Written by: Matthew Orquia
Amid shifts in immigration policies during the Trump administration, the North-American Division (NAD) of the Seventh-day Adventist church released a statement asking for “human dignity and decency.”
According to the NAD, the policy changes make it so that churches, schools and hospitals will no longer be treated as “sensitive locations,” offering them less protection from government immigration enforcement.
“There are many in the United States who are afraid for their futures, and for the lives of family members,” the release states.
The press release, published on Jan. 31, supported those concerned about the recent policy changes impacting immigrants and refugees.
“As a Christian denomination in the U.S., the Seventh-day Adventist Church supports the rights of all persons, no matter their country of origin — the equal rights provided in the U.S. Constitution and fair treatment as immigrants and refugees in this country,” the release states.
The release also appealed to the Biblical principles of equality and unity, citing the 14th fundamental belief of the Adventist church.
“Dehumanization and margination by law or the implementation of the laws or policies are diametrically opposed to the Bible,” the release states. “Therefore, it is inhumane and robs people of their God-given dignity in Christ to have policies that make them afraid to go to church and school because of the threat of being deported.”
Along with the NAD, the Regional Conference Ministry for the Seventh-day Adventist church also released a statement calling the possible impact of the policy change “disruptive and potentially traumatic.”
Their statement also directly rejected “xenophobic characterizations” of immigrants and celebrated the contributions of immigrant families to their churches and communities.
“We, therefore, affirm the sacred responsibility of our institutions to support the
vulnerable and uphold the rights of the marginalized in society,” the statement reads.
In addition to their statement, the NAD also shared a document entitled Guidance on Immigration Enforcement Activity on Church and School Property. It provides information for church and school leaders dealing with these new policies.
The Washington Conference of Seventh-day Adventists posted an Instagram video with suggestions for responding to an immigration officer visiting the church.
The NAD guide states, “The Seventh-day Adventist Church makes neither
membership nor attendance contingent on someone’s immigration status. Everyone is
welcome to worship with us.”
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4 Comments
Michael Bisson
February 6, 2025Does this apply to illegal Criminals who have broken the law, (murder, rape, Etc.)?
Sharon
February 12, 2025The Washington conference has a “new” entity of justice involving itself with police reform and assisting with voter registration.
When did the SDA organization become a civil rights organization?
Now that they have been identified as an NGO, accepting up to $100 million from USAID, why should any of us be surprised at the extreme views the radicalized SDA church is taking?
What embroils me is the feigning of human rights when the SDA church had a deaf ear to the rights of members opposed to the spurious c-19 shot. Saying what is right and doing what is right seems to elude this organization.
The Holy Spirit will influence us to say and do the right thing. Denouncing the church for its obvious allegiance to deep state pay offs is the first step. The instruments are in place to expose the corruption and hold those accountable.
One pastor has already offered a plausible reason for the delay in the Lord’s return with sin being within the church. We are seeing the unbelievable revealed and need a cleansing!