THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH

#REFUGEESWELCOMEThe Episcopal Church’s Ministry

of Refugee Resettlement

May19, 2016

#R EF UGEE SWEL CO MEA g e n d a a t a G l a n c e

1. Objectives 2. Definitions: refugee, asylum-seeker, migrant, IDP3. Global Refugee Crisis: Root Causes & Push Factors4. Durable Solutions5. Resettlement Countries6. Coming to the United States 7. The United States Refugee Admissions Program

(USRAP) 8. Episcopal Migration Ministries

#R EF UGEE SWEL CO MEA g e n d a a t a G l a n c e

9. How Can You Help? Advocacy• Advocacy - Issues & Action• The Episcopal Church's Ministry of Advocacy

10.How Can You Help? Mission and Service • Gifts Discernment • Services and Activities in Welcome & Integration • Creating and Living into Your Mission Plan

11.How Can You Help? Give 12.Q&A

#R EF UGEE SWEL CO MEO b j e c t i v e s

• Define refugee, asylum-seeker, internally displaced person; understand international protections for refugees and asylum-seekers

• Appreciate complexity of global refugee crisis, populations effected, push factors, refugee-hosting and resettlement countries

• Awareness of many actors – international, federal, NGO – involved in refugee response abroad and resettlement domestically, including Episcopal Migration Ministries

• Understand how to be involved in advocacy for refugees and resettlement to your elected officials and how to join the Episcopal Public Policy Network

• Have the tools to begin to explore how you – individually and collectively – can be involved in the ministry of welcome

#R EF UGEE SWEL CO MED e f i n i t i o n s

Who is a refugee?

#R EF UGEE SWEL CO MEC r i s i s b y t h e n u m b e r s

The Current Global Refugee Crisis

#R EF UGEE SWEL CO MEW h e r e d o r e f u g e e s c o m e f r o m ?

#R EF UGEE SWEL CO MED u r a b l e S o l u t i o n s & R e s e t t l e m e n t C o u n t r i e s

#R EF UGEE SWEL CO MED u r a b l e S o l u t i o n s & R e s e t t l e m e n t C o u n t r i e s

Durable Solutions• Repatriation • Local integration• Resettlement in a third country

Resettlement CountriesUnited States is the international leader. In addition, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the Netherlands, the Nordic countries (Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden) are traditional resettlement countries. Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Iceland, Ireland and the United Kingdom are newer resettlement countries, with smaller programs.

#R EF UGEE SWEL CO MEC o m i n g t o t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s

# R E F U G E E S W E L C O M ES e c u r i t y S c r e e n i n g P r o c e s s

#R EF UGEE SWEL CO MES c r e e n i n g P r o c e s s

#R EF UGEE SWEL CO MEU n i t e d S t a t e s R e f u g e e A d m i s s i o n s P r o g r a m

#R EF UGEE SWEL CO MEL o c a l R e s e t t l e m e n t A g e n c i e s

#R EF UGEE SWEL CO MEE p i s c o p a l M i g r a t i o n M i n i s t r i e s

#R EF UGEE SWEL CO MEE p i s c o p a l M i g r a t i o n M i n i s t r i e s

#R EF UGEE SWEL CO MEE p i s c o p a l M i g r a t i o n M i n i s t r i e s

#R EF UGEE SWEL CO MEE p i s c o p a l C h u r c h ’ s M i n i s t r y o f A d v o c a c y

How can we help refugees? Episcopal Public Policy Network (EPPN)

 

#R EF UGEE SWEL CO MEE p i s c o p a l C h u r c h ’ s M i n i s t r y o f A d v o c a c y

What is the EPPN? The EPPN is a grassroots network of Episcopalians dedicated to striving for justice & peace.

Why should I join? • Our Baptismal Covenant calls us to “strive for justice & peace”

and “respect the dignity of all human beings.” • The time is now.• Your faith voice makes a difference. • A community of advocacy.

Sign up for EPPN action alerts: http://tinyurl.com/JoinEPPNLacy Broemellbroemel@episcopalchurch.org 202-547-7300

States where anti-refugee legislation has been introduced

#R EF UGEE SWEL CO MEE p i s c o p a l C h u r c h ’ s M i n i s t r y o f A d v o c a c y

Civic Engagement#EpiscopaliansVote

advocacy.episcopalchurch.org

#R EF UGEE SWEL CO MEE p i s c o p a l C h u r c h ’ s M i n i s t r y o f A d v o c a c y

How Can You Help?Mission & Service

#R EF UGEE SWEL CO MEH o w C a n Yo u H e l p ?

#R EF UGEE SWEL CO MEL o c a l R e s p o n s e

World Refugee Day is June 20

A time to celebrate & recommit to our call to welcome the stranger

#R EF UGEE SWEL CO MEWo r l d R e f u g e e D a y

#R EF UGEE SWEL CO MEWo r l d R e f u g e e D a y

#R EF UGEE SWEL CO MEG i f t s D i s c e r n m e n t

The place God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world’s deep hunger meet.

Frederick Buechner

Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of services, but the same Lord; 

and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who activates all of them in everyone.

- 1 Corinthians 12:4-6

• Asset-based approach vs. needs-based approach• Greater understanding of your community of faith/group, of

yourself, of the unique way in which you can offer God’s love to the world in mission

• Your “lens” is a theology of abundance • Mission for the sake of equipping and empowering your partners

and those you serve; for the purpose of creating sustainable and lasting positive change.

#R EF UGEE SWEL CO MEG i f t s D i s c e r n m e n t

• Gifts Discernment Activities• 10 Best Practices for Congregations Engaging in Refugee

Resettlement Ministry • Checklist for Congregations• Called to Transformation: www.calledtotransformation.org

Available by request – aduvall@episcopalchurch.org.

#R EF UGEE SWEL CO MEG i f t s D i s c e r n m e n t

Resources to Discern, Prepare, and Plan

#R EF UGEE SWEL CO MEG i f t s D i s c e r n m e n t

#R EF UGEE SWEL CO MES e r v i c e s & A c t i v i t i e s i n We l c o m e & I n t e g r a t i o n

How do we welcome new Americans?• Welcome begins before refugees arrive

• Arranging decent safe and sanitary housing• Furniture (need not be new, but in good

condition), cleaning supplies, toiletries• Seasonal clothing and clothing for work

• Welcome at arrival• Greeting refugees at the airport• Ready to eat and culturally appropriate

meal upon arrival• Welcome and orientation to their new

communityPhoto: Exodus Refugee, Episcopal Migration Ministries

• Case management: Assistance applying for social security card, enrollment in English language programs, employment services

• Ensure every refugee has health assessment within 30 days of arrival• Transportation assistance• Assistance with filing with family overseas

#R EF UGEE SWEL CO MES e r v i c e s & A c t i v i t i e s i n We l c o m e & I n t e g r a t i o n

• Cultural Orientation, English, Citizenship classes• Mentors for Vocational Pathways (New American Pathways, Atlanta)• Young Adult Leadership• Weaving, Sewing, and Art Therapy Circles• Children’s Choirs• Community Gardens• Hosting classes, refugee community worship services, programming and

other agency activities in your building• Inviting new Americans to community activities – introducing them to

festivals, museums, zoos, fairs• Donation of church bus or other vehicles• Offering low-cost housing options • Existing Church/Diocesan Ministries: summer camps, literacy programs,

food pantries and clothing closets

Creative Programs and Partnerships

• Financial donations to local resettlement agencies• Supplies – Welcome Baskets, winter coats, pantry items,

school supplies, pots & pans, sheets, blankets, etc.• Time – volunteer• Episcopal Relief & Development

#R EF UGEE SWEL CO MEH o w C a n Yo u H e l p ? S t e w a r d s h i p

Photo: Felicity Handford

#R EF UGEE SWEL CO MEQ & A

#R EF UGEE SWEL CO MEF o l l o w - U p

Allison DuvallManager for Church Relations & Engagementaduvall@episcopalchurch.org, (212) 716-6027

Wendy JohnsonCommunications Manager

wjohnson@episcopalchurch.org, (202) 716-6143

www.episcopalchurch.org

Episcopal Migration Ministries www.episcopalchurch.org/emm

Facebook: www.facebook.com/EMMRefugeesTwitter: @EMMRefugees

Video: www.vimeo.com/EMMRefugees

#R EF UGEE SWEL CO MEWe l c o m e t h e S t r a n g e r