After a major online controversy, the conservative Presbyterian Church in America (PCA) has taken down an article instructing illegal immigrants how to evade ICE. Shortly after taking down the offending article, the PCA published an open letter apologizing for the mistake. While the webpage has been deleted there is an ongoing investigation as to who posted the article.
“Mission to North America (MNA) serves the PCA for the advancement of Christ’s kingdom through our churches in the U.S. and Canada,” the letter began. ” We do this through a two-pronged focus on church planting and church vitality. Our church planting efforts facilitate starting and supporting new PCA churches. Our church vitality efforts provide ministry resources that enable our churches to grow in their outward-facing missional engagement in their communities, loving neighbors as our Lord commands”
“Recently, we posted links on our webpage to external organizations offering a wide range of recommendations and frequently asked questions on immigration,” the PCA explained. “MNA’s leadership erroneously allowed the posting of content that advised undocumented persons on ways to avoid being detained by authorities. We affirm that it is our Christian duty to obey the lawful commands of the civil magistrate and be subject to their authority.”
“To counsel otherwise is a sin,” they affirmed. ” We confess that we fell short of our Biblical and Confessional standard. We repent and apologize. We also apologize for causing confusion and consternation in our church. We have removed all the previously posted information from our website. MNA’s Refugee & Immigrant Ministry, along with other MNA ministries, seeks to serve our churches with resources that enable them to faithfully follow our Lord’s call to love the stranger.”
“However, MNA does not engage in providing legal advice, political campaigning, or partisan positions. The information we post going forward will provide ecclesiastical resources in line with our Confession for guidance on the matter,” the Presbyterian denomination concluded. “The MNA Permanent Committee is holding its Spring Meeting during the first week of March and this issue is docketed for further focused discussion as part of the Committee’s regular oversight of MNA’s ministries.”
“Most immigrants in the US have permanent legal status. They may be a refugee, or a sponsored family member awaiting their green card, or they may already be a naturalized US citizen,” the now-deleted article read. “On the other hand, many of our neighbors – and many of our brothers and sisters in Christ – do not have permanent legal status. … Some may not have documents giving them permission to remain in the US. ”
“Many undocumented persons are married to green card holders or to US citizens. Many have US citizen children,” the article explained. “Our neighbors who have no documents and those who have temporary status are facing much uncertainty in the months and years ahead. ” The article ended with a list or ways for illegals to evade and frustrate ICE.
“Remain calm. Show ICE your identity document (if you do not have lawful status, show an identity document that does not include your country of birth or citizenship),” the document instructed. “If you were granted parole or … you fear returning to your home country, tell the officer you are afraid to go back. You should get a Credible Fear Interview as a result. If the officer denies your Credible Fear Interview, ask for the chance for an immigration judge to review your fear.”
