News & Stories

National Association of Evangelicals’ Immigration 2009 Resolution

October 9, 2009

Last week the National Association of Evangelicals, in which The Christian and Missionary Alliance has long maintained membership, adopted a resolution in support of comprehensive reform in our nation’s immigration laws. It has erroneously been reported on the internet that this resolution calls for amnesty for illegal aliens and that, as a member of the NAE, The Christian and Missionary Alliance is doing the same.  This report is untrue. The NAE Resolution does not call for amnesty. It does suggest that an equitable means should be sought to enable persons to earn legal residency. (You may read the entire text of the resolution at http://www.nae.net/resolutions/347-immigration-2009).

The C&MA is a leader in the evangelical community in ministering to immigrant populations in the United States. More than one third of our churches are found within immigrant populations, and almost 40% of our constituents live in these communities. Alliance churches throughout the nation are called upon to proclaim the gospel to everyone. In obedience to the Great Commission, we must minister to people without regard to their legal status. God’s Word enjoins believers to treat all persons with equal dignity and respect, and to care for those in need regardless of their national origin or ethnicity.

At the same time, we also recognize our biblical responsibility to live in submission to the civil authorities which govern us. The Christian and Missionary Alliance does not knowingly grant an official worker license to any person who does not have an appropriate visa which permits him/her to be employed as a religious worker in the U.S.. Alliance churches commonly include a large number of people who are not formal members of the church. But, most Alliance churches are also legally constituted as non-profit corporations in the state where they are found. Thus, our policy does not permit persons who are residing in the United States illegally to be received knowingly into the formal membership of the church, since such action may compromise the congregation’s ability to continue its ministry and to serve the spiritual needs of the larger community.

We recognize the responsibility of government to control its borders and protect its citizens. We also understand that the issue of illegal immigration into the United States is both a complicated and volatile political issue on which sincere believers may disagree. However, we believe that the responsibility God has given to The Christian and Missionary Alliance is to proclaim the forgiveness of God in Christ’s redeeming work, so that every man, woman, and child may be given an opportunity to respond to His grace.