MEMORANDUM  (en Español)

TO:                 The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod

FROM:             Dr. Gerald B. Kieschnick, Synod President

Rev. Matthew Harrison, Executive Director, LCMS
   World Relief/Human Care

SUBJECT:        A Statement Regarding Immigration Concerns

DATE:              June 2, 2006

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

“The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod traces its origin to 750 Saxon immigrants who came to Missouri in 1839 seeking freedom from religious rationalism in Germany.  Under the leadership of a young pastor named C.F.W. Walther, these German immigrants joined together with a number of pastors sent to America by Wilhelm Loehe in Neuendettelsau (Bavaria) to form 'The German Evangelical Lutheran Synod of Missouri, Ohio, and Other States,'”

This brief summary in Dr. Samuel Nafzger's “Introduction to The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod” reminds us that our founding fathers were immigrants. Many of them came to this country to escape religious oppression with the hope of living in a land where one would have the freedom to worship according to one's convictions. Many others came to these shores to improve the economic lot of their families.

With this as part of its history, the LCMS has been sensitive to the needs of immigrants across its 159-year history. In the early decades, the LCMS welcomed many more immigrants, largely of European descent, into its congregations. In more recent times, the Synod has welcomed immigrants from all parts of the world. Through social ministry organizations and a partnership with Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service (LIRS), many immigrant and refugee communities have been and continue to be served.   Congregations receive refugees and care for immigrants in many ways and situations.  African, Asian, Hispanic, and other immigrant ministries are springing up and flourishing in our midst. The people of many nations are being welcomed in the LCMS with the love of God in Christ Jesus.

The Lord Himself set the standard for responding to “the stranger in our midst.” Jesus Christ sought out, welcomed, and cared for people in need. He acted in mercy without respect to ethnicity, religion, or nationality. The LCMS seeks to respond in similar manner and in accord with His Word, which teaches, “Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another” (1 John 4:11). We express love toward immigrants not only as individual and corporate Christians, but also as individual and corporate citizens of this nation, which we love.

Today, issues related to immigration and immigration laws are causing distress in our land. As corporate citizens of this nation, we recognize that solutions to the problem of illegal immigration are complex. There are many factors that deserve consideration, each exhibiting its own value. Secure borders, national security, policy enforcement, national stability, inexpensive labor, decent income, budget limits, human rights, and work opportunities are only the beginning of the long list.

The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod affirms the right, responsibility, and authority of the government to act as God's agent, according to what is reasonable and just, in the creation and enforcement of laws (Romans 13:1-7). It follows that we recognize and affirm the responsibility of the government to regulate immigration in a godly manner while considering the many factors that deserve careful attention.

Millions of undocumented persons have come to the United States for many and various reasons. They have come to flee oppression of many sorts, including extreme poverty and hunger. They have come in order to make provision for their loved ones. They have come in order to end separation from loved ones. They have come illegally because they have deemed that the legal route is nearly impossible to maneuver. They have come because they can work, and they find dignity in labor.  We recognize also that a small percentage have come for malevolent reasons.

Christians equally committed to God's Word may reasonably arrive at different conclusions on specific aspects of these issues and their resolution. However, this much is certain: God, in His Word, consistently shows His loving concern for “the stranger in our midst” and directs His people to do the same. The Children of Israel were told, “He defends the cause of the fatherless and the widow, and loves the alien, giving him food and clothing. And you are to love those who are aliens, for you yourselves were aliens in Egypt” (Deuteronomy 10:18-19). God told Moses to tell the people, “When an alien lives with you in your land, do not mistreat him. The alien living with you must be treated as one of your native-born. Love him as yourself, for you were aliens in Egypt. I am the Lord your God” (Leviticus 19:33-34). Jesus said, “Whatever you did for one of the least of these … you did for me” (Matthew 25:40). We are reminded in Hebrews 13:2, “Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it.”

The challenges of illegal immigration are real and solutions must be found. While we accept our Christian responsibility to care for those in need, it is not the role of the church to specify particular civil legislation, either to its own constituency or to the government. We do, however, pray that God will grant wisdom and discernment to our nation's elected leaders as they endeavor to provide appropriate solutions to this very real dilemma.

Meanwhile, in order to fulfill our Christian obligation, we also request that the charitable act of providing assistance to undocumented aliens not otherwise engaged in illegal activity not be criminalized ipso facto. We pray that appropriate solutions may be found, so that our assistance to those in need can also include helping persons become legal residents and citizens of this land of freedom and opportunity in which God has so richly blessed us.

Sincerely, in Christ,

Dr. Gerald B. Kieschnick, President

The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod

Rev. Matthew Harrison, Executive Director

LCMS World Relief/Human Care