Evangelical Churches, National Association of Evangelicals and God’s compassion for the immigrant

I sent the following to the President of the Baptist denomination that my evangelical church is a part of this week in response to the reaction of restrictionist groups to the statement in support of comprehensive immigration reform by the National Association of Evangelicals and the kerfuffle that followed. I have edited the what follows to be more generic and encourage you to edit and use it in your context.

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The impetus for my writing at this time are the events surrounding the recent testimony of prominent evangelical leaders before the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration, Border Security and Refugees, the release of a statement by the National Association regarding Comprehensive Immigration Reform and the subsequent reaction of certain restrictionist lobbying organizations which use pejorative language, misinformation and caricature in reference to immigrants and immigration. Some of these groups have ties to white supremacy. Some of us believe that the strident rhetoric of these groups has led to violence against immigrants and other people of color.

One of these organizations, NumbersUSA, has cited Converge Worldwide on their website as a group that, at least argued from silence, disagrees with the comments by Lynn Hybels, Leith Anderson and others at the Senate hearing and the statement made by the National Association of Evangelicals. NumbersUSA and other groups have called on their constituencies to make telephone calls, write letters and send emails to NAE members to pressure their leadership to distance themselves from the statement on immigration. Converge Worldwide may have experienced some of these calls, emails or letters from those who would only seek to restrict immigration and limit the rights of immigrants and workers.

Some denominations have responded in support of the NEA statement, others have made statements to distance themselves, and others remain silent. These anti-immigrant groups are attempting to demonstrate that there is lack of support for the NAE statement, and for comprehensive, humane treatment of immigrants in our country. You and I know that the diversity of thought and perspective in this great amorphous thing called American evangelicalism is a good thing. We are people of the Book and I hope and pray that a lack of compassion for the least of those among us will not lead to further violence.

From my perspective, as someone who has ministered with and among immigrant communities for more than 20 years, the statement of the Nation Association of Evangelicals gets certain things right.

• That immigration enforcement be conducted in ways that recognize the importance of due process of law, the sanctity of the human person, and the incomparable value of family.
• There must be a sound, equitable process for currently undocumented immigrants who wish to assume the responsibilities and privileges of citizenship to earn legal status. There is no call for blanket amnesty as the detractors assert.
• National borders must be better organized and safeguarded with efficiency and respect for human dignity.

For further reading on immigration from a biblical perspective by people who understand the history, current law and politics, the immigrant and refugee communities, and theology, I recommend these:

• World Relief’s Welcoming the Stranger, Justice, Compassion & Truth in the Immigration Debate, by Matthew Soerens and Jenny Hwang, Intervarsity Press, 2009. I have had the opportunity to chat with Matt (an immigration attorney in Chicago area) and
• An excellent book with biblical theology as the focus is Christians at the Border: Immigration the Bible and the Church, Daniel Carroll-R., (Distinguished Old Testament Professor, Denver Seminary), Baker Academic, 2008. Danny takes a markedly theological approach as Professor of Old Testament at Denver Seminary.
• A newer book with a very up-close and personal approach is Trails of Hope and Terror: Testimonies on Immigration by Miguel A. De La Torre (Professor of Ethics, Iliff Seminary) Orbis Books, 2009. De La Torre took seminary students to the Sonoran Desert on both sides of the border to talk to migrants about the situations and circumstances that led them to risk their health and their lives to cross at great peril.

I would be happy to have further conversation with you about immigration, the situation of immigrants in this country and comprehensive immigration reform. Please feel free to contact me. . . [using the comment feature below].