cecccmechurches’ commission for migrants in europe

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