Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori has issued this statement on the current worldwide refugee crisis:
"The children of Abraham have ever been reminded to care for
the widow and orphan and the sojourner in their midst, who were the
refugees and homeless of the time. Jesus charged his followers to care
for the least of these and proclaim the near presence of the Reign of
God - in other words, feed the hungry, water the thirsty, house the
homeless, heal the sick, and liberate the captives. We cannot ignore the
massive human suffering in Europe, Africa, and the Middle East, nor in
Asia and the Americas. We are our brothers' and sisters' keepers, and
our lives are bound up with theirs. The churchwide ministry of
Episcopalians has included refugee resettlement since the refugee crisis
of World War II. It continues today through the leadership of
Episcopal Migration Ministries, and I urge your involvement, action, and
support. Read about their work below, and share these opportunities
with friends and co-workers. You will discover anew the power of good
news in the face of the world's tragedies."
The Most Rev. Katharine Jefferts Schori
Presiding Bishop and Primate, The Episcopal Church
Responding to the crisis
The Syrian Civil War, now in its fourth year, has unleashed a humanitarian emergency in which severe war crimes - including indiscriminate massacres, persecution of religious and ethnic minorities, sexual and gender-based violence, and other humanitarian abuses - have become widespread. According to a recent UN report, more than 4 million people (through the end of 2014) have fled their homes to escape the war in Syria, adding to a worldwide total of nearly 20 million refugees, half of whom are children. This is the largest and most widespread refugee crisis the world has known since World War II. While record numbers of people are being forced to flee, powerful images of refugees fleeing Syria are compelling the world to action.
Click here for resources and suggestions on how congregations and individuals can respond to the crisis, including:
Presiding Bishop and Primate, The Episcopal Church
Responding to the crisis
The Syrian Civil War, now in its fourth year, has unleashed a humanitarian emergency in which severe war crimes - including indiscriminate massacres, persecution of religious and ethnic minorities, sexual and gender-based violence, and other humanitarian abuses - have become widespread. According to a recent UN report, more than 4 million people (through the end of 2014) have fled their homes to escape the war in Syria, adding to a worldwide total of nearly 20 million refugees, half of whom are children. This is the largest and most widespread refugee crisis the world has known since World War II. While record numbers of people are being forced to flee, powerful images of refugees fleeing Syria are compelling the world to action.
Click here for resources and suggestions on how congregations and individuals can respond to the crisis, including:
- Prayer for Syria
- Episcopal Migration Ministries
- Episcopal Public Policy Network
- UNHCR toolkit for teaching young people about migration and refugees
