The Center for Public Theology and Migration

06/09/2026

“Do not be afraid” is not a call to deny fear, but an invitation to faithfully confront it.

Watch the full interview with Dr. Oscar García-Johnson as we reflect on his first blog entry, “Fear as an Operating System of Empire.”

Watch here: https://youtu.be/60d3XxG4Ttk

06/09/2026

What does it mean to embrace fear faithfully in a time of crisis?

Listen to Orlando Morales Cintrón interview Dr. Oscar García-Johnson as they discuss his new book, Embracing Fear: Christian Re-Existence in the Trump Era. This conversation is part of a special four-part blog and interview series with the Center for Public Theology and Migration.

Watch the first interview here:

In this conversation, Orlando Morales Cintrón sits down with Dr. Os...

06/08/2026

Read the first entry in our NEW Embracing Fear series “Fear as an Operating System of Empire,” by Oscar Garcia Johnson.

In this piece, Garcia-Johnson presents the idea that fear is not only an individual emotion but a social and spiritual force that shapes the public imagination on immigration. Utilizing Babel as a biblical lens, García-Johnson calls Christians to take agency over fear and chose instead to live as “Mañana people” shaped by resurrection hope, compassion, and trust in God rather than empire.

Read here: https://www.theologyandmigration.com/fear-as-an-operating-system-of-empire/

06/05/2026

This Immigrant Heritage Month, we are excited to feature the voice of public theologian Dr. Oscar Garcia-Johnson for a special four-part blog series based on his new book, Embracing Fear: Christian Re-Existence in the Trump Era. Join us as we learn from Dr. Garcia-Johnson on how embracing fear can serve to fertilize a Spirit-empowered imagination in our present immigration system.

Subscribe to our newsletter on our website to be notified when they release here: www.theologyandmigration.com

06/04/2026

In the And Campaign's powerful pilot episode of Immigration and Holy Imagination, Krista Idowu reflects on Esther’s courageous “holy resistance” and invites listeners to consider what it means to be positioned “for such a time as this.” She is joined by Daniel Yang, Senior Director of Global Mission & Church Movements at World Relief, whose family fled the Secret War in Laos and was welcomed to the U.S. by a small Lutheran church—an act of hospitality that transformed generations.

Watch Episode 1 here:

- In this powerful pilot episode, Krista reflects on Esther’s coura...

06/03/2026

Read our latest The Church as Sanctuary entry, "Shared Identity, Shared Mission" written by Lizanne Espina. In this piece, Lizanne argues that Christians are called to welcome immigrants because we share a sojourner identity in God’s mission.

Read here:

When one thinks of the word ‘sanctuary,’ many words come to mind. Words such as haven, refuge, shelter, harbor, and asylum paint the picture of a sanctuary as an oasis amid chaos, tension, and struggles. A church building can be identified as a sanctuary because it is a place that many have come...

05/27/2026

Over the past decade, Latino evangelicals have grown rapidly in both numbers and political influence. Their support helped Donald Trump win the 2024 election and tilt more of the Latino electorate toward the Republican Party.

As primary elections are held across the country, Jorge and Paola sit down with two religious leaders to understand the different visions shaping today’s Latino evangelical divide: Pastor Samuel Rodríguez, a Trump adviser and president of the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference, which oversees more than 40,000 churches, and Reverend Carlos Malavé, president of the Latino Christian National Network and an outspoken critic of the current administration.

They discuss Christian nationalism, immigration, safety in churches, the growing power of Latino evangelicals, and what advice they would give to agnostic Latinos.

Over the past decade, Latino evangelicals have grown rapidly in both numbers and political influence. Their support helped Donald Trump win the 2024 election...

05/23/2026

"U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services today announced a new policy memo reiterating the fact that, consistent with long-standing immigration law and immigration court decisions, aliens seeking adjustment of status must do so through consular processing via the Department of State outside of the country. Officers are directed to consider all relevant factors and information on a case-by-case basis when determining whether an alien warrants this extraordinary form of relief."

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services today announced a new policy memo reiterating the fact that, consistent with long-standing immigration law and immigration court decisions, aliens seeking adjustment of status must do so through consular processing via the Department of State outside of the....

05/19/2026

We are excited to share that several of our past and present MCC team members graduated this weekend!

Daniel Montañez, Founder & Executive Director – Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Theology, Ethics, & Philosophy from Boston University School of Theology

Alijah Dudart, Social Media Coordinator – Dual Masters of Divinity (MDiv) & Masters of Arts in Counseling (MACO) from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary (Phi Alpha Chi Inductee)

Orlando Morales Cintron, Scholar in Residence – Masters of Arts in Theological Studies (MATS) from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary (Phi Alpha Chi Inductee)

Leigh Peterson, Former Sponsorship Coordinator – Masters of Arts in Theological Studies (MATS) from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary (Phi Alpha Chi Inductee)

We celebrate their accomplishments and are thankful for their steadfast commitment to serving those at the margins of our society.

05/18/2026

Read our latest Confronting Anti-Narratives piece, "On Citizenship: Social Belonging and Legal Recognition," by Justin Conway. In this piece, Justin argues that Citizenship is never merely a legal status, but a question of social belonging. It calls us to to recognize the dignity, presence, and contributions of immigrants in the communities they already call home.

Read here:

At the heart of our polarized immigration debates are two primary components of citizenship: social belonging and legal recognition. Because citizenship names the state of belonging to a people, usually a political community, social belonging and its legal recognition must be examined together.The s...