Dallas Church Provokes Debate with Nativity Scene Depicting Holy Family as Caged Immigrants
DALLAS, Texas — A Dallas church has ignited a spirited conversation this holiday season by unveiling a nativity scene that portrays the Holy Family as modern-day immigrants confined within a metal cage wrapped in barbed wire. Oak Lawn United Methodist Church, located in a vibrant Dallas neighborhood known for its progressive stances, installed the provocative display on its rainbow-painted front steps earlier this month.
The scene features silhouettes of Mary, Joseph, and the infant Jesus standing behind a chain-link fence, accompanied by signs reading “Holy is the refugee” and “Holy are the profiled and patrolled.” Inside the church, visitors encounter a second installation with empty chairs, protest-style placards, and a manger beneath a wooden board emblazoned with the words “ICE WAS HERE.” Additional signs ask haunting questions such as “Where is Mary?,” “Where is Joseph?,” and “Where is Jesus?,” underscoring the plight of migrants and refugees.
Church leaders emphasize that the display is not intended as a mere photo opportunity but rather as a solemn prayer and moral reflection. “Our nativity isn’t a photo-op. It’s a prayer in the shape of a family,” the church stated on its official Facebook page. “This year, we set the Holy Family inside the kind of space too many folks sleep in right now — tarps, fencing, harsh wire. Not for shock, but for truth.” The installation aims to highlight the realities faced by unhoused individuals and migrants, urging congregants and passers-by alike to consider who is excluded during the Christmas season.
Associate Pastor Isabel Marquez explained the intentionality behind the display, telling Fox 4 Dallas, “This topic is sending a message to everyone. It is a way to say what is a reality happening here for many people.” The church’s stance aligns with broader humanitarian concerns about immigration enforcement and the treatment of refugees, topics that have sparked national debate.
Supporters of the display see it as a powerful contemporary interpretation of the gospel. Local resident Sarah Perkins remarked, “I think it is a modern interpretation of what the gospel says. Jesus was an immigrant and a migrant.” Another neighbor, Sean Garman, added, “I think it is a really good commentary on the political issues at hand right now at the border and immigrants being arrested without due process.”
The church’s message resonates amid ongoing controversies surrounding immigration policies and enforcement practices by agencies such as the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). While the display has drawn praise for its compassionate framing, it also faces criticism from those who view it as politicizing a sacred tradition.
Oak Lawn United Methodist Church has a history of embracing progressive causes, including painting its steps in rainbow colors and appointing openly gay pastors, actions that have previously drawn the ire of some religious authorities. This latest nativity scene continues that pattern of using religious symbolism to engage with contemporary social justice issues.
As the holiday season unfolds, the church’s installation invites reflection on the intersection of faith, migration, and human dignity. It challenges observers to consider the enduring relevance of the nativity story in a world where millions seek refuge and safety, often behind fences and barriers.
For more information on immigration enforcement and refugee policies, visit the U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the American Civil Liberties Union, which provides resources on migrants’ rights.
In a time when the meaning of Christmas is often debated, Oak Lawn United Methodist Church’s nativity scene stands as a stark reminder that the story of the Holy Family continues to inspire conversations about compassion and inclusion.
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