How Should Churches and Seminaries Respond to Immigrant Pastors Who Minister in the US Illegally?

christianitytoday.com ^ | 8/2/2013 | Kedri Metzger, Mark Tooley, Mathew Staver

[moonshinner_09]

How Should Churches and Seminaries Respond to Immigrant Pastors Who Minister in the US Illegally? Immigrants are strengthening the church and revitalizing some denominations with significant growth. Many of these churches are started by local leaders who emphasize evangelism and know the culture and language of the growing immigrant population in the United States. But some of these pastors lack valid immigration status and face a complex and painful dilemma.

Alex and his family crossed the border illegally when he was an infant. Years later, after becoming a Christian, he began a ministry in his community that has grown into two separate church sites. Alex serves as a volunteer, unable to work since he does not have the necessary immigration papers. He has a family, including a child with Down syndrome who is a U.S. citizen. This complicates his situation even more: If Alex leaves the States, his child would lose access to crucial medical care. Alex has considered bringing himself to the attention of immigration authorities to plead his case before an immigration judge. But this would risk for being deported away from his child, to a country he doesn't remember.

Like Alex, some pastors came to the United States as small children. Some intentionally crossed the border undetected, while others entered on valid visas and later lost their immigration status through technical mistakes made by themselves or church leaders. Under current law, there are no remedies for these mistakes.

[moonshinner_09]

If the church helps, are they violating the law? Church leaders often worry that they are not submitting to authorities by allowing pastors or other volunteers to participate in church life.( So is this like hello, we found our loophole ... )But the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) does not require church leaders or members to report pastors who are here illegally.

[puppypusher]

This is a very misleading artical.It makes it sound as if the Goverment is requiring a license to practice your religion,When in fact it’s about illegal immigration and illegal immigrants.

[cyclotic]

I have a friend who’s dad ministered to Mexicans in California. He said it was really hard to tell them that once they became believers, they should do the right thing and return to Mexico until they can legally immigrate. He later moved to Mexico as a missionary and is still there.

[svcw]

To the headline: send them home and have them come legally, pretty simple really.

[marron]

They can help him with his attorneys, and if he has to go back, he can serve them as missionary.

[PAR35]

SD visas.

[Nea Wood]

Why was it hard to tell them? And if/when he did tell them, how did they react?

[Rodamala]

Illegal ministers... you know... the ones that won’t marry homos... JAIL TIME.

That is unless you are an illegally immigrated minister... then you get an EBT card, Health Care, a driver’s license, voter ID card...

[cyclotic]

Just one of those difficult conversations I guess. Don’t know the reactions