Unite for Biblical Values in Immigration Policy

Dear Vice President Harris, Governor Walz, former President Trump and Senator Vance,

 

There’s no single evangelical perspective on U.S. immigration policy – but, as evangelical pastors and leaders, we’re concerned that some of the media caricatures you may have heard about how evangelicals think about immigrants and immigration policies are dramatically inaccurate. The vast majority of American evangelicals are neither anti-immigrant nor advocates for open borders.

Here are three core principles that guide us:

 

• Evangelical Christians believe that immigrants, like all human beings, are made in the image of God and have innate dignity (Genesis 1:27)
  • 91 percent of evangelicals want policies that “respect the God-given dignity of every person.”
  • Dehumanizing language is offensive to evangelicals, especially because many of us are immigrants, are descendants of immigrants or have personal relationships with the immigrants who make up a growing share of our movement.
  • This belief in the dignity of each person is also why we believe that the United States should continue to offer refuge to those fleeing a well-founded fear of persecution, including many who are persecuted for their Christian faith.
    • 71 percent of evangelicals believe that the United States has a moral responsibility to accept refugees.

 

• Evangelicals want secure and orderly borders
  • 91 percent of evangelicals support policies that “guarantee secure national borders”
  • Evangelicals affirm the biblical teaching that God has ordained government (Romans 13:1) and given it responsibility to ensure order and safety.
  • In recent years, there has been a record number of apprehensions of individuals who have unlawfully crossed the U.S.-Mexico border, as well as an increased number who have entered unlawfully without being apprehended, amplifying the risk of entry of those intent on harming the United States and its citizens.
  • We believe our government can and must both maintain a secure, orderly border and protect those fleeing persecution.

 

• Evangelical Christians oppose immigration policies that separate families
  • 91 percent of evangelicals believe that U.S. immigration policy should “protect the unity of the immediate family.”
  • God established the family unit in Creation as the fundamental building block of society (Matthew 19:4–6), the institution he designed for mutual support (1 Timothy 5:8) and the protection and nurturing of children, each of whom he values (Matthew 18:2–6).
  • In 2018, most evangelical Christians opposed the “zero tolerance” border policy that led to thousands of children being forcibly separated from their parents, a situation that prominent evangelical leaders called “cruelty,” “disgraceful” and “heartbreaking.”
  • While those convicted of serious violent offenses should face deportation, any initiative to deport all unauthorized immigrants – the vast majority of whom have lived within the United States for at least a decade and have not been convicted of any serious crime – would result in family separation at an unconscionable scale.
    • 4 to 5 million U.S. citizen children live with at least one unauthorized immigrant parent who would be at risk of deportation.

 

As you seek to appeal to evangelical voters, we urge you to reflect each of these biblically-informed values in the rhetoric you employ and the policy solutions you propose.

Regardless of the outcome of this or any election, American evangelicals remain committed to the biblical call to love our neighbors – including our immigrants neighbors. We commit to pray for you, that God would grant you wisdom and courage as you lead.

 

Sincerely,

[list of signatories’ names, institutional affiliations and states]

 

All specific polling findings are from a Lifeway Research poll of evangelical Americans conducted in

January 2024.

 

Institution names are listed for affiliation purposes only.

Myal Greene, World Relief, Virginia

Rev. Dr. Walter Kim, National Association of Evangelicals, Virginia

Greg Baker, THE FAMiLY LEADER & Church Ambassador Network, Iowa

Timothy R. Head, Faith & Freedom Coalition

Dr. David Hoag, Council for Christian Colleges & Universities, Florida

Daniel Darling, Land Center for Cultural Engagement at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Texas

Bri Stensrud, Women of Welcome, Colorado

Dr. James Merritt, Cross Pointe Church, Georgia

Rev. Dr. Gabriel Salguero, National Latino Evangelical Coalition, Florida

Rev. Jeanette Salguero, NaLEC & The Gathering, Florida

Dave Dummitt, Willow Creek Community Church, Illinois

Elyse Fitzpatrick, Women Helping Women, California

Carroll Conley, Jr., Christian Civic League of Maine, Maine

Joshua Hershberger, The Good Citizen Project, Indiana

Pastor John Jenkins, First Baptist of Glenarden, Maryland, Converge, Maryland

Rev. Tish Harrison Warren, Immanuel Anglican Church, Texas

Jen Pollock Michel, author & speaker, Ohio

Rev. Jeremy Hudson, Fellowship Church, Ohio

Founding Pastor Rich Nathan, Vineyard Columbus, Ohio

Rev. Dr. Steven Cole, The Brethren Church, Ohio

Hanibal Rodriguez, Wheaton Bible Church, Illinois

Phil Vischer, Holy Post Media, Illinois

Skye Jethani, Holy Post Media, Illinois

Rev. Sandra María Van Opstal, Chasing Justice, Illinois

Rev. Micah Fries, GlocalNet, Georgia

Carl Nelson, Transform Minnesota, Minnesota

President Rocky Rocholl, Fellowship of Evangelical Churches, Indiana

Dr. Colin Watson, Christian Reformed Church (CRCNA), New Jersey

Pastor Raymond Chang, Asian American Christian Collaborative, Illinois

Daniel Montañez, Migration Crisis Initiative, The Church of God (Cleveland, TN), Massachusetts

John Wentz, Alpha USA, Michigan

Dr. Alan Robinson, Brethren in Christ U.S., Pennsylvania

Bishop Todd Hunter, The Diocese of Churches for the Sake of Others, Tennessee

Dr. Greg Williams, Grace Communion International, North Carolina

Rev. Dr. Jo Anne Lyon, The Wesleyan Church, Indiana

Rev. Eugene Cho, writer & speaker, Washington

Matthew Soerens, World Relief, Illinois

Chelsea Sobolik, World Relief, Virginia

David Kuiper, Christian Health Associates, Alaska

Rev. Jim Mather, Friends of Internationals, Alabama

Rev. Fred La Plante, Juneau Church of the Nazarene, Alaska

Criss Mitchell, First Covenant Church of Anchorage, Alaska

Rev. Dr. Todd Michero, Community Covenant Church, Eagle River, Alaska

Rev. Gail Brooks, United Methodist Church, Arkansas

Lisa Jernigan, Amplify Peace/Central Christian Church AZ, Arizona

Rev. Caleb Campbell, Disarming Leviathan Ministries/Desert Springs Bible Church, Arizona

Dr. Dennae Pierre, Surge Network, City to City North America, Arizona

Vermon Pierre, Roosevelt Community Church, Arizona

Jim Mullins, Redemption Tempe, Arizona

Rev. Dr. Michael McClenahan, Solana Beach Presbyterian Church, California

Rev. Dave Gibbons, NEWSONG, California

Rev. Liliana Reza, World Relief, Church of the Nazarene, California

Rev. Julia Ezeigbo, Manchester CT Church of the Nazarene, Connecticut

Javy Diaz, World Vision, Delaware

Rev. Joel Sanchez, Church of God, Delaware

Reverends Joel and Pam Tooley, Melbourne First Church of the Nazarene, Florida

Steve Moore, nexleader, Georgia

Anna Colby, World Relief, Hawai'i

Nick Armstrong, Glocal Community Partners, Inc., Idaho

Josh Cramer, Resurrection Covenant Boise, Idaho

Lori McCune, Immigrant Hope-Wyoming/Idaho, Idaho

Outreach Pastor Julie Davis, Willow Creek Community Church, Illinois

Rev. Tara Beth Leach, Good Shepherd Church, Illinois

Chris Easley, Mission Central, Illinois

Stephen Lamb, Living Water Community Church, Illinois

Dave Ferguson, Community Christian Church, Illinois

Kyle Healy, Willow Creek Community Church, Illinois

Keith Eng, The Light, Illinois

Sarah Flagel, New Life Community Church; World Relief, Illinois

Pastor Jeff Schultz, Faith Church, Indiana

Rev. Dr. Kimberly Reisman, World Methodist Evangelism, Indiana

Lavinia Westfall, World Relief, Indiana

Ratko Rastovic, World Relief Quad Cities, Iowa

Francis Adosi, World Relief, Iowa

Pastor Sam Creagar, Manhattan Covenant Church Plant, Kansas

Rev. Jason Duncan, GCF Vineyard Church, Kentucky

Dr. Matt Reynolds, Refuge International, Kentucky

Amanda Braun, Evangelical Covenant Church Plant in Manhattan, KS, Kansas

Jeremy Simmons, Baptist Community Health Services, Louisiana

Rev. Emily Taylor, GracePointe Church of the Nazarene, Louisiana

Stephen Partain, Grace Community Church - New Orleans, LA, Louisiana

Pastor Chad Gilbert, First Baptist New Orleans, Louisiana

Dr. Page Brooks, Missio Mosaic: A Missional Society, Louisiana

Francesca Albano, Anchor Bay Church, Massachusetts

Rev. Gary Fairchild, Christian and Missionary Alliance, Retired, Maine

Justin Frank, Penney Memorial United Baptist Church, Maine

Pastor Noah Filipiak, Mosaic Church of Grand Rapids, Michigan

Rev. Marta Gillilan, Lakeland Community Church, Missouri

Rev. Steven Eng, National Association of Evangelicals, Maine

Dr. Darren Carlson, Redeemer Church/Training Leaders International, Montana

Aubrey Watkins, Port City Church of Christ, Mississippi

Rev. Susan Sukraw, Cozad Church Of The Nazarene, Nebraska

Dr. Roger Garcia, Iglesita, Nebraska

Rev. Kent Sovine, MidAmerica District of The C&MA, Nebraska

Rev. Dan Olson, Bethlehem, Nebraska

Allen Slaughter, Canyon Ridge Christian Church, Nevada

Rev. Dr. Kevin McBride, Raymond Baptist Church, New Hampshire

Pastor Nathan Creitz, Calvary Baptist Church, New York

Rev. Chelsea Fry, Church of the Nazarene, New York

Rev. AJ Fry, Church of the Nazarene, New York

Rev. James Kuiper, Rehoboth Christian Reformed Church, New Mexico

James Sharp, Life Church (Salisbury), North Carolina

Rev. Dr. Frank K. Thomas, Mt. Zion Baptist Church of High Point, North Carolina

Rev. Corey Jackson, Trinity Park Church, North Carolina

Kaitlyn Schiess, Duke University, North Carolina

Rev. Nathan Kline, Friendly Hills Church, PCA, North Carolina

Graham Aitken, The Heart Church, North Carolina

Pastor Charles Fernandez, Redemption Hill Church, North Carolina

Pastor Brian Marston, Connection Valley Church, North Carolina

Rev. Benjamin Marsh, First Alliance Church Winston-Salem, North Carolina

Alan Yawn, Banner Elk Christian Fellowship, North Carolina

Pastor Marshall Benbow, Grace Community Church, North Carolina

Mzee David Jenkins, Rural Diaspora Community, North Dakota

Jasmine Tosseth-Smith, Bismarck Global Neighbors, North Dakota

Rev. Lori Lundblad, American Baptist Churches of the Dakotas, North Dakota

Rev. Randy Heckert, Evangelical Friends Church-Eastern Region, Ohio

Rev. Michele Crouch, Christian and Missionary Alliance, Ohio

Rev. Dr. Eric Costanzo, South Tulsa Baptist Church, Oklahoma

Joel Kersey, National Association of Evangelicals, Oklahoma

Justin Pickard, Crossover Community Impact, Oklahoma

Rev. Jon Middendorf, OKC First Church of the Nazarene, Oklahoma

Dr. Rick McKinley, Imago Dei Community, Oregon

Pastor Daniel West, The Potter's House Church, Rhode Island

Rev. Shane Lima, Ambassadors Church of the Nazarene, Rhode Island

Will Broadus, Reconcile Community Church, South Carolina

Mark Vowels, Center for Global Opportunities, South Carolina

Angel Metzger, The Ransom Church, South Dakota

Dr. Nathan Finn, Institute for Transformational Leadership at North Greenville University, South Carolina

Dr. Edward Smither, Columbia International University, South Carolina

Dr. Robert McAlister, Columbia Metro Baptist Association, South Carolina

Kirsten Windbiel, Grace Church, South Carolina

Reverend Manuel Mendoza, Iglesia Bautista Nuevo Amanecer/Morningside Baptist Church, South Carolina

Rev. David McWhite, Edwards Road Baptist Church, South Carolina

John Mark Bowers, New City East Lake Church, Tennessee

Stephen Reeves, Fellowship Southwest, Texas

Dr. Napp Nazworth, American Values Coalition, Texas

Pastor Ricardo Solis, Texas Baptists River Ministry, Texas

Minister Byron Pitts, First Baptist Church of San Antonio, Texas

Rev. Michael Meissner, Abba's House of Welcome, Texas

Rev. Bryan Carter, Concord Church, Texas

Dr. Ralph West, Church Without Walls, Texas

Rev. Walter Thompson, First Presbyterian Church, Midland, Texas

Chris Hall, Houston Northwest Church, Texas

Angie Kraus, Amshera, Texas

Ismael Flores, Church of the Nazarene, Texas

Dr. Scott Venable, Northwood Church, Texas

Dr. Julio Guarneri, Texas Baptists, Texas

Jessica Galvan, World Relief, Texas

Dr. Katie Fruge, Christian Life Commission, Texas Baptists, Texas

Dr. Bob Roberts, Multifaith Neighbors Network / Glocalnet / Institute for Global Engagement, Texas

Miranda Holland, DASH Network, Texas

Stephanie Flaa, World Relief, Texas

Pastor Joel Suárez, The Paradox Church, Texas

Rev. Dr. Chris Pritchett, Mount Olympus Presbyterian Church, Utah

Karl Dumas, Ogden Rescue Mission, Utah

Rev. Lorenda Dunham, Lamoille Valley Church of the Nazarene, Vermont

Rev. Sari Vincent, Church of the Nazarene, Vermont

Elizabeth Anderson, Edgewood Bible Church, Washington

Dr. Joel Rainey, Covenant Church, West Virginia

Pastor Barrett Marcantel, Hingham Church, Wisconsin

Alex Hui, The LIGHT!, Wisconsin

Rev. Marcus Constantine, Disciple WI & UP! ~ Disciple Making Movements Network, Wisconsin

Pastor Dallas Cox, Life Church Greenbay, Wisconsin

Rev. Doug Jerred, Western Great Lakes District, Wisconsin

Andrew Belcher, Olivet Bible Church, Wisconsin

Pastor Eric Leverance, Portico Church, Wisconsin

Pastor Steve Musto, Bethany Church, Wisconsin

Dr. Eric Hagedorn, St. Norbert College, Wisconsin

Troy Loether, Kettlebrook, Wisconsin

Rugimbana Nkunda Ezechiel, Revival Unity International Church, Wisconsin

Rev. Bee Vang, Refuge Church, Wisconsin

Rich Eng, The LIGHT!, Wisconsin

Rev. David Barber, RiverValley Church, Wisconsin

Aaron Winowiski, New Day Christian Church, Wisconsin

Rev. Wayne DeVrou, Grace Bible Fellowship, Wisconsin

Bruce Komassa, Essential Rock Church, Wisconsin

Jonathan Misirian, Southbrook Church, Wisconsin

Pastor Roger Knowlton, Edgewood Community Church, Wisconsin

Ndahanyi Damien, Revival Unity International Church, Wisconsin

Masomo Rugama, Revival Unity International Church, Wisconsin

Mwungura Alexis, Revival Unity International Church, Wisconsin

Karl Kramer, Community Church Oshkosh, Wisconsin

Rev. Dr. Ryan Hansen, The Table Church of the Nazarene, Wisconsin

Gildardo Castellanos, Familia En Cristo, Wisconsin

Delia Castellanos, Familia En Cristo, Wisconsin

Rev. Daniel Breed, Emmaus Road Church, Wisconsin

Pastor Scott Eastman, Remnant Church, Wisconsin

Rev. Michael Vargo, Marquette Community Church, Wisconsin

Stephen Maris, Word of Grace Church, Wisconsin

Rev. Dr. Chad Magnuson, Church of the Incarnation, Wisconsin

Rev. Thomas Soerens, First Christian Reformed Church, Oostburg, Wisconsin

Rev. Andy Shanholtz, Pastor to Pastor, Inc, Wisconsin

Casey Getz, River Shores Evangelical Free Church, Wisconsin

Rev. Rob Schrader, St. John Lutheran Church, Wisconsin

Rev. Matt Erickson, Eastbrook Church, Wisconsin

Roswell Nelson, Northwoods Vineyard Church, Wisconsin

Greg Schmidt, Restoration Church Wausau, Wisconsin

Pastor Edgar Gomez, Refuge Church, Appleton, Wisconsin

Christy Bodett, World Relief, Wisconsin

Derek Mueller, Northside Community Church, Wisconsin

Leng Yang, Refuge Church, Wisconsin

Kirk Miller, writer & speaker, Wisconsin

Quench Gloire, Come Jesus Liberty Ministry, Wisconsin

Rev. Gary Zacharias, Terrace Shores Evangelical Free Church, Wisconsin

Dr. Bob Lenz, Lifest, Wisconsin

Joel Zeiner, Christ the Rock Church, Wisconsin

Dr. Keith Doyle, Calvary Bible Church - Neenah, Wisconsin

Rev. Marcio Sierra, Lighthouse Church, Wisconsin

Pastor Jeff Prewitt, New Hope Lutheran Church, Wisconsin

Pastor Matt Gilkerson, Encounter Church, Wisconsin

Rev. Dr. Jamie White, Brethren Church, Wyoming

Rev. Dr. Dustin White, The Brethren Church, Wyoming

Reverend Dan Odell, First United Methodist Church, Wyoming

Rev. Libby Tedder Hugus, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A), Wyoming