LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2013, Page 373

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THEOLOGICAL DOCUMENTS­­—COMMISSION ON THEOLOGY AND CHURCH RELATIONS
APPENDIX I

valid? How would you help him to also consider the biblical mandate
to love his immigrant neighbor as himself (e.g., Lev. 19:33-34)? In
what ways might this member of the congregation reasonably fulfill
both biblical teachings?

A Framework for Considering Immigration Concerns:
Case Studies
The following case studies are intended to stimulate reflection and discussion rather than provide “right and wrong answers.” In each case, individuals
are encouraged to think about and discuss these cases using the biblical and
Lutheran framework outlined in this document. That framework includes
such important themes as the mission of the church to share the Gospel with
all nations, the call to love your neighbor, the importance of the church’s unity,
respect for law, vocation, the two realms, and so forth.

Case Study 1—Vocation, Two Realms, and the Mission
of the Church
You have been called to serve a predominantly Anglo parish in an increasingly Latino neighborhood. A prominent Anglo member of your congregation
who serves on the city council is rather vocal not only outside but also in the
church about his opposition to illegal immigration. He repeatedly insists, on
the basis of Romans 13:1-7, that we must obey and enforce our immigration
laws. Members of the Latino community whose legal status is unknown, but
likely include some undocumented people, are increasingly hesitant to attend
any outreach church activities because of their fear that this particular zealous
citizen or others like him in the church might call the attention of “la migra”
(immigration officers) to raid their homes or workplace, or might make police
officers suspicious enough about their legal status to check out their papers.
As a result, the congregation’s evangelistic and mercy efforts in the community are not trusted and the Gospel is simply not being proclaimed within
earshot of these Latino neighbors.
Questions for Discussion:
1.

2.

3.

4.

Case Study 2—Vocation, Two Realms, and the Unity of the Church
A concerned Hispanic member of the congregation in Case Study 1 who
works pro bono as an immigration lawyer has offered many of her services to
Latinos in the community. As a result of her tireless work and legal counsel,
which she does in an office at church set aside for this ministry of mercy,
many Hispanics in the community have been asking about the church. As a
lawyer, this person respects the rule of law, but through her practice she has
become convinced that the current immigration law does not deal adequately
with some neighbors. Her pro bono work is inspired by her desire to use the
law to help people in difficult situations. As a Christian, she takes very seriously God’s command that we love the sojourner neighbor as ourselves (cf.
Lev. 19:33-34). She is so disappointed in the Anglo member’s vocal opposition to illegal immigration—at times, in the presence of Latinos seeking legal
advice—that she will not commune with him at the Lord’s Table. The pro
bono lawyer explains to the pastor that she is frustrated and even angry about
the brother’s lack of sensitivity to the plight of these immigrants, their legal
struggles, the broken and unjust aspects of the current immigration system,
and the importance of the church’s work of mercy among them.
Questions for Discussion:
1.

2.

As one who works in the right-hand realm, what do you say to
this dear Anglo member? In particular, what do you say to him as
one who lives and has his vocation as a city council member and a
concerned citizen in the left-hand kingdom?
On the other hand, how do you speak to him as a member of the
church who also lives and has his vocation in the right-hand realm
as a baptized child of God? What responsibilities does he have as a
Christian in relation to the church’s work of mission and mercy in
the predominantly Latino neighborhood?
What might be some of the consequences of the member’s actions
of vocal opposition to illegal immigration, for the church and the
Latino neighbor? Are there some things that a Christian could say
but should not in certain contexts?
Is the council member’s appeal to the text from Romans 13 fully

3.

As a church worker in this congregation, you have to speak to this
dear Latina sister and congregation member who resents the actions
of her Anglo brother. Might she have a point, even a biblical basis,
regarding the issue of his lack of sensitivity towards the sojourner
neighbor? Or is she overreacting?
How do you acknowledge the value of this sister’s vocation as the
concrete context in which the law of God is fulfilled and her neighbor
is served? It is clear that the lawyer’s vocational perspective colors
her concern and priorities. How is a vocational angle or context
helpful for assessing aspects of immigration law as an informed
Christian citizen or resident of the state?
How do you speak to the sister about the value of distinguishing
between God’s work in the temporal and spiritual realms? When
does vocational perspective become a problem? What are the
potential consequences of confusing the two realms for the unity of
the church and even for the church’s mission among Hispanics in
the neighborhood?

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Case Study 3—Vocation, Two Realms, and Neighbor

Case Study 4—Law, Human Care, and Neighbor

On the Mexican side of the border, the father of three children living in
poverty tries to get across to find work in the United States. On the U.S. side
of the border, a member of the border patrol—a Mexican American—stops the
desperate father from crossing for the second time in the same year. After getting to know each other a little bit through the strange circumstances of their
encounters, they find out that they are actually distant relatives.

Tomás is in a county jail waiting to hear if his wife and two children are
safe. Today Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raided his workplace
and arrested all employees without documentation. Tomás blames himself for
what has happened. He knew the risks in overstaying his visa and tried to live
in the shadows. He wanted to seek a legal way to remain, but the risk of exposure was too great.

In a conversation, the father shares his struggles back home and expresses
his wish that he did not have to cross over and come in without a visa (these
are almost impossible to get anyway). He feels, however, that he must do it to
provide food and a better life for his children. The officer shares his frustration
with some aspects of current immigration law, but explains to the father that it
is his duty to enforce the law and unfortunately he will have to make sure the
father returns to Mexico.

His family hardly leaves the house because they are afraid. Raquel, his
wife, anxiously watches their children, who were born in America and are
therefore U.S. citizens, go off to school each morning, and she watches worriedly for their return each afternoon. Going to church is scary for the family
too, but it has been one of the few positives in their life, building their faith and
providing a place to better their English speaking skills. Another positive was
sending money, called remittances, back to Tomás’ brother to help take care of
their extended family. But now all of that is over. Deportation seems certain.

The officer makes sure the father has something to eat before the journey.
The father tells the officer he bears no grudges against him and understands he
is just doing his job. The officer understands the struggles of the father and tells
him that he respects his desire to take good care of his children. They share a
handshake, a smile, and wish each other well, knowing that they will likely see
each other again under similar circumstances.

How can Tomás make sure his wife and children return to his country with
him? Since the children are U.S. citizens, they will need passports to travel,
assuming his country will allow them to enter. Until all of these issues are
figured out, Tomás worries how his wife will pay the rent and put food on the
table. And if she is arrested herself, who will take care of the children?

Questions for Discussion:

Questions for Discussion:

1.

1.

2.

3.

4.

In what ways are these two men living righteously in the world?
In what way(s) do these men serve some neighbor through their
vocations and thus fulfill the law of God? What obligation is each
man attempting to fulfill in his particular vocation?
How does the “law of the land” (or civil law) concerning illegal
immigration enter into conflict to some degree with both of these
men’s vocations and the particular commandments they are trying to
obey? How do they acknowledge or verbalize this conflict? How do
they resolve the conflict while remaining faithful to their vocations?
How are these men respectful of each other’s vocations? How is
compassion shown to their neighbor in the encounter between the
men? Do these two men have any further obligations towards one
another beyond the specific circumstances of their encounter given
the fact that they are distant relatives?
How does the distinction or paradox between a Christian acting
individually or “privately” in relationship to a neighbor and the
identity of the Christian acting “in his office” for the sake of others
play out in this scenario?

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2.
3.
4.

What aspects of this story could be addressed through better border
control and immigration law?
What aspects of this story could be addressed by human care from
churches both in the United States and in Tomás’s home country?
How would you encourage this father in detention? What is your
prayer for people in his situation?
Sometimes knowing someone’s plight makes us want to bend laws,
and sometimes knowing that someone has broken the law makes
us want to withhold compassion. How do we guard against both?
What is a faithful response?

Case Study 5—Vocation, Two Realms, and Neighbor
Juanita is a border control officer for ICE and a second-generation American citizen whose family comes from Mexico. She and her family are members
of your LCMS congregation. She takes her citizenship and her vocation seriously as a Christian, seeking to live a God-pleasing life. She recognizes the
need for border security and especially the danger of the illegal drug trade
across the southern border of the U.S. Yet, she finds herself struggling with
her conscience as she works each day in support of immigration laws that she
considers to favor highly-educated and technically-trained individuals while
they make it nearly impossible for honest, poorly educated individuals to enter
the U.S. legally, even though there is a demand for such workers in agriculture

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2013 Convention Workbook