{"id":54563,"date":"2024-03-06T15:22:34","date_gmt":"2024-03-06T20:22:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.globalministries.org\/?p=54563"},"modified":"2024-03-06T15:23:10","modified_gmt":"2024-03-06T20:23:10","slug":"immigration-debate-is-not-unique-to-u-s-global-ministries-co-sponsors-rome-conference-on-migration-refugees","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.globalministries.org\/immigration-debate-is-not-unique-to-u-s-global-ministries-co-sponsors-rome-conference-on-migration-refugees\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018Immigration debate is not unique to U.S.\u2019: Global Ministries co-sponsors Rome conference on migration, refugees"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Written by Maic D’Agostino, United Church of Christ News<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

While heated policy debates and threats to programs<\/a> for migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers continue in the United States<\/a>, similar conversations are being held across the ocean. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Global Ministries<\/a>, the common witness of the United Church of Christ and Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)<\/a>, recently co-sponsored a conference in Rome called \u201cPeople on the Move\u201d<\/a> alongside Mediterranean Hope<\/a> \u2014 the refugee and migrant program of the Waldensian Church<\/a> and the Federation of Protestant Churches in Italy<\/a> \u2014 the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)<\/a>, and the Reformed Church in America<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The ecumenical partners gathered in late January to uplift the voices of displaced people, listen to their lived experiences, and share their common witness as Christians pushing for more welcoming, humane, and just immigration policies. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhat we hoped to do was humanize the issue,\u201d said Peter Makari, global relations minister for the Middle East and Europe with Global Ministries. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As with the United States, frequent stories on the impact of government policies<\/a>, increasing numbers of people seeking refuge<\/a>, and the dangers migrants face in their journeys<\/a> continue to dominate headlines. But rarely do those stories contain the voices and perspectives of the most central figures: the people who are migrating themselves.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Makari explained that the \u201cPeople on the Move\u201d conference aimed to center the first-hand accounts of those who often risked their lives to leave their homes in search of a safer place for themselves and their families. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

History of advocacy and accompaniment  <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The urgency of hearing and responding to people in need is felt among international partners, Makari said, \u201cparticularly at a time when debates in Europe mirror some of the debates in the U.S. around xenophobia and racism.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition to these stories, the conference explored the root causes of displacement \u2014 especially for refugees from the Middle East and Africa \u2014 how European churches advocate for programs to reduce the danger of sea crossings and recommendations for next steps. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Makari noted, both during and after the conference, that many UCC and Disciples members have been involved in this work, locally and abroad, for years.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOur mission personnel and U.S.-based leadership have not only witnessed but have actively accompanied partners in the Middle East over the past century of forced migration \u2014 and displacement \u2014 of peoples,\u201d Makari wrote in a paper he presented at the conference. \u201cStarting with the Armenian Genocide, then later with the impacts on the Palestinian people of an-Nakba <\/em>(1948), an-Naksa <\/em>(1967), and right to this today in Gaza, where almost all of the 2.3 million Palestinians there have been displaced in the last three and a half months.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In response to refugees from Palestine, Syria, Iraq, and other Middle Eastern countries, Makari added, \u201cOur churches have been directly involved, not just with humanitarian response, but also with advocacy, particularly with regard to U.S. policy.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

He also noted that the situation at the U.S.-Mexico border shares \u201csimilarities with global contexts, including Southern Europe-North Africa.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hearing stories, taking action <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The similarities in policy debates and the overlap in issues demonstrate a need for a widespread response, Makari explained. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe immigration debate is not unique to the U.S. These are global issues, and our church has engaged these issues for a long time,\u201d he said. \u201cEven more importantly, I would encourage people to engage on a personal level, to hear people\u2019s stories, to understand their experiences, so that the personal informs policy advocacy.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sharing those personal stories publicly is not always possible due to the sensitive nature of identifying people seeking safety and potential danger to them and their families. So Makari recommends that UCC congregants and churches contact Global Ministries\u2019 area offices \u2014 as well as agencies in their own communities \u2014 to help determine how they can learn more about global and local efforts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019re engaged with supporting partners around the world who are involved in compassionate response to the needs of people who are sometimes stuck in great despair and at the end of their tether,\u201d he said. \u201cAnd our members can support the work by participating in refugee resettlement and immigrant advocacy and helping to raise awareness.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

He cited a resolution passed by General Synod in 2019, \u201cAddressing the State of Global Forced Migration<\/a>.\u201d The resolution urges UCC members to \u201csupport denominational partners around the world who are responding to the needs of displaced people, whether they are refugees, migrants, internally displaced, asylum seekers, or others, through Global Ministries and One Great Hour of Sharing<\/a>,\u201d the special mission offering currently being promoted in settings across the UCC.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The resolution also called for participation in resettlement programs and advocacy for human rights and intersecting justice issues \u2014 such as environmental, economic, and racial justice<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Connection and solidarity\u00a0<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

As seen during the conference in Rome, those \u201cpartners around the world\u201d include some of the oldest Protestant traditions in the world \u2014 notably, the Italian Waldensian Church, part of the Federation of Protestant Churches in Italy. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Waldensians, who trace their heritage back to the 12th century prior to the Reformation, will celebrate the 850th anniversary of their movement this year, according to Makari.   <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThey are very progressive,\u201d he said. \u201cThey are engaged in social justice issues in their context. They are a church that is proud of their witness. They stand for many things that we hold dear in the UCC.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For ecumenical partners like these, \u201cPeople on the Move\u201d presented an opportunity to build connection and solidarity between like-minded Christians. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve been working on this for some time,\u201d Makari said. \u201cThe hope was to bring partners together to explore migration in the Mediterranean to examine and humanize these issues. These are real people who are affected by policies, people who are on the move.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Making those connections, recognizing shared experiences, and receiving affirmation of the impact of their work was a major benefit gained by conference attendees, Makari asserted. \u201cOftentimes, people engaged in migrant and refugee services feel like they are working alone and in contexts that aren\u2019t always friendly to that work.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

He hopes that these partners can keep building momentum and \u201cbroadening the scope\u201d for this work. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cPeople felt the connection,\u201d he said. \u201cIt was good to be among partners and friends.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Written by Maic D’Agostino, United Church of Christ News While heated policy debates and threats to programs for migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers continue in the United States, similar conversations are being held across the ocean.  Global Ministries, the common witness of the … Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":20220,"featured_media":54564,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false},"categories":[],"topic":[20314],"region":[20074,20022],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n\u2018Immigration debate is not unique to U.S.\u2019: Global Ministries co-sponsors Rome conference on migration, refugees - Global Ministries<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.globalministries.org\/immigration-debate-is-not-unique-to-u-s-global-ministries-co-sponsors-rome-conference-on-migration-refugees\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"\u2018Immigration debate is not unique to U.S.\u2019: Global Ministries co-sponsors Rome conference on migration, refugees - Global Ministries\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Written by Maic D’Agostino, United Church of Christ News While heated policy debates and threats to programs for migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers continue in the United States, similar conversations are being held across the ocean.  Global Ministries, the common witness of the … Read more\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.globalministries.org\/immigration-debate-is-not-unique-to-u-s-global-ministries-co-sponsors-rome-conference-on-migration-refugees\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Global Ministries\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2024-03-06T20:22:34+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2024-03-06T20:23:10+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.globalministries.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/Global-Ministries-People-on-the-Move-conference-Rome-2024-WP-featured-image-2048x1075-1.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"2048\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1075\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Marcy Gansler\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Marcy Gansler\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"5 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.globalministries.org\/immigration-debate-is-not-unique-to-u-s-global-ministries-co-sponsors-rome-conference-on-migration-refugees\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.globalministries.org\/immigration-debate-is-not-unique-to-u-s-global-ministries-co-sponsors-rome-conference-on-migration-refugees\/\",\"name\":\"\u2018Immigration debate is not unique to U.S.\u2019: Global Ministries co-sponsors Rome conference on migration, refugees - Global Ministries\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.globalministries.org\/#website\"},\"datePublished\":\"2024-03-06T20:22:34+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2024-03-06T20:23:10+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.globalministries.org\/#\/schema\/person\/69c5b054ca3ebdd06b4c701954067a25\"},\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.globalministries.org\/immigration-debate-is-not-unique-to-u-s-global-ministries-co-sponsors-rome-conference-on-migration-refugees\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.globalministries.org\/immigration-debate-is-not-unique-to-u-s-global-ministries-co-sponsors-rome-conference-on-migration-refugees\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.globalministries.org\/immigration-debate-is-not-unique-to-u-s-global-ministries-co-sponsors-rome-conference-on-migration-refugees\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/www.globalministries.org\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"\u2018Immigration debate is not unique to U.S.\u2019: Global Ministries co-sponsors Rome conference on migration, refugees\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.globalministries.org\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.globalministries.org\/\",\"name\":\"Global Ministries\",\"description\":\"Global Ministries is a common missional witness of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and the United Church of Christ. 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