In the wake of recent decisions to curtail and cancel programs dedicated to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) under the current administration, and with the continued dismantling of the asylum process for those fleeing danger and oppression, we at First Presbyterian Church, Davenport, Iowa, rooted in the Reformed tradition of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), must speak the truth in love. These decisions remind us of our call to love our neighbors, especially those historically oppressed, excluded, or displaced. Among these are immigrants and asylum seekers, whose journeys often begin in desperation and are met with systemic inequity, rejection, and the erosion of pathways to refuge.
Our Session (governing council) has committed to being a “Matthew 25 Church,” which calls us to be the hands and feet of Christ in our community. The Matthew 25 Initiative from our denomination, the Presbyterian Church (USA), has three focuses:
– Building Congregational Vitality
– Eradicating Systemic Poverty
– Dismantling Structural Racism
Some may perceive that the actions of the current administration perpetuate structural racism and xenophobia. That is for each person to discern. Our faith teaches that God alone is Lord of the conscience. But let me be clear, structural racism and systemic poverty are real, and they are sins that separate us from compassionate community where all are welcome as neighbors and siblings in Christ.
The plight of immigrants and asylum seekers intersects profoundly with conversations about diversity in education and the benefits of a diversified workforce. Many who arrive at our borders seek freedom from systemic poverty, violence, and political oppression, only to find new barriers to justice, opportunity, and belonging. To deny sanctuary to those fleeing persecution and violence is to ignore the biblical call to welcome the stranger and care for the foreigner among us. Throughout Scripture, God’s people are commanded to protect the vulnerable, including those displaced. Jesus himself, as a child, was taken by Mary and Joseph to seek refuge in Egypt, escaping the violence of Herod’s regime. How, then, can we as followers of Christ turn away those seeking safety today?
The canceling of DEI initiatives, particularly in government and educational spaces, represents not only a shift in policy, but also a spiritual challenge. It is incumbent upon us, as a church, to recognize that true justice is not simply a matter of individual rights but of systemic change. Our shared identity as the Body of Christ transcends all dividing walls of race, class, gender, ethnicity, and nationality that sin has erected in our broken world.
READ: A Pastoral Statement of Support for LGBTQIA+ Persons in the Wake of Trump’s Recent Executive Order
Thinking critically about the ways race, class, gender, ethnicity, and immigration status intersect with our history doesn’t mean a person hates America. I love this nation with all my heart—not because we ignore the sins of our ancestors, but because we strive to be better in spite of them. Learning about the importance of MLK Day, the Trail of Tears, Women’s Suffrage, the fight for Civil Rights, and the struggles of immigrants and refugees during my public-school education fostered compassion and informed citizenship in this nation I love…this nation that has always desired for the next generation to be better than the one before.
The Apostle Paul preached that “no longer is there Jew or Greek, slave or free, male and female.” It was messages like this that got him arrested…and killed. Paul, like Jesus, knew it is hard work to nurture diverse communities where all can truly be one body. It requires people who recognize and admit that racism, sexism, xenophobia, and other forms of bias are real—and that these biases lurk not just “out there,” but are embedded much closer to home…in our own hearts.
The DEI programs that have been canceled and the restrictions on asylum seekers reflect a troubling trend away from justice and inclusion. While these initiatives and policies were not perfect, they acknowledged inequities woven into our institutions and society. Their loss reminds us of our responsibility as the Church to step into the gap and advocate for those pushed to the margins once again.
The Reformed tradition upholds the centrality of God’s sovereignty over all areas of life, including the social, political, and economic spheres. As such, we cannot abdicate our responsibility to participate in the work of justice simply because it has become politically contentious. We cannot give into despair and defeat. Our commitment to the Lordship of Christ means we must hold onto hope as we speak truth to power and advocate for those whose voices are too often silenced by the powerful.
To the marginalized and oppressed, including immigrants and asylum seekers: you are not forgotten. To siblings experiencing discrimination, exclusion, dehumanization, or displacement: your value is not contingent upon the policies of this world. You are beloved by God, made in God’s image, and worthy of dignity and respect. It is the Church’s sacred duty to bear witness to this truth and work for what is good and right and just in our world.
READ: Immigrant Rights Action Educates Bucks County on How to Support Neighbors Targeted by Trump’s Expected Immigrant Roundup and Mass Deportation Programs
To my fellow Christians, particularly in the PC(USA): we must take this moment to not only lament…but to act. We are called to be agents of reconciliation and justice. Let us reaffirm our commitment to be a church that stands with the marginalized, speaks out against injustice, and seeks to create Beloved Community where every person is treated with the love and dignity afforded to them as bearers of God’s image.
May the Sacred Compassion of our God wash over us all and cleanse our hearts as our hands get dirty working to make this a nation that reflects the love and compassion of Jesus Christ.
