Over 250 Evangelical pastors traveled this week from 25 different states to Washington, D.C., to urge members of Congress to pass immigration reform based upon a set of six principles this year Dr. John Perkins, a leader in Evangelicalism’s racial reconciliation movement and co-founder of the Christian Community Development Association, recalled that Evangelicals were largely absent from the Civil Rights Movement but he felt honored to be among Evangelicals engaged on the immigration issue.
The event followed 17 local press events in 13 states over 10 days with some of the same pastors. About 110 congressional offices heard from the pastors.”Fifty years ago the African-American community longed to be heard, and unfortunately much of the evangelical community was not standing with us. However, I’m absolutely honored to be standing today with my brothers and sisters looking forward, recognizing that the urgency of the now is upon us. It is time for us to make a decision for immigration reform,” he said.
Paige Patterson, president of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Fort Worth, Texas, argued that his position on immigration is informed by his fear of God and his desire to reach out to others.
Patterson also emphasized that they are not advocating amnesty of unauthorized immigrants. “It is my desire to see the fear of God inform all of our actions. Consequently, I believe that fear of God informing our actions would cause us to reach out to many, many people in this country, from many different origins who are not known law-breakers, not workers of wickedness, but simply needing an opportunity and seizing the American opportunity,” he said.
“Immigration reform offers the finest opportunity we in the United States have had to put politics aside and do the right thing, for the right reason, at the right time,” he added. “For all the criticism heaped on the USA, we remain the most generous and kind country in the world. With no hint at amnesty, with determination to have a republic ruled by law, let us wrap our arms around all the well-meaning people who have sought the umbrella of America’s protection and opportunity.”
