Por Aaron Weaver
DECATUR, Ga. — The Cooperative Baptist Fellowship is marking May 6 as a Day of Prayer for Immigrant Neighbors as the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit hears oral arguments in the Department of Homeland Security’s appeal of an immigration injunction obtained by CBF and other religious plaintiffs.
At 9 a.m. on Wednesday in Richmond, Va., the Fourth Circuit will hear arguments in Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends v. U.S. Department of Homeland Security, No. 25-1512. Last year, CBF joined a group of Quaker and Sikh plaintiffs to protect our religious freedom and obtained a preliminary injunction that prevents the Department of Homeland Security from using our houses of worship to enforce immigration law. The lawsuit is ongoing, and the injunction will remain in effect unless it is specifically revoked by a court.
CBF takes seriously the biblical command to welcome the stranger. Immigrants pastor our churches, sit in our pews and participate in our ministries. Immigrants are part of the very DNA of CBF. CBF’s ministry among immigrants and refugees is rooted in its historic commitments to religious freedom, local church autonomy and ministry with immigrants and refugees.
“CBF is glad that this case continues to work its way through the courts,” said Jennifer Hawks, CBF Director of Advocacy. “We are confident in our attorneys and in the law supporting this injunction, which protects the First Amendment rights of CBF and our partner congregations. I hope the current administration sees fit to reinstate this commonsense protection that existed for nearly three decades. If not, we hope Congress moves quickly to pass the Protecting Sensitive Locations Act so that the religious freedom of houses of worship and common sense protections for schools and hospitals might be reinstated.”
CBF invites Cooperative Baptists to pray Wednesday for the litigation process, for protection and dignity for impacted migrants, for peace to overcome fear in immigrant families and communities, and for churches to remain places of welcome and freedom of conscience.
Those in the Richmond area may stop by First Baptist Church of Richmond, a CBF partner church, between 9 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. on Wednesday for prayer stations in the church courtyard.
CBF is represented by Democracy Forward. Other plaintiffs include Sikh Temple Sacramento/Gurdwara Sahib West Sacramento and six Quaker Meetings: New York Yearly Meeting, Philadelphia Yearly Meeting, New England Yearly Meeting, Baltimore Yearly Meeting, Adelphi Friends Meeting and Richmond Friends Meeting.
The Fourth Circuit’s May 5-8 oral argument schedule is available here.
Audio livestreams are available through the Fourth Circuit’s livestream page here. Listeners on May 6 should select the Panel I/Red Courtroom stream.
For CBF partner congregations, CBF’s resource collection, “How CBF’s Immigration Injunction Protects Your Church,” includes videos, a discussion guide, tips, sample church policies, door flyers in English and Spanish, and a copy of the injunction.
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About the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship
Led by the love of Christ, the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship invites churches and individuals to partner in transforming God’s world, working together as a global community to spread good news, justice and hope through impactful ministries, missions and resources.