Iris de León-Hartshorn shares the theological basis for Mennonite Church USA’s recent legal action.
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Iris de León-Hartshorn serves as associate executive director of Operations and director of Human Resources for Mennonite Church USA. She previously served as MC USA director of Transformative Peacemaking. She graduated from Eastern Mennonite University with a master’s degree in conflict transformation from the Center of Justice and Peacebuilding in Harrisonburg, Virginia, and received the Race, Church and Change award from Luther Seminary in 2015. De León-Hartshorn is a member of Portland Mennonite Church, Portland, Oregon.
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This year, Mennonite Church USA will be commemorating the Radical Reformation of 1525, along with Anabaptists around the world. A key aspect of the Radical Reformation for Anabaptists was the principle of separating church and state, ensuring the freedom to practice faith without government interference. Central to this movement was the belief that baptism should be a personal choice, rejecting the practice of infant baptism, in favor of believer’s baptism.
Now, 500 years later, we are once again in danger of government interference in our church worship and gatherings. The U.S. government’s use of fear tactics and actions are hindering our ministries and services to the most vulnerable in our communities, namely immigrants.
As Mennonites, the words of Menno Simons have been an anchor, defining to whom we minister in our world.
“True evangelical faith, cannot lie dormant, it clothes the naked, it feeds the hungry, it comforts the sorrowful, it shelters the destitute, it serves those that harm it, it binds up that which is wounded, it has become all things to all creatures.” — Menno Simons
As followers of Jesus, we take Scripture seriously in defining what it means to be a disciple of Christ. Matthew 25:34-40 provides clear and direct instruction as to how we are to treat each other.
34 “Then the king will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who will receive good things from my Father. Inherit the kingdom that was prepared for you before the world began. 35 I was hungry and you gave me food to eat. I was thirsty and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger and you welcomed me. 36 I was naked and you gave me clothes to wear. I was sick and you took care of me. I was in prison and you visited me.’
37 “Then those who are righteous will reply to him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you a drink? 38 When did we see you as a stranger and welcome you, or naked and give you clothes to wear? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’
40 “Then the king will reply to them, ‘I assure you that when you have done it for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you have done it for me.’
A commentary note from the Anabaptist Community Bible unfolds this passage through a communal interpretation of what this means for us, as Anabaptists.
“The accounting at the end of human history appears to be very basic. How have we treated each other as fellow human beings? There is a deep recognition here that there’s something of God in every human being, and the outworking of this vision is profound. The dignity we show others reveals how we relate to the Creator of the universe.”
As Mennonites, we have a long history of working and walking alongside our sisters and brothers who are immigrants.
MC USA has a strong statement regarding immigration and has provided resources for both immigrants and congregations that are practicing the radical hospitality that our faith demands. As Scripture commands,
33 “‘When a foreigner resides among you in your land, do not mistreat them. 34 The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt. I am the Lord your God. (Leviticus 19:33-34)
For more detail on our work and resources on immigration please read our statement.
What has changed for us to pursue legal action?
Mennonites do not believe it is appropriate for individual Christians to sue other Christians in the courts, preferring the church as the place to resolve conflict between believers. However, there is a long tradition of Mennonites pursuing legal means to protect their religious freedoms in the United States. One such example is the legal work of Mennonites and Quakers to gain conscientious objector status. From 1525 forward, Anabaptist/Mennonites have often disobeyed government edicts that conflict with their faith — including refusing to baptize their infants, as demanded by the state. Today’s lawsuit is consistent with that tradition. When our faith values conflict with government actions, we follow our faith. In the United States, we seek relief from the courts to preserve our constitutional right to the free exercise of religion.
The extreme actions of our government call us to step up as we recognize we must take a prophetic stand, speaking out in our belief, as followers of Jesus, that loving our neighbor is paramount.
We join as followers of Jesus, shaped in the life and teachings of Jesus as revealed in Scripture, and stand honoring the cloud of witnesses that stood before us against state interference in the right of religious freedom during the Radical Reformation.
Scripture quotations are from the Common English Bible, copyright © 2011 by Common English Bible, and are used by permission. All rights reserved. Study notes are from the Anabaptist Community Bible, copyright © 2025 by MennoMedia, and are used by permission. All rights reserved.