a PhD in Religious Ethics from the University in Virginia.
As of late, he has been actively serving the Richmond area as a community activist for human rights and currently spends much of his days facilitating training for churches and communities surrounding ICE activity.
Come as you are—concerns, questions, and coffee all welcome. This will be a space to breathe, learn, pray, and remember that none of us are carrying this alone.
Registration: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_AHafxJ21RNGXfccUgGqLVA#/registration