Have you ever heard of the Episcopal Migration Ministries?
Probably not unless it happened to impact your community or your family.
How long has there been an Episcopal Migration Ministry Organization?
* Episcopal Migration Ministries (EMM) is the refugee resettlement and migration ministry
of The Episcopal Church.
*Since 1988, EMM has resettled almost 110,000 individuals to communities across the United States. In addition to its long-standing work in refugee resettlement ministry, EMM is The Episcopal Church’s convening place for collaboration, education, and information-sharing on migration.
What has happened to the federal refugee resettlement program?
Since January, the previously bipartisan U.S. Refugee Admissions Program in which Episcopal Migration Ministries participates has essentially shut down. Virtually no new refugees have arrived, hundreds of staff in resettlement agencies around the country have been laid off, and funding for resettling refugees who have already arrived has been uncertain.
Why is the The Episcopal Church ending its work as a federally funded refugee resettlement agency?
Just over two weeks ago, in the midst of this extended disruption, the federal government informed Episcopal Migration Ministries that under the terms of our federal grant, we are expected to resettle white Afrikaners from South Africa whom the U.S. government has classified as refugees.
In light of our church’s steadfast commitment to racial justice and reconciliation and our historic ties with the Anglican Church of Southern Africa, we are not able to take this step. Accordingly, we have determined that, by the end of the federal fiscal year, we will conclude our refugee resettlement grant agreements with the U.S. federal government.
How much money is at stake?
In January, the federal government discontinued virtually all refugee admissions to the United States, and funding for resettling refugees who have already arrived has been uncertain. In most recent years, Episcopal Migration Ministries (EMM) has received more than $50 million annually in federal funds under the terms of its agreements to resettle refugees. These grants constituted 97 percent of EMM’s total funding.
This is not a loss that can be bridged with donor funds or proceeds from investments. However, we will raise funds for new and expanded migration ministries across the church and for our partners in this ministry. Contributions to this new work can be made on the Episcopal Migration Ministries website.
Have refugees been denied entrance to the United States?
Yes. In recent weeks, Afrikaner refugees have been selected in a highly unusual manner and received preferential treatment over many others who have been waiting in refugee camps or dangerous conditions for years. Some of the refugees who are being denied entrance to the United States are brave people who worked alongside our military in Iraq and Afghanistan and now face danger at home because of their service to our country. Others are victims of religious persecution, including Christians.
What will The Episcopal Church’s work with migrants and refugees look like now?
The Episcopal Church will always obey God’s command to welcome the stranger, and Episcopal Migration Ministries will continue serving refugees and immigrants. However, the form and scope of the commitment is changing.
While our public-private partnership as a refugee resettlement agency is no longer viable, we are hard at work on a churchwide plan to support migrants and refugees through:
Diocesan partnerships: We have vibrant ministries around the church serving migrants of all kinds. Episcopalians support newcomers through education, direct service, and advocacy. Our dioceses also work to address the root causes of migration. We pledge to redouble our efforts to support these ministries and the migrants among us.
Global connections: We will invest in our ministries that support forced migrants throughout the countries and territories of The Episcopal Church and the Anglican Communion.This includes our powerful ministry in Europe, where the Convocation of Episcopal Churches in Europe has served more than 140,000 refugees in the last two years, primarily from North Africa, Ukraine, and Central Asia. We will continue to work with our dioceses and Anglican partners throughout Central America to help those seeking safety.
Continued support for refugees: While new refugee arrivals and funding have been curtailed by the current administration, thousands of refugees welcomed by Episcopal Migration Ministries in previous years still need support. We will invite Episcopalians to connect with resettled refugees and explore how to continue services we have long provided—language services, continuing education, support with childcare, and job training. If refugee resettlement begins again with the support of private sponsors, we will explore those new possibilities.
Fundraising: It is important to understand the scale of federal grant money from which we are stepping away. In most recent years, Episcopal Migration Ministries received more than $50 million annually in federal funds. This is not a loss that can be bridged with donor funds or proceeds from investments. However, we will raise funds for new and expanded migration ministries across the church and for our partners in this ministry.
Other resettlement agencies have agreed to work with the government to resettle Afrikaners. Why have you declined?
We respect the decisions made by other organizations that have been welcoming the stranger for decades, and understand that for stand-alone refugee resettlement agencies, this decision may be existential. In light of our church’s steadfast commitment to racial justice and reconciliation and our historic ties with the Anglican Church of Southern Africa, we are not able to take this step.
In making this decision, we have consulted our partners at the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, which announced in April that it will also end its refugee resettlement program by the end of the fiscal year.
What does this mean for EMM staff?
As our participation in the federal refugee resettlement program winds down between now and Sept. 30, some EMM staff positions will be eliminated. However, no positions are being eliminated immediately. We are providing outplacement support to the affected employees and will provide generous severance packages with church, not government, funds.
How can I learn more and get involved?
Participate in weekly calls on immigration.
Check out and share this Immigration Action Toolkit, our regularly updated central page for education, advocacy, and events on this topic.
Make a gift to Episcopal Migration Ministries.
Sign up for Episcopal Church announcements.
Join the Episcopal Public Policy Network for weekly updates and to send advocacy action alerts to your elected officials.