World
The tragic picture of Alan Kurdi put a human face on the issue of migration across the Mediterranean which had risen in public consciousness over the summer of 2015. The phrase ‘refugee crisis’ entered common parlance. Yet it was quickly wrapped up with other words like ‘flood’ and ‘swarm’. Some people’s existing concerns around economic…
Lord, you were once a refugee as the small child from the manger fleeing to Egypt. And so we pray for all those who are fleeing persecution, adversity and hopelessness. We remember the millions of people across the globe who are displaced from their homes. We bring before you families that are split apart, with…
CTBIs Churches’ Refugee Network met again today with representation around the table and on the phone from a variety of denominations and organisations working around the UK and Ireland. CRN considered the opportunity to develop better church engagement with Refugee Week (running in 2019 between 17–23 June) and how CTBI’s support of Churches of Sanctuary…
City of Sanctuary have published a Mental Health Resource Pack [PDF] to help readers understand the circumstances of refugees and asylum seekers’ lives and how these circumstances affect their emotional wellbeing. The 56-page booklet’s introduction explains that “it is designed to give you a real understanding of the lives of asylum seekers and refugees.” “We hope…
Damian Jackson from the Irish Council of Churches (ICC) co-led CTBI’s visit to refugee projects in Lampedusa and Sicily last year. He has written about Ireland’s upcoming community sponsorship scheme over on the ICC blog. “A couple of months ago, I and a group of church representatives working on these issues, spoke via Skype with…
Nadine Daniel is national refugee welcome coordinator for the Church of England. She addressed the CTBI annual general meeting in Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral back in May. A resident of Toxteth, she welcomed the delegates to Liverpool. While the word ‘welcome’ was an important emphasis in her job title, so too was the line in her…
A ship carrying 629 people rescued from the Mediterranean has been refused permission to dock in an Italian port. The BBC report: A rescue vessel carrying 629 migrants is stranded in the Mediterranean after Italy’s new interior minister refused permission for it to dock. Matteo Salvini, leader of the right-wing League, said Malta should accept…
Writing in Tuesday’s Guardian newspaper, Daniel Trilling busts five myths about the refugee crisis in a long read that deconstructs some of the beliefs that shape policy and public opinion. Myth 1. The crisis is over. Myth 2. We can neatly separate ‘refugees’ from ‘economic migrants’ Myth 3. Telling ‘human stories’ is enough to change…
The ACT Now! Unite to End Racism campaign has published a book to help individuals, small groups and congregations to confront racism within their own lives and the lives of their churches. The ‘ACT’ stands for awaken, confront, transform. United Against Racism reflects the National Council of Churches’ commitment to eradicate “the entrenched racism that…
The Peace Between is a short film that features three friendships between a European and an asylum seeker or refugee. It’s a film about people and friendship rather than politics and it has been supported by the European Evangelical Alliance (EEA) “It’s portrays a metaphorical road trip through the lives of six characters in three…