Pastor Diana Linden-Johnson's RGBM Experience and Advocacy Opportunities
ADVOCACY UPDATE from EPISCOPAL MIGRATION MINISTRIES
Since the pandemic began, we have seen a staggering number of immigration policy changes from the administration. In addition to the rule that was proposed on June 15, Procedures for Asylum and Withholding of Removal; Credible Fear and Reasonable Fear Review (comment period closed July 15), a second new proposed federal rule concerning asylum was published on July 9, “Security Bars and Processing.”
This rule would empower border authorities to deny asylum to people coming from countries with high incidence of communicable disease. As Human Rights First notes, this is “paradoxical,” given that the United States leads the world in COVID-19 cases. Comments on this proposed rule are due by August 10. To prepare your own comment, we recommend you borrow talking points from this Human Rights First statement, and express your opposition to the rule with personal stories, including speaking about your faith and any local ministries you are involved in or support. Submit your comment here.
RESOURCES & OPPORTUNITIES from Episcopal Migration Ministries
Love God, Love Neighbor: Episcopal Month of Action: In June, Episcopal Migration Ministries hosted a three-part webinar series, focusing on advocacy for DACA recipients, refugees and resettlement, and asylum protections. The recordings of the webinars – both video and audio – are now available, and are excellent virtual educational offerings for congregations. They can be used for adult forums or a virtual “lecture” series. Recordings of the previous webinars available on EMM’s website and Hometown podcast.
#EMMReads Book Kits: EMM is now offering free book discussion guides on a number of titles written by immigrant authors or about immigrant/refugee topics. Simply request the Book Kits and they will be emailed to you for download. Titles include We Crossed a Bridge and It Trembled: Voices from Syria, Dear America: Notes of an Undocumented Citizen, and The Ungrateful Refugee: What Immigrants Never Tell You. Discussion guides for new titles will be added this fall.
OTHER OPPORTUNITIES WITH EMM
Episcopal Ministry Network on Immigrant Detention:
Are you involved in detention visitation ministry? Have you engaged in advocacy for alternatives to detention? Are you a lay or clergy leader interested in exploring what a ministry in this area might look like in your congregation or diocese? Please join us for the monthly meetings of the Episcopal Ministry Network on Immigrant Detention. To protect the meeting from trolls and robots, and to manage meeting capacity to allow for fruitful conversation, we request that you register in advance. We will review your registration and approve you.
Initial Organizing Meeting: Discerning an Episcopal Ministry Network on Asylum: Join us for an initial organizing meeting on Monday, July 20, 12PM ET to discern the creation of an Episcopal Ministry Network on Asylum. To protect the meeting from trolls and robots, and to manage meeting capacity to allow for fruitful conversation, we request that you register in advance. We will review your registration and approve you.
Ministry Resource: In fall 2019, Episcopal Migration Ministries released the first edition of Supporting Asylum Seekers: A Toolkit for Congregations. This resource is free; request it here and it will be emailed to you for download.
Almighty and Loving God, you who crossed the boundaries of Heaven and Earth to be with your people, visit those who must flee their homes because of violence and oppression and lead them to a land of safety.
We give thanks to you, Source of All Being, that you hear our intercessions on behalf of our brothers and sisters seeking asylum. We thank you that love swallows fear, that in your compassion we learn to walk with those who suffer, that when we give of ourselves we receive far more, and that when we receive those who stand knocking at our doors, we receive Christ the Beloved One.
May all praise, glory and honor be to our God, the Most High.
AMEN