An invitation from Ellen Smith, mission co-worker serving in Europe
May 2024
Individuals: Give online to E132192 in honor of Ellen Smith’s ministry
Congregations: Give to D500115 in honor of Ellen Smith’s ministry
Churches are asked to send donations through your congregation’s normal receiving site (this is usually your presbytery)
https://ucc.zoom.us/webinar/register/6217133826373/WN_UVSauIagTN-2AIvrL41Ybw
Dear Ministry Partners,
In January 2024 the Middle East and Europe Office of PC(USA) World Mission and the Presbyterian Mission Agency collaborated with the Global Ministries Office of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and United Church of Christ, Reformed Church of America, and the Federation of Federation of Protestant Churches in Italy (FCEI) to host the People on the Move Migration Consultation in Rome, Italy with partners from across the Middle East and Europe. PC(USA) colleagues working with migration and refugee issues also joined the Consultation.
The Consultation focused on internally and externally displaced persons as well as migrant and refugee justice. Invited participants were all practitioners. During our three days together, participants shared their practical work related to addressing the root causes of forced displacement through advocacy and other interventions, as well as their work responding to and working with those who have been forcibly displaced. This was done through both panel presentations and small group activities. Participants also heard directly from several people who have themselves experienced forced displacement and the harrowing journey of finding refuge in another country.
Together we worked to find both common and divergent challenges. We probed the nuances between voluntary migration and forced displacement/migration. We learned more about how the root causes of racism, poverty, militarism, and ecojustice impact, influence, and interact with forced displacement and result in people being on the move across the globe today. The number of people forcibly displaced from their homes and communities is at an all-time high, now over 100 million people worldwide, and continues to grow. Due to violence and conflict, natural disasters, climate change and other social, political, and economic factors, people have been uprooted and are seeking safety and security elsewhere.
We also explored the many ways that partners in receiving nations are practicing welcome towards newcomers, as well as the challenges they are facing in their unique contexts. Our partners in the Middle East and Europe are directly involved in assisting people who have left their homes, responding to their needs and providing assistance and care.
At the end of the conference, participants worked on proposals to discern how to continue working collectively, and fully engage in advocacy at different levels. Hosting a series of webinars featuring those who participated in the Consultation is one of the proposals that was made. The first “People on the Move” webinar will be held on May 8, at 11am ET. In this webinar, we will have the opportunity to hear from partners who are directly involved in the work of advocacy and welcome as well as from people who have experienced forced displacement. This is an opportunity to hear their experiences and learn from their stories. Featured speakers will be from the Forum for Development, Culture, and Dialogue (FDCD-Lebanon and Syria), the Afghan Association for Women (now based in Italy), and Mediterranean Hope (Italy) to learn about their work and current realities. This webinar is co-sponsored by the Federation of Protestant Churches in Italy (FCEI), the Presbyterian Church (USA), the Reformed Church in America, and Global Ministries of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and United Church of Christ.
You may register for this webinar through the following link (it will take you to the United Church of Christ website):
https://UCC.zoom.us/webinar/register/6217133826373/WN_UVSauIagTN-2AIvrL41Ybw
Please note: for those who register, an email after the webinar will be sent that includes a link to the recording of the webinar plus any additional materials noted by the presenters…just in case you’re not available at the time of the live webinar.
In Christ’s Peace,
Ellen
You may freely reuse and distribute this article in its entirety for non-commercial purposes in any medium. Please include author attribution, photography credits, and a link to the original article. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDeratives 4.0 International License.