Presbyterian Church in America repents for immigration guidance: 'Grave error'
'The rank-and-file of the PCA is not at all pleased'
The Presbyterian Church in America (PCA) recently issued a statement repenting for guidance on one of its websites that advised illegal immigrants how to avoid detainment by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
After it went viral on X last week, the conservative Presbyterian denomination deleted a resource page titled "Refugee & Immigrant Ministry for Churches: Help Immigrants Facing 2025 Policy Changes," which was published in January by Mission to North America (MNA), which is a subsidiary of the PCA.
"If you do not have lawful status, it is recommended not to carry documentation showing your country of origin. Do not carry false immigration documents," was among the advice offered by the since-deleted page, which also advised illegal immigrants not to inform authorities of their country of origin if ICE contacts them.
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The page also advised not telling authorities about their criminal history and opined that President Donald Trump doesn't have the authority to end birthright citizenship via executive order, which remains in litigation.
After the guidance was deleted, MNA Director Irwyn Ince issued an extensive statement of repentance on behalf of the MNA.
Citing Scripture and the Westminster Confession of Faith, Ince's statement acknowledged that it was wrong when "MNA’s leadership erroneously allowed the posting of content that advised undocumented persons on ways to avoid being detained by authorities."
"We affirm that it is our Christian duty to obey the lawful commands of the civil magistrate and be subject to their authority (WCF 23.4; Romans 13:1-4; 1 Peter 2:13-14). To counsel otherwise is a sin. We confess that we fell short of our Biblical and Confessional standard. We repent and apologize. We also apologize for causing confusion and consternation in our church. We have removed all the previously posted information from our website," he said.
"MNA’s Refugee & Immigrant Ministry, along with other MNA ministries, seeks to serve our churches with resources that enable them to faithfully follow our Lord’s call to love the stranger. However, MNA does not engage in providing legal advice, political campaigning or partisan positions. The information we post going forward will provide ecclesiastical resources in line with our Confession for guidance on the matter," Ince added.
Zachary Groff, who is senior pastor at Antioch Presbyterian Church in Greer, South Carolina, and serves as a member of a permanent committee that oversees the Mission to North America, told The Christian Post that many in the denomination were alarmed when they learned of the guidance.
Echoing statements he made about the issue to The Daily Wire last week, Groff explained that the denomination's governing General Assembly would address the issue when they convene in June.
"The rank-and-file of the PCA is not at all pleased or supportive of what was published. People are very, very alarmed and understandably upset," said Groff, who added the general response of the conservative Presbyterian denomination "has understandably been one of alarm and outcry against what is a grave error in judgment: the publication of this particular guidance on the denominational website."
Groff suggested the individuals involved in drafting the guidance did not have ill intentions, and that he believes the situation was "less indicative of a progressive spirit in the PCA than it is indicative of a well-intentioned desire to love our neighbor that was not adequately defined."
"The PCA, as a church and its various ministries, cannot and should not give legal advice in any official capacity apart from encouraging its members to obey the laws of the land and abide by them," he added.
Jon Brown is a reporter for The Christian Post. Send news tips to jon.brown@christianpost.com
