Dear Friends and Members,

With the recent activities of ICE and the Border Agents here in Charlotte, the immigration issue has now hit home. You know that we typically steer clear of politics in the pulpit, but because we feel this is less political and more humanitarian, your pastors felt compelled to respond.

Some schools around us are seeing anywhere between a 40%-60% decrease in attendance because minority families are afraid. People are being stopped and detained purely based on their skin color. Protests are mounting all around us.

It seems we have been forced to consider the immigration issue as a choice between two opposite options: an open border or sending agents to schools, neighborhoods, churches and workplaces to arrest anyone looking Hispanic. We believe there are other options.

We wholeheartedly support secure borders. We wholeheartedly support all law enforcement that seek to arrest all violent criminals.  But our Christian witness also reminds us that God ensures that orphans and widows receive justice. He shows love to the foreigners living among you and gives them food and clothing. (Deut. 10:18)

How do we support law enforcement and show love to the stranger among us? How do we live in a nation governed by laws and follow a command to love our neighbor? In short, how do we hold both the law and gospel in constant tension?

The answer: with our actions. To support law enforcement in their protection of us from violent criminals while also reaching out with compassion to hard working immigrants who are contributing to everyone’s wellbeing while desiring to raise their families in a better place. To speak a word of encouragement to our officers while also speaking a word of comfort to the families in our schools and churches. To financially support the police while also shopping at immigrant-owned businesses.

We don’t pretend to have a simple solution to the complexity of this issue. But let us not make this an option between two choices at the radical end of either pole. Let us instead live as faithful believers that the Law is good and that the Gospel brings life both to ourselves and to the foreigner who lives among us.

This need not fracture our fellowship. Our unity is not found in political parties but in Jesus Christ. If we disagree, let us do so in love, remembering what Paul wrote: “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone” (Romans 12:18).

We invite you to read more on this issue with a statement from the ELCA bishops.

Peace,

Pastors Scott, Ryan and Adrienne