Concerned about the Trump administration’s continuing immigration crackdown and the vulnerability of some members and pastors, the General Assembly Operations Committee of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) voted overwhelmingly to “direct” Presbyterian Life & Witness to reinstate a staff immigration attorney. The attorney would help guide and advise individual churches and other entities as they work to support those affected.
The position has been vacant since Teresa Waggener retired last year, creating “disruption in access to coordinated immigration legal support for employment-based matters involving teaching elders and candidates for ministry,” according to information provided to the committee, which met virtually over three days this week.
“Communication regarding the handling of current and future employment-based immigration cases has been inconsistent,” the rationale said, “creating uncertainty across the denomination. Taken together, these conditions present a matter requiring immediate institutional attention.”
The committee also directed Presbyterian Life & Witness to fully fund the position and provide money for any additional programmatic needs.
The recommendation passed 42-6 and now goes to the full 227th General Assembly, the denomination’s highest governing body, which will convene in Milwaukee from Saturday, June 27th, through Thursday, July 2nd.
