The Evangelical Alliance and Presbyterian Church have been forced to close events and offices early on Wednesday afternoon, in anticipation of further violence in Belfast.
Homes and vehicles were set alight on Tuesday evening amid anti-immigration demonstrations after a knife attack.
A 30 year-old Sudanese refugee, Hadi Alodid, has been remanded into custody, charged with the attempted murder of Stephen Ogilvie.
Staff at the Evangelical Alliance in Northern Ireland were leaving their office at lunchtime because of “threats of more violence and protests”, its head David Smyth told Premier Christian News.
He condemned the knife attack and the subsequent disorder, stating that the church needs to stand with those who have been attacked because of their race or background, while sharing a Christian response to debates around immigration.
“Our first response must be motivated by God's first response towards us, seeing us as made in his image, moving towards us in love... We can still have those discussions, but let's not lose sight of the people who have immense human dignity, who are right in front of us, whose hearts are breaking right now.”
“As a church, we have to listen very, very carefully. We have to offer hope and life. We need to lead courageously, create spaces to air conversations that might be difficult, or awkward, or sensitive. But also speak to our own communities where attitudes and actions are just not Christ-like. So we want to be welcoming, but also willing to have difficult, challenging conversations,” he told Premier.
The installation of Rev Dr Richard Kerr as moderator of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland has been postponed until Thursday, in light of the events and travel disruption.
Its General Assembly has been adjourned, after bus and train services were to be suspended on Wednesday evening.
Rt Rev Dr Richard Murray, current moderator, appealed for “peace and calm, and for sense to prevail”. He told the Assembly that he had been “appalled” by Monday’s attack and riots, commending the police and emergency services for their efforts in “protecting people and property.”