Presbyterian Churches hold out hope in efforts to host and welcome refugees

Congregations call ministry a blessing

April 5, 2017

While the White House and the courts battle over the legality of the travel ban on refugees and travelers from seven countries, Presbyterian churches across the U.S. are still hopeful for a quick resolution. The executive order banning refugees and travelers from predominantly Muslim countries has drawn strong reaction on both sides of the issue.

A number of Christian denominations have been working for years to receive families displaced by war and violence. In some cases, churches have created interfaith partnerships to make the placements a reality.

“We are really blessed in that a synagogue shares our space,” said the Rev. Paul Lent, pastor of Freedom Plains United Presbyterian Church in Lagrangeville, New York. “Both congregations felt that the symbolism of a synagogue and a church jointly sponsoring a refugee Muslim family is a great American story, and there are only a few places in the world where that could happen. We were very much looking forward to doing that and were very committed to it.”

As are other Presbyterian churches, Lent says his congregation is still digesting the executive order and its long-term impact on refugee resettlement.

Sommers says his congregation was disappointed  but not entirely surprised by the order.

“We were excited at the prospect of helping a family resettle. This congregation did that back in the early 1960s when members helped settle a family from Cuba,” Sommers said. “So this is part of the church’s DNA, and at least a significant segment of the congregation was looking forward to welcoming another [family].”

“My congregation was not first on the list of receiving families, but we are waiting and expecting to be a co-sponsor with the synagogue,” said Lent. “We are actually larger than the synagogue and have considered taking on an additional family.  All of that is on hold right now and still unclear.”

Cheryl Molina is an elder at Crossroads Presbyterian Church in Waterford, Connecticut. She has been working with a non-profit organization that has settled three families in the area since last June and that is  hoping to host a fourth.

“I know there are those with a general uneasiness about hosting families.   She said, “I have found that the most amazing thing about refugee resettlement is that it requires us to slow down, to be in someone’s living room and personally see how they are doing. It’s like the old days when people used to connect by being in the same room.”

Rutgers Presbyterian Church of New York City has an active membership of 120. Members recently received good news  on a Sunday evening that a Syrian family they had planned to sponsor would be arriving on Tuesday.

“They were supposed to arrive on January 30, but the executive order put that on hold,” said Laura Jervis, parish associate and teaching elder at the church. “We have been extremely busy over the last week advocating for them. We’ve had wonderful support from other churches and synagogues in the city.”

Jervis says ACLU attorneys will accompany them when they pick up the family. She adds that the process has helped bring diverse groups together for one cause.

“This has been extremely unifying for our city. I can’t say how heartening it is. It has been amazing,” she said. “Everyone has their own gifts to share. There’s no sense of competition or tension. We’ve all been working together to meet the urgent goal of getting the family here. Cooperation has just been extraordinary.”

The president’s executive order in late January suspended the admission of refugees from Syria, Iraq, Sudan, Iran, Somalia, Libya and Yemen. A week of protests and legal wrangling was capped off on February 3 , when a Washington state federal judge blocked the ban.

“This isn’t political. It’s about helping people in need. Everybody understands that when it is political, it is easy to make broad generalities,” said Lent. “But when you meet people and learn their stories, it’s transforming.”

Woods Memorial Presbyterian Church in Severna Park, Maryland, has helped settle families from overseas and had become close to a Syrian family that had lost their home several years ago.

“They went to Jordan to a refugee camp for four years and had gone through extreme vetting. They had come to our area [specifically] because the children have a medical condition,” said the Rev. Dr. Susan DeWyngaert, pastor. “They are not influential people. He was a construction worker but is currently working in a local grocery store stocking shelves.”

DeWyngaert says she’s happy her congregation stepped up. “They have been enriching us in many ways. They are a delightful family, exuberant and hard-working. They’re excited to be here and are building friendships and learning very fast.”

This is the ninth family Woods Memorial has sponsored in the past 10 years. DeWyngaert says members may not always agree on the issue, but moved ahead with the work.

“Our church decided to sponsor a family that needed us the most,” said DeWyngaert. “I think all of the concern melted away when everybody got to know this family because they were so lively, extraverted, funny, kind and grateful to be here.”

Many of the church leaders involved with the refugee ministry say they are as blessed as those they are serving.

“There are different ways for churches to get involved, from simply providing funds for the family or going all out to provide a home,” said Sommers. “It really depends on where the family is from. We were in the process of trying to help Church World Service locate housing for a family. The level of our involvement would depend on their level of need.”

Sommers’ advice to other churches is to keep working, keep pushing.

“Don’t lose hope. Continue to be an active voice for the vulnerable, the marginalized, the stranger and immigrant in your community,” said Sommers. “Keep the faith that Jesus calls us to reach out and serve the most vulnerable. The widow and the orphan are the ones we are called to serve.”

“It’s a great way to reduce fear and see refugees as families,” said Molina, “ a great way to avoid political rhetoric and get to know them, learn about their culture and religion.”

Rick Jones, mission communications strategist, Presbyterian Mission Agency

Today’s Focus:  Welcoming Refugees

Let us join in prayer for:

Freedom Plains United Presbyterian Church, Lagrangeville, NY

Rev. Paul D. Lent, pastor
Rev. Heather M. Finck, associate pastor

 First Presbyterian Church, Caldwell, NJ

Dr. Richard N. Sommers, pastor/head of staff
Rev. Don Brown, associate pastor

 Crossroads Presbyterian Church, Waterford, CT

Rev. Anne E. Fuhrmeister, pastor
Cheryl Molina, elder

 Rutgers Presbyterian Church, New York, NY

Rev. Andrew Stehlik, pastor
Rev. Laura Jervis, parish associate

Woods Memorial Presbyterian Church, Severna Park, MD

Rev. Dr. Susan DeWyngaert, senior pastor/head of staff
Rev. Nancy Lincoln Reynolds, associate pastor for pastoral care and evangelism

PC(USA) Agencies’ Staff

Jennifer Barr, OGA                                                                      
Michelle Bartel, PMA

Let us pray:

O Lord, we beseech you to send your Holy Spirit to shade the land so that peace may prevail. In the name of Jesus, the Prince of Peace. Amen.

Daily Readings

Morning Psalms 5; 147:1-11
First Reading Jeremiah 25:30-38
Second Reading Romans 10:14-21
Gospel Reading John 10:1-18
Evening Psalms 27; 51