Congregations’
role in resolving
U.S. immigration policy
By Ronald E. Keener
Pastors are advocating for ‘a more just and common-sense solution’ in what is a moral discussion. Reform of immigration law remains on the nation’s agenda — and on the agenda of congregations in this country as well. “Congregations can help America find the way forward by re-igniting the conversation on immigration reform. We can move it from partisan politics to a moral discussion,” says Gabriel Salguero, president of the National Latino Evangelical Coalition, a network of Latino Evangelical congregations. “Some pastors have already started immigrant ministries and some have even advocated for a more just and common-sense solution. Leaders as diverse as Bill Hybels, Rich Nathan, Chuck Colson, Richard Land, Leith Anderson, and Joel Hunter have already engaged in conversation and public declarations for the church, for the sake of mission and witness, to act,” Salguero says. “Congregations should engage in real conversations with immigrant churches and leaders and together as God’s people lead the way. Our faith and conscience demand no less,” he says. Church Executive posed questions to Rev. Salguero, who co-pastors, with his wife Jeanette, the multicultural Lamb’s Church of the Nazarene in New York City. He also 16 | Church executive | 04/2012
consults on multi-ethnic ministries and urban congregations. What are a few main points on the American immigration debate of the NaLEC? We feel that the American immigration debate is at an impasse and Christian churches can play a critical role in helping move past this stalemate. Evangelicals understand the need to balance the respect for laws while advocating for more common-sense and humane immigration laws. In short, Christains are calling for a balance between mercy and justice. The main point is that we can reform the immigration laws in ways that reflect love of neighbor, respect for the law, and serve as a boom for our economy. We believe that the immigration laws as they stand can be improved by taking the following simple steps: (a) Requiring immigrants to pay back-taxes, (b) Exacting penalties to employers who may have circumvented the system, and (c) Providing a path to earned citizenship for the close to 12 million men, women and children who are already here living, working, and worshipping among us. Generally, what issues have prevented the U.S. Congress from dealing with the immigration issue?