06/10/2025
As we have watched the unfolding of ICE arrests and the protests in reaction, it was clear that we cannot remain silent. It is imperative for us to speak to our community (and others) words of pastoral encouragement about our Christian response to the chaos and violence we are witnessing in our streets. The following pastoral letter was shared with our congregations and their leaders on 9 June 2025.
Letter to the Leaders and Members of the Pacific Southwest Mennonite Conference (PSMC) congregations:
For weeks now we have witnessed the arrest of innocents (among others who may have allegations of criminal actions against them), the separation of families and the deportation of people to countries that are not their own. This past weekend in our city, Los Angeles, protests against these inhumanities devolved into vandalism and crime after the President deployed National Guard troops in the streets of L.A. without consultation with the governor of our state, Gavin Newsom, and the mayor of our city, Karen Bass. Yesterday, chaos erupted, imaged in the acrid smoke and raging fires as cars burned in the streets. The frustration and anger of those scandalized by the callous and cruel actions of ICE exploded into acts that are likely to give the current administration the cover they need quell any resistance to the callous policies and actions of the federal government.
For weeks now we have witnessed the arrest of innocent people, as well as others accused of crimes, the separation of families, and the deportation of people to countries that are not their own.
We support the call from the California state and the Los Angeles local government to rescind the order to deploy the National Guard and potentially also the Marines.
We deplore any forms of violence and vandalism even while we support people’s first amendment right to voice their opposition to unnecessary cruelty and the disregard to due process for all those who have been detained and deported to prisons elsewhere.
Immigrants have built this city and continue to sustain its operations. The threat by the President to call on Title 10 to federalize local law enforcement will only exacerbate an already volatile situation. The suspension of posse comitatus allowing the military to act as law enforcement on U.S. soil will plunge us into totalitarianism. The President has signaled that he is getting ready to deploy marines from Camp Pendleton in a show of force. Many believe this will exacerbate the conflict unnecessarily, especially since the prerequisites for this action have not been met, including an appeal from the state and local government once they realize that the situation has become unmanageable. We see this as an unwarranted expansion of executive power and a precursor to the erosion of our democracy. We believe it is as an abuse of power when the President arrogates power
without having been asked or invited to provide support.
During the 1992 uprising, following the beating of Rodney King, our city suffered immense harm. The current orders of the President will result in a reckless escalation that will only further
destabilize an already volatile situation and deepen the devastation that is unfolding.
We affirm the urgent need of protests against the inhumane, cruel actions and policies of the state, particularly those that undermine our commitment to loving our enemies and pursuing
reconciliation based on justice and affirming the dignity of all people, immigrants included.
Furthermore, we urge that protests, which resist intimidation and any actions that cause or spread fear and terror, should continue. They should be engaged in peacefully and all violence and
vandalism should cease. We urge restraint from both the police and the protesters.
Amidst vivid depictions of conflict, violence and agitation we consistently assert that God’s purposes for the well-being and security of all people remains our moral commitment. We believe
that the command to love our enemies and to practice the self-giving love of Jesus will ultimately ensure victory and fuel our hope for justice to be established and peace to prevail. We believe there are consequences for us all when God’s purposes are flaunted and ignored. Oppressive governments
and inhumane administrations will eventually face a reckoning.
To our community of fellow Anabaptists in this city, across our region and across the nation we offer the following encouragement. As we face intense pressure to compromise our faith or to cower in silence, we must remain steadfast in our witness to God’s justice, compassion and peace.
Five-hundred years ago, Anabaptists faced severe persecution for their commitment to non-violence, discipleship and an allegiance to God and Jesus’ teachings above loyalty to earthly
authorities. This unbending commitment led to suffering and even martyrdom as a testament to the truth of their witness, validating the choice to follow Christ uncompromisingly, even when it brought hardship or loss of life.
We call on all our members, and all Mennonites across our land to remain grounded in our Anabaptist foundation that victory is secured through self-giving love, not coercive force. We must
stand unwavering on hope in the unfolding of God’s ultimate purposes for the healing and liberation of all humanity. This calls us to radical discipleship, non-conformity to the world’s way of hatred, bitterness and violence, confident in the ultimate triumph of God’s love and the coming reign of peace.
Stanley W. Green, Executive Conference Minister, PSMC (with feedback and the sanction of PSMC Board members).
