Church Advocacy Methods

Church Advocacy Methods

Actions

These are actions that you and members of your church can take to help immigrants in your community

Immigrant Ministry Guidelines

Legal opinion from the Missouri Synod Lutheran Church about the right and limitations of churches in ministry with undocumented people. See Guideline


Tips

  • Build or join efforts to advocate for local laws and policies which help:

✓ Cities/counties create a firewall between local law enforcement and ICE

✓ Church and other leaders negotiate with regional ICE Field Office Directors to use their prosecutorial discretion to set up a just and humane criteria for deferred deportation and to maintain churches, schools and hospitals as “sensitive zones.”

  • Train volunteers to prepare individual and family packets which will help undocumented people with their legal or deferred deportation petitions.

  • Train volunteers to help with individual advocacy with ICE/CIS for deferred deportation.

  • Prepare to provide short-term emergency shelter to immigrants and a legal assessment.

  • Create a rapid response network to film and delay detention.

  • If you are in a more dangerous area, help immigrants at risk move to a safer area.

  • If you are in a relatively safe area, help newly arrived immigrants resettle.

  • Join local actions which are part of national coordinated actions to communicate our support for immigrants to the federal government.

 

Pastoral Guides

Below you will find links that lead to webpages or download guides straight to your device.

Bible verses on immigrants

Matthew 25 Sermon Help

matthew congretation Discernment guide

g92 immigration curriculum

Preaching God’s Heart for Immigrants:

The Evangelical Immigration Table has different guides, including the “I was a Stranger Challenge”
GUIDES - SERMON OUTLINES

I was a stranger film

is a 45-minute documentary film directed by Emmy award-winning producer Linda Midgett that shares real immigrant stories, highlight biblical teachings related to immigrants, and addresses some common economic and political misconceptions.

Evangelical Immigration table: I was a stranger challenge is a collection of 40 scripture passages for prayer available in English and Spanish.