cecccmechurches’ commission for migrants in europe
migration
2010european churches responding to migration 2010
The Conference of European Churches and the
Churches' Commission for Migrants in Europe,
at their parallel meetings in Cyprus,
endorsed planning, launching and implementation of a joint year
european churches responding to migration 2010
migration2010.eueuropean churches responding to migration 2010
migration
2010european churches responding to migration 2010
why a
migration year 2010 ?
The Conference of European Churches and the
Churches' Commission for Migrants in Europe,
at their parallel meetings in Cyprus,
endorsed planning, launching and implementation of a joint year
european churches responding to migration 2010
migration2010.eueuropean churches responding to migration 2010
The presidents of CEC, the moderator of CCME,the General Secretaries of CCME and CEC,at their joint session 2008, Paralimni, Cyprus
a“WORK IN
PROGRESS” starts
migration2010.eueuropean churches responding to migration 2010
why a
migration year 2010 ?churches
recognizing
migration2010.eueuropean churches responding to migration 2010
migration is posing
challenges tosocieties, political
institutionsand churches
obligation onchurches and
eachchristian to“welcome
the stranger”
migration is anoverall reality
insociety todayR A T I O N A L Echurches
recognizing
socially
theologically human rights
M A I N A I M• VISIBILITYVISIBILITY of the churches' commitment to
strangersresponding to the message of the Bible
• INCLUSIVE POLICYINCLUSIVE POLICY at European & national levelfor migrants, refugees & ethnic minority groups
Churches shall be encouraged to strengthen and enhance their work with and for migrants, refugees and ethnic minority people, giving the full significance to “Being Church together” in order to face challenges,
diminish fears and highlight positive aspects of migration.
(knowing about EUROPES DIVERSITY of SITUATIONSEUROPES DIVERSITY of SITUATIONS of migrants,refugees and ethnic minority groups in different countries)migration2010.eu
european churches responding to migration 2010
leadsto...• the role of religion
as an instrument of integration• recognition of realities and facing responsibility• all humans are and have been always “wanderers”•• t b f
• all persons are equal before the law• Human Rights Conventions (UN, CoE)• migrant workers rights convention• Ideal of open and inclusive communities and societies•• t b f
M A I N A I M• VISIBILITYVISIBILITY of the churches' commitment to
strangersresponding to the message of the Bible
• INCLUSIVE POLICYINCLUSIVE POLICY at European & national levelfor migrants, refugees & ethnic minority groups
Churches shall be encouraged to strengthen and enhance their work with and for migrants, refugees and ethnic minority people, giving the full significance to “Being Church together” in order to face challenges,
diminish fears and highlight positive aspects of migration.
(knowing about EUROPES DIVERSITY of SITUATIONSEUROPES DIVERSITY of SITUATIONS of migrants,refugees and ethnic minority groups in different countries)
• dignity of every person, created in the image of God• biblical motives of migration (Abraham, Israel, Ruth, David (a migrant worker himself), Jesus, Apostles, expansion of christianity)•• t b f (to be filled)
socially
theologically human rights
migration2010.eueuropean churches responding to migration 2010
leadsto...
M A I N A I M• VISIBILITYVISIBILITY of the churches' commitment to
strangersresponding to the message of the Bible
• INCLUSIVE POLICYINCLUSIVE POLICY at European & national levelfor migrants, refugees & ethnic minority groups
Churches shall be encouraged to strengthen and enhance their work with and for migrants, refugees and ethnic minority people, giving the full significance to “Being Church together” in order to face challenges,
diminish fears and highlight positive aspects of migration.
(knowing about EUROPES DIVERSITY of SITUATIONSEUROPES DIVERSITY of SITUATIONS of migrants,refugees and ethnic minority groups in different countries)
asylum andrefugees
combatingdiscrimination & racism
migration and
integration
W O R K F I E L D S
P I L L A R S of A D V O C A C Y
(what do we want to do/ achieve)
leadingto...
leadingto...
leadingto...
migration2010.eueuropean churches responding to migration 2010
more inclusive
communitiesand
societies
addressing fears
in societies
highlightpositive
features of migration
P I L L A R S of A D V O C A C Y
(what do we want to do/ achieve)
POSSIBLE AREAS of ACTIVITIES
(what should happen in/ after 2010)like:
• highlighting existing programmes vis-à-vis governments, political . institutions, society
• recognition of the potential of diversity in society• overcoming borders and facilitating the crossing of borders• world economic crisis and movements of people due to the
crisis• facilitated participation in community and social life• greater justice, solidarity and equality
to…
migration2010.eueuropean churches responding to migration 2010
EXCHANGE and ENCOURAGEMENT
through improvement of the visibility andfostering the meaning of existing church
programmes
to strengthen, improve and protect the legal status of migrants, refugees and ethnic minority groups as a basis for inclusion and participation
EXCHANGE and ENCOURAGEMENT
through improvement of the visibility andfostering the meaning of existing church
programmes
to strengthen, improve and protect the legal status of migrants, refugees and ethnic minority groups as a basis for inclusion and participation
• strengthening of the rights of migrants• public responsibility for effective programmes welcoming migrants• enhance encounter & participation• combating exclusion and unemployment• monitoring and improvement of detention conditions (EU policy)• fight externalization of incoming refugees• combating trafficking in human beings
• Being Church together - uniting in diversity• welcoming strangers in our communities/ churches• diaconical help and support for migrants and refugees• enhance participation of migrants in our communities• exchange and support for migrant churches in our local area
That’s
WHY...on political level:
right to a long term residence status
after 5 years of legal stay,irrespective of the reasons of
stay
on church level:visibility of churches’
engagementfor inclusive communities &
societiesand work for and with
migrants
O U R K E Y A I M Smore
inclusive communities
and societies
addressing fears
in societies
highlightpositive
features of migration
P I L L A R S of A D V O C A C Y
(what do we want to do/ achieve)
POSSIBLE AREAS of ACTIVITIES
(what should happen in/ after 2010)like:
• highlighting existing programmes vis-à-vis governments, political . institutions, society
• recognition of the potential of diversity in society• overcoming borders and facilitating the crossing of borders• world economic crisis and movements of people due to the
crisis• facilitated participation in community and social life• greater justice, solidarity and equality
to…
leadsto...
leadsto...
• Visibility of the churches’ commitment to strangerschurches’ commitment to strangers,responding to the message of the Bible
• Promotion of an inclusive policyinclusive policy at European and national level for migrants,
refugees and ethnic minority groups,through work for and with migrantswork for and with migrants, refugees and ethnic minority groups
• Visibility of the churches’ commitment to strangerschurches’ commitment to strangers,responding to the message of the Bible
• Promotion of an inclusive policyinclusive policy at European and national level for migrants,
refugees and ethnic minority groups,through work for and with migrantswork for and with migrants, refugees and ethnic minority groups
migration2010.eueuropean churches responding to migration 2010
That’s
WHY...
- 2010 -european churches
responding to migration
migration2010.eueuropean churches responding to migration 2010
cecccmechurches’ commission for migrants in europe
- 2010 -european churches
responding to migration
© Thomas W. Stephan
• Visibility of the churches’ commitment to strangerschurches’ commitment to strangers,responding to the message of the Bible
• Promotion of an inclusive policyinclusive policy at European and national level for migrants,
refugees and ethnic minority groups,through work for and with migrantswork for and with migrants, refugees and ethnic minority groups
thank you