PCA Removes Webpage Giving Advice On How To Avoid Deportation
The domestic mission agency of the Presbyterian Church in America has removed a webpage containing links to advice about how immigrants living in the U.S. illegally can avoid being detained by law enforcement authorities.
The archived webpage published on Jan. 9 by Mission to North America started by framing the issue with a question, “Did you know? The average undocumented person has been present in the US for more than a decade.”
It went on to provide links to “reliable secular sources” that “may be useful to you as you seek to love your immigrant neighbor well.”
In a statement published on byFaith’s website, the PCA apologized.
“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 (WCF 23.4; Romans 13:1-4; 1 Peter 2:13-14). To counsel otherwise is a sin. …We repent and apologize.”
The apology acknowledged the action had fallen short of the “Biblical and Confessional standard” and had caused “confusion and consternation” in the PCA.
It also acknowledged that MNA should not engage in providing legal advice or engaging in political campaigns.
“The information we post going forward will provide ecclesiastical resources in line with our Confession for guidance on the matter,” the statement said. The PCA holds the Westminster Confession of Faith as its denominational doctrinal standard.
The MNA permanent committee has a meeting scheduled for the first week of March and is planning to discuss this issue in more detail “as part of the Committee’s regular oversight of MNA’s ministries.”
Mission to North America is focused on church planting throughout the U.S. and Canada and also promotes church vitality by providing ministry resources that “enable churches to grow in their outward-facing missional engagement.
The Refugee and Immigrant Ministry is part of the church vitality prong of MNA’s mission.
This article has been republished with permission from Ministry Watch.
Kim Roberts is a freelance writer who holds a Juris Doctorate with honors from Baylor University and an undergraduate degree in government from Angelo State University. She has three young adult children who were home schooled and is happily married to her husband of 28 years.