First Parish Joins 4th Amendment Workplace Movement

At the request for consideration from the First Parish staff team, Parish Committee voted to join the national Fourth Amendment Workplace Movement at their February meeting. Fourth Amendment Workplaces train employers, employees, and volunteer leaders to defend their constitutional rights and protect against unconstitutional search and seizure operations, such as by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

In alignment with the movement, Parish Committee has coordinated with First Parish staff members, the Safe Congregation Response Team, Property Committee, and local activists at Mass Jobs With Justice to develop a new policy and procedures for protecting congregants, renters, employees, and visitors in the event that First Parish is visited by federal law enforcement. First Parish’s new policy, drafted by our member Bob Smart, was accepted by Parish Committee in March. 

Why has First Parish joined the Fourth Amendment Workplace Movement? Since 2025, many federal agents who have participated in workplace immigration arrests have not identified themselves nor have a valid warrant or subpoena. But all law enforcement agents, from any agency, are required under the Fourth Amendment to demonstrate a valid search or arrest warrant or subpoena signed by a judge that shows the specific name and address of the person under investigation, before being granted entry to a “private area” of any residence or establishment (i.e., a business or house of worship). In the unlikely but possible event of a federal agent attempting to gain access to people or to data at First Parish, First Parishioners can reduce the risk of unconstitutional entry by federal agents (and thus reduce the risk of arrests or seizure of congregational data) by becoming trained to calmly and legally assert our Fourth Amendment rights:

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

~ The Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution

How will we assert our Fourth Amendment rights? In early April, printed copies of our policy and “engagement checklist” will be available at specific locations throughout the building. Signs will be placed at the public entrances of First Parish identifying our congregation as a Fourth Amendment Workplace. And, signs will also be placed throughout the church building designating much of the building as “private to First Parish members, friends, and visitors” — as in, inaccessible to law enforcement except with a signed judicial warrant or subpoena. 

What is a judicial warrant? What do I do if I encounter a federal agent at First Parish?  In short: if a federal law enforcement agent comes to First Parish and asks for access to “private” areas, any individual, or information about congregants, renters, or visitors, a First Parish staff or Parish Committee member should be called to the church building immediately. All First Parishioners can learn more about how to assess a warrant’s validity and how to engage with federal agents at two training opportunities to be offered in April, one onsite and one online; those dates will be shared through internal First Parish communications. Those who participated in our Marshal training have already been briefed on our new policy. 

First Parish is proud to join this national movement that helps protect the constitutional rights of workers and patrons throughout the country. Please connect with Rev. Catie Scudera (minister at uuneedham dot org) or church president Marianne McGowan (president at uuneedham dot org) if you have questions.