press releases

below you will find the recent letters and statements that have been approved and/or adopted by heartland presbytery for public release.

 Adopted February 25, 2025

Heartland Presbytery Statement Regarding Immigration

Heartland Presbytery stands with all our immigrant neighbors, irrespective of legal status. We are following the longstanding Judeo-Christian tradition of welcome and care for the immigrant. The Biblical basis is clear — Leviticus 19:33-34 states:

“When an alien resides with you in your land, you shall not oppress the alien. The alien who resides with you shall be to you as the citizen among you; you shall love the alien as yourself, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God.”

We bear the image of God, as do our immigrant neighbors. To treat them as “other” flies in the face of our Christian responsibility.

Millions of people fleeing hunger, violence, and oppression have sought the promise of opportunity and security in the United States including, life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Many of our neighbors have lived and enriched our communities here longer than they did in their country of origin.

Amid the looming threat of hasty, unjust and punitive deportations, we are deeply concerned that history will repeat itself, with families, torn apart, children left behind without parental care, employers separated from employees, and lives will be disrupted.

We condemn the ill-considered crackdown on undocumented immigration and oppose an end to birthright citizenship for children born on American soil, a right enshrined by the 14th Amendment of the United States Constitution.

We stand with — and pledge our support in perpetuity to — congregations and their communities offering sanctuary and assistance to neighbors facing detention and deportation.

And we call for fair, just, and compassionate action and legislation to finally mend our broken immigration system.

Heartland Presbytery directs the Presbyter for Vision & Leadership to convey this statement to our local congregations and to federal and state elected officials within the bounds of Heartland Presbytery.