As federal authorities deliberate over potential civil rights infringements following an incursion at a Minnesota church service this past Sunday, many left-leaning Christian leaders are voicing their support for the anti-ICE demonstrators. They argue that the disruption of the religious service was a warranted expression of protest.

The incident unfolded when a group of anti-ICE activists entered Cities Church in St. Paul, Minnesota, just as the service was getting underway. The protesters alleged that one of the pastors was connected to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), sparking their demonstration.

Within the church, the protesters were captured on video chanting “Justice for Renee Good,” as the anti-ICE movement gained momentum throughout the Twin Cities area.

In response to the incident, church officials issued a statement on Tuesday, describing how the protestors “jarringly disrupted” their worship service. They reported that the congregation was harassed, children were frightened, and the atmosphere was one of intimidation and threat.

Images of the anti-ICE demonstrators inside Cities Church in Minneapolis circulated widely, drawing attention to the controversial protest. (Facebook/DawokeFarmer2)

“Such conduct is shameful, unlawful, and will not be tolerated,” the church wrote. “Invading a church service to disrupt the worship of Jesus—or any other act of worship—is protected by neither the Christian Scriptures nor the laws of this nation. … Church buildings are meant to be places of peace and solace, where worshipers can hear and live out this message. We therefore call on local, state, and national leaders to protect this fundamental right. We are evaluating next steps with our legal counsel.”

Kevin Ezell, president of the North American Mission Board (NAMB) of the Southern Baptist Convention, said it was “absurd” that protesters would disrupt a Sunday morning worship service.

“As protesters trespassed inside the church, yelling in the worship service, ex-CNN reporter Don Lemon stuck a mic in [the church’s lead pastor, Jonathan Parnell]’s face asking don’t they have a constitutional right to public protest,” Ezell wrote in an X post. “No, they don’t have a right to enter private property & disrupt worship.”

Anti-ICE protesters targeted the Cities Church in Minneapolis on Sunday, shouting down churchgoers in the middle of services.  (Facebook/DawokeFarmer2)

“If elected officials won’t contain lawlessness, [the NAMB] will provide protection for our churches,” Ezell added.

However, some pastors, including Louisiana minister Rodney Kennedy, are applauding the protesters’ ambush.

“MAGA churches are not being persecuted for righteousness but for not loving their neighbors. They are being persecuted by unexpected judgment, like Jesus cleansing the temple,” Kennedy wrote in an opinion article on Baptist News Global. “… I think God is using unexpected prophets to judge Cities Church.”

Kennedy went on to attack the church itself, questioning “how a church bearing the name of Jesus promotes the themes of resentment, nativism, nationalism, racism and militaris.”

“MAGA evangelicals have been raising hell in American politics. Their movement is filled with economic angst, racism, religious bigotry, antifeminism and hostility toward immigrants, science, the media and democracy,” he wrote. “They have given birth to a Christian nationalism that is neither Christian nor patriotic.”

Kennedy added he believes the church demonstration was likely “only round one.”

An anti-ICE agitator berates Christians in a Minnesota church.  (DawokeFarmer2/Facebook)

“Instead of whining about worship being violated, they should ask what led protesters to take such a drastic approach to communicate,” he wrote. “I pray MAGA evangelical churches everywhere will discover gospel reasons for facing the persecution and outrage of the culture. Until then, the Sunday protest in Minneapolis was probably only round one.”

Hours after the church protest, officials with the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division said they would investigate the disruption.

“The @CivilRights is investigating the potential violations of the federal FACE Act by these people desecrating a house of worship and interfering with Christian worshipers,” Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Harmeet Dhillon wrote in a statement on X. “Considering and investigating other related crimes as well. @FBI activated too!”

The Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act (FACE) Act, a federal law passed in 1994, makes it illegal to use force, threats or obstruction to interfere with people in places of worship.

Violations of the FACE Act can trigger criminal penalties, including fines and imprisonment, or civil penalties.