Several faith leaders urgently called for the protection of worshipper rights while expressing compassion for migrants, following disruptions by anti-immigration protesters at a Southern Baptist church in Minnesota.
During a Sunday service at Cities Church in St. Paul, about three dozen protesters entered the church, some shouting slogans like 'ICE out' and targeting a pastor involved with the local ICE office. This protest comes in the wake of heightened tensions surrounding immigration policies, which have seen more than 2,000 federal immigration officers engage with community activists across Minnesota.
The Minnesota-Wisconsin Baptist Convention labeled the incident as 'an unacceptable trauma,' with convention leader Trey Turner emphasizing the need for churches to provide care for migrant families while defending the sanctity of worship spaces.
The incident has raised concerns over the politicization of faith spaces, where worshippers faced intimidation and harassment, forcing the service to end prematurely. Kevin Ezell of the North American Mission Board denounced the actions of the protesters, calling them 'lawless harassment' that should not occur in America.
Echoing the division among Christians in the U.S. regarding immigration enforcement, some denominations emphasize caring for the stranger, while others highlight the need for legal compliance and security. The Southern Baptist Convention, while traditionally conservative, also recognizes the sacred nature of worship services amidst these discussions.
The U.S. Department of Justice announced a civil rights investigation in response to the disruptive protests, further emphasizing the need for federal protections against such incidents at places of worship.
