Episcopal Bishop Urges Clergy to Prepare for Potential Arrests During Protests

Clergy-facing guidance on personal readiness stands out among varied religious responses to immigration enforcement actions.

Mar. 16, 2026 at 4:40am

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In the wake of clergy arrests during immigration enforcement protests in Minneapolis, Episcopal Bishop A. Robert Hirschfeld of New Hampshire urged his clergy to "get their affairs in order" and be prepared for potential bodily risk, in contrast to more restrained responses from other religious traditions like the Catholic Church, Seventh-day Adventists, Southern Baptists, and Muslim communities.

Why it matters

The Episcopal bishop's remarks highlight a shift in how some religious leaders are framing the responsibility and potential danger facing clergy when civic tensions and enforcement actions converge, diverging from other traditions that emphasized moral clarity, de-escalation, institutional protection, or decentralized local care.

The details

After clergy were arrested during immigration enforcement protests in Minneapolis, Bishop Hirschfeld told Episcopal clergy in New Hampshire to prepare by writing their wills, saying "it may be that now is no longer the time for statements, but for us with our bodies to stand between the powers of this world and the most vulnerable." This contrasted with responses from Catholic, Adventist, Baptist, Jewish, and Muslim leaders, who focused on themes of moral clarity, de-escalation, protecting congregants, and coordinating local pastoral care rather than invoking personal danger for clergy.

  • In January 2026, clergy were arrested during immigration enforcement protests in Minneapolis.
  • On January 9, 2026, Bishop Hirschfeld made his remarks at a vigil in Concord, New Hampshire.

The players

A. Robert Hirschfeld

Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of New Hampshire.

Pope Leo XIV

The current Pope, whose broader approach to U.S. tensions has been described as cautious and deliberately nonpartisan.

Pietro Parolin

The Vatican Secretary of State, who called the violence involving federal immigration agents "unacceptable" and underscored the Holy See's emphasis on de-escalation.

Central States Conference of Seventh-day Adventists

Issued a formal statement and action plan addressing concerns about immigration enforcement affecting congregations, with an emphasis on de-escalation, legal compliance, and congregational care.

Southern Baptist-affiliated church in Minnesota

Where protesters disrupted a Sunday service after learning a pastor associated with the congregation also worked for Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

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What they’re saying

“I have told the clergy of the Episcopal Diocese of New Hampshire that we may be entering into that same witness. And I've asked them to get their affairs in order—to make sure they have their wills written, because it may be that now is no longer the time for statements, but for us with our bodies to stand between the powers of this world and the most vulnerable.”

— A. Robert Hirschfeld, Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of New Hampshire

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

The Episcopal bishop's call for clergy to prepare for potential bodily risk stands out among the varied responses from other religious traditions, which focused more on moral clarity, de-escalation, institutional protection, and decentralized local care. This shift in how some religious leaders are framing the responsibility and danger facing clergy when civic tensions and enforcement actions converge reveals deeper questions about the role of faith leaders in contested public spaces.