Cities Church in St. Paul, Minnesota, issued a statement Jan. 20 responding to anti-ICE agitators who the church said “jarringly disrupted” its Sunday service on Jan. 18.
The church said in a statement on X that invading a church during an act of worship is both unlawful and un-biblical.
“[The protestors] accosted members of our congregation, frightened children, and created a scene marked by intimidation and threat,” it stated. “Such conduct is shameful, unlawful, and will not be tolerated.”
As CatholicVote previously reported, the protestors entered the church chanting and disrupting prayer. They alleged that one of the pastors of the church had ties to ICE, and former CNN anchor Don Lemon livestreamed the event.
The U.S. Department of Justice launched a civil rights investigation into the protest and placed Lemon “on notice.”
Cities Church added that the Church welcomes respectful dialogue about current issues and difficulties and how Christ provides the ultimate answers to the problems of the world.
“Jesus Christ, the divine Son of God, lived, died, and rose again for the rescue of all who put their faith in him,” the statement continued. “He offers a love that transcends cultures, borders, policies, and politics. As those who have been loved and rescued by him, we will not shrink from worshiping Jesus, nor will we stop ‘teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Messiah’ (Acts 5:42).”
The statement ended with a call for local, state, and federal leaders to protect the fundamental right to worship freely. It also stated that the church is evaluating next steps with its legal counsel.
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