What Other Church Leaders Are Saying

Many evangelical leaders, denominations, and institutions have spoken out on the need for the Church to respond to immigration as a missional opportunity and to support just policy solutions to our broken immigration legal system.  A sampling of those statements are below, with links:

National Association of Evangelicals Resolution, 2009

The significant increase in immigration and the growing stridency of the national debate on immigration compel the National Association of Evangelicals to speak boldly and biblically to this challenging topic. The complexity of immigration issues provides an opportunity to mine Scripture for guidance. A biblically informed position provides a strong platform for the NAE to make a contribution in the public square that will be explicitly Christian. Out of commitment to Scripture and knowledge of national immigration realities comes a distinct call to action. 

Southern Baptist Convention Resolution, 2011

RESOLVED, That the messengers to the Southern Baptist Convention… call on our churches to be the presence of Christ, in both proclamation and ministry, to all persons, regardless of country of origin or immigration status; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we ask our governing authorities to implement, with the borders secured, a just and compassionate path to legal status, with appropriate restitutionary measures, for those undocumented immigrants already living in our country; and be it further

Bill & Lynne Hybels, Willow Creek Community Church

Our faith informs us that we were all strangers and aliens once, separated from God. Because God was willing to include us in his redemptive plan, we “are no longer strangers and aliens, but [we] are fellow citizens” (Ephesians 2:18-19a). As Christians, we accept the biblical perspective that we are all sojourners on this earth, commanded to steward it while we await the full arrival of God’s eternal kingdom. Recognizing that we are all sojourners on this land, no matter what our legal status, compels us to extend solidarity to all. This deep sense of solidarity with others is a foundational truth of our country.  We are a nation with historical roots grounded in immigration: out of necessity, many of our ancestors came to this country, and then found a home here.

Rick Warren, Saddleback Church

The church must always show compassion, always. In Psalm 72, Solomon prays for power and fame but he says the purpose of influence is to speak up for others and one is the immigrant. He doesn’t delineate between legal and illegal.

I’m supposed to help people. A good Samaritan doesn’t stop and ask the injured person. ‘Are you legal or illegal?’

John Piper, Bethlehem Baptist Church

I would like to see us as a country find a way to provide for illegal immigrants to stay but still have them pay a reasonable penalty.

Such a solution would give honor to the law and show mercy to the immigrants, whose situations are so varied and so many. It’s not an easy, black-and-white, “they disobeyed, so get ‘em out of here” issue. There’s a lot of exploitation. We’ve benefited a lot from these people, etc.

As I’ve looked at both sides it seems that we could probably come up with a way to acknowledge that it is against the law (and we’re not going to say that breaking the law doesn’t matter), and yet we’re not going to say that it’s a simple and easy solution to try and ship 20 million of them back to Mexico. It’s not going to work that way.

Just like illegal parking is against the law and we are charged a reasonable fee when we’re caught, so too we should charge a reasonable penalty for illegal immigrants but one that doesn’t require them to return to their home country.

Evangelical Free Church Resolution, 1996

As evangelicals, we are called by God to aid the vulnerable.  Therefore, we must see the alien and the stranger as individuals made in the image of God, the object of Christ’s love and as people of intrinsic worth who are in need of our affirmation and support.

Max Lucado, author

I do have stronger feelings than others on immigration reform because we have so many people here in San Antonio who have lived as illegal aliens for a decade or two. If they were told to return to Mexico, it’s not a realistic solution for many people I’m close to. I think finding a pathway to citizenship is a more responsible, respectful, neighborly approach to the solution.

Chuck Colson, Prison Fellowship, Breakpoint Ministries

Christians must work to see that the immigration debate generates light instead of heat. We must insist that the illegal-immigration issue be addressed without treating millions of Americans, many of whom have died protecting our country, as a kind of fifth column.

That is the very least we can do if we are obedient to God’s command to welcome strangers. And that’s a fact I got from the highest possible Source.

Assemblies of God Resolution, 2006

As people of faith we support comprehensive immigration reform that reflects human dignity, compassion, and justice integral to a ‘nation under God.’ Apart from issues related to governmental jurisdiction, we believe that the gospel of Jesus Christ compels us to minister to all who live or work within our country.

The Assemblies of God has also endorsed the National Association of Evangelicals’ 2009 Resolution.

The Vineyard USA Statement, 2009

We oppose and condemn all unjust and harsh laws, policies and measures directed against immigrants among us, whether documented or undocumented.  We will act as advocates for just and humane policies and practices for all people by all levels of government and in all parts of society.