Center for Equality and Justice probes the sanctuary movement

California Lutheran University's Center for Equality and Justice will sponsor several guest speakers discussing the sanctuary movement in churches. These events are free and open to the public.

Bishop Dean Nelson of the Southwest California Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America will talk about how his council is grappling with the issue of churches offering sanctuary to undocumented workers whose children are American citizens. This talk will be at 3:15 p.m. today, Thurs., Oct. 18, in Nygreen Hall 1 on the campus. The synod includes 136 congregations, including those in Ventura, Los Angeles and Santa Barbara.

Ralie Deffenbaugh, president of the Baltimore-based Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service, will talk about the work of his agency at 4 p.m. Mon., Nov. 26, in the Nelson Room.

The Rev. June Goudey, the leader of the United Church of Christ in Simi Valley, will attend this event. Goudey's church is giving sanctuary to an illegal immigrant wanted for deportation who lives in the church's former parsonage with her U.S.-born son.

The university is at 60 W. Olsen Road in Thousand Oaks.

For more information, call Professor Richard Derderian at (805) 493-3318 or e-mail rderderi@callutheran.edu.