Explanation

Our news sources continue to fill us with stories of people being forced to migrate from war, civil strife, discrimination, climate change – to seek refuge simply to survive. Others feel forced to migrate due to little or no economic opportunity to provide basic needs for their families – to seek a better life. With the exception of natural disasters, all of these are a result of policy – political, economic, social/cultural – laws written and social attitudes. This is a humanitarian and human rights crisis that shows no signs of letting up; indeed, too often of increasing – again, due to policy. Countries continue to be overwhelmed by the number of refugees washing up on their shores and traversing their borders. They are struggling to cope with the refugees, which increases the reaction to them. In the past year alone, immigration and reception of refugees and migrants has become more difficult in many receiving countries, in the USA and in many European countries. The challenges of resettlement and integration, real or perceived, have raised a sentiment against migrants and for national “purity,” leading to harsher policy toward migrants. Following the 2016 UN New York Declaration for Refugees and Migrants, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the international community are working on a Global Compact for refugees and a Global Compact for safe, orderly and regular migration, to be adopted later this year. As Christians, we are called to welcome the stranger, feed the hungry, care for the poor. We are concerned with ensuring policies that benefit the common good, including that of migrants in our midst. Policies in one country, coupled with globalization and effects of development and climate change raise economic, political, and cultural concerns far beyond the borders of that country. These are concerns of all faith organizations and inter-faith relations. Those who work with refugees and migrants, are increasingly aware of the importance of faith-sensitivity, respecting the faith of refugees and migrants and providing spiritual support and understanding in their traumatic situations. International organizations, including the UNHCR, and NGOs recognize the very real role faith-based organizations play at local and national levels in providing planning and delivery of protection and more broadly in areas of conflict prevention, reconciliation, and peacebuilding. They are all the more effective when working in concert with other FBOs and more secular organizations, whether locally or having their voice heard in international fora, including the United Nations and related organizations. As we seek to respect the dignity of all human kind, The Episcopal Church is called to not only welcome the stranger, but to grapple with the implications of our own actions and policies, the actions and policies of our governments on the well-being of all our peoples, to challenge them where necessary, to support them where we can, and to be engaged in the work, as parishes and dioceses, through the work of Episcopal Migration Ministries, collaborating with other faith-based organizations, NGOs and international agencies wherever we can at all levels, be it toward establishing global policy or direct assistance in a given location. [i] See the UNHCR website for information on the 2016 New York Declaration for Refugees and Migrants, the global compact on refugees and the global compact on migration: http://www.unhcr.org/towards-a-global-compact-on-refugees.html [ii] The Board of JLI includes representatives from ERD and the Anglican Website. See their website: https://jliflc.com/ Their recommendations can be found at: http://www.unhcr.org/afr/events/conferences/5afc2dcd7/joint-recommendations-role-local-faith-communities-refugee-response.html