Episcopal bishop shocks nation by urging clergy to prepare wills and “get their affairs in order” for potential martyrdom while physically resisting Trump’s immigration enforcement efforts.
Story Highlights
- New Hampshire Episcopal Bishop calls for clergy to prepare for “new era of martyrdom” opposing ICE
- Bishop’s viral remarks came after an ICE agent killed 37-year-old mother Renee Good in Minneapolis
- Episcopal Church leadership endorsed the message of physical resistance to federal immigration enforcement
- Bishop invoked historical martyrs while urging clergy to “stand between powers and the most vulnerable”
Religious Leader Calls for Physical Resistance to Federal Agents
Rt. Rev. A. Robert Hirschfeld, Episcopal bishop of New Hampshire, delivered unscripted remarks at a January 9 vigil that have sparked national controversy.
Speaking at the New Hampshire State House in Concord during a memorial for Renee Good, Hirschfeld urged clergy in his diocese to prepare their wills and “get their affairs in order” as they may need to physically position themselves between ICE agents and vulnerable populations.
The bishop’s call for what he termed a “new era of martyrdom” represents an unprecedented escalation in religious opposition to Trump administration immigration policies.
Hirschfeld’s remarks gained viral attention despite originating from a small, rain-soaked vigil honoring Good, a 37-year-old Christian mother killed by an ICE agent in Minneapolis. The bishop explicitly framed immigration enforcement resistance within Christian theological principles, invoking Jesus’s teachings about protecting the oppressed.
His spontaneous sermon transformed what began as planned memorial remarks into a passionate call for clergy to physically confront federal authorities when necessary to protect immigrant communities from what he characterized as state injustice.
Episcopal Church Embraces Anti-Government Resistance Theology
The Episcopal Church’s institutional leadership has endorsed Hirschfeld’s radical message through coordinated support from top officials. Presiding Bishop Sean W. Rowe offered prayers emphasizing resistance during an online vigil, while Episcopal Bishop Craig Loya of Minnesota echoed similar sentiments about clergy preparing for confrontations with federal agents.
This represents a significant shift toward institutionalized religious opposition to lawful federal immigration enforcement, positioning the Episcopal Church as an adversary to constitutional government authority rather than a spiritual institution focused on salvation and moral guidance.
Hirschfeld acknowledged he has been issuing similar warnings to clergy for years but noted increased frequency “especially in reference to the actions of the Trump administration.” During an October 2025 clergy conference, he communicated that priests should have their wills prepared “in case we’re met with violence.”
This systematic preparation for confrontation with federal agents reveals a coordinated effort to undermine immigration enforcement rather than spontaneous religious conviction. The bishop’s approach fundamentally misappropriates Christian martyrdom theology to justify political resistance to democratically elected government policies.
New Hampshire bishop warns clergy to prepare for ‘new era of martyrdom’ https://t.co/QoZ2gtwpNu pic.twitter.com/tKfjn9pbJw
— The Washington Times (@WashTimes) January 18, 2026
Dangerous Precedent Threatens Law and Order
Hirschfeld invoked historical figures, including Oscar Romero and Jonathan Daniels, to justify his call for clergy martyrdom, but his comparison fundamentally distorts these examples.
While these individuals faced genuine persecution for their faith, Hirschfeld encourages resistance to lawful federal immigration enforcement designed to protect American citizens and maintain border security.
The bishop’s framework positions ICE agents—who serve to protect communities from illegal immigration—as moral adversaries equivalent to death squads and racist deputies, creating a dangerous false equivalency that could incite violence against federal law enforcement officers.
A New Hampshire Episcopal bishop is attracting national attention after warning his clergy to finalize their wills and get their affairs in order to prepare for a “new era of martyrdom.” https://t.co/vtc0kLK8MF
— NBC10 Boston (@NBC10Boston) January 18, 2026
The bishop’s clarification that he’s “not telling clergy to go find a rifle to stand in front of” reveals the reckless nature of his original message. By calling for physical resistance while disclaiming responsibility for potential violence, Hirschfeld demonstrates the inherent contradiction in his position.
His rhetoric about clergy needing to position their bodies between federal agents and illegal immigrants essentially encourages obstruction of justice while providing plausible deniability.
This approach threatens both the rule of law and the safety of clergy who might heed his call, potentially creating unnecessary confrontations that serve political rather than spiritual purposes.
Sources:
U.S. Bishop Goes Viral with Comments About ‘New Era of Martyrdom’ to Resist State Injustice
NH Episcopal bishop tells clergy to prepare their wills amid immigration enforcement
Bishop Rob’s Reflection from the Renee Good Vigil in Concord, NH January 9, 2026
Two Episcopal bishops say clergy may have to put bodies on the line to resist ICE
