Episcopal Migration Ministries, 8 other agencies awarded new contracts to resettle refugees

From ENS-

The State Department, despite the Trump administration’s decision to drastically reduce the number of refugees allowed to be resettled in the United States, has renewed contracts with all nine agencies that long have facilitated resettlements for the government, including Episcopal Migration Ministries, or EMM.

The decision, communicated to the agencies on Nov. 30, allows them to continue their resettlement activities for another year, though at a greatly diminished capacity than under the Obama administration.

“We are thankful we will continue to resettle refugees in the coming year,“ the Rev. Charles Robertson, canon to the presiding bishop for ministry beyond the Episcopal Church, said Dec. 3 in a press release announcing the State Department’s decision. “We still face the challenge of transitioning to a much smaller resettlement program. This at a time when there are more than 25.4 million refugees, over half of whom are children. With everyone’s support, we will continue to welcome refugees to a place of safety and welcome.”

More here-

https://www.episcopalnewsservice.org/2018/12/03/episcopal-migration-ministries-8-other-agencies-awarded-new-contracts-to-resettle-refugees/

Executive Council passes budget, grants diocesan waivers, praises work of Episcopal Migration Ministries

From ENS-

The Episcopal Church’s Executive Council, in its first meeting since the 79th General Convention, spent four days this week focused primarily on orientation, training, leadership appointments and relationship-building at a conference center in suburban Minneapolis.

This meeting was light on legislative business, but Executive Council, the church’s governing body during the three years between General Convention meetings, concluded the week by approving a handful of resolutions on financial matters, including the 2019 church budget, the House of Deputies president’s salary and diocesan assessment waivers for six dioceses.

Members of Executive Council also received briefings from church officers and staff members during the week, including a bleak assessment of the future of the church’s refugee resettlement work from the Rev. Charles Robertson, the presiding bishop’s canon for ministry beyond the Episcopal Church.

More here-

https://www.episcopalnewsservice.org/2018/10/19/executive-council-passes-budget-grants-diocesan-waivers-praises-work-of-episcopal-migration-ministries/

‘Not a Beat Skipped’

From The Living Church-

Episcopal Migration Ministries has been on the front lines of immigration policy skirmishes throughout the Trump administration. Now the agency is searching for a new director, as the incumbent has been promoted to a senior position on the presiding bishop’s staff.

The Rev. Canon E. Mark Stevenson, who has overseen EMM since May 2016, was named Aug. 1 as canon to the presiding bishop for ministry within the Episcopal Church. That makes him one of three executives who collectively oversee virtually all the programs of the Episcopal Church.

Demetrio Alvero, Stevenson’s deputy director, has been named interim director of EMM.

“Demetrio’s been doing this a long time,” Stevenson told TLC. “There will not be a beat skipped in the work of EMM.”

When President Trump introduced a travel ban and moratorium on refugee resettlement during his first week in office, it threatened the very existence of EMM, which receives most of its funding from the federal government based on the number of refugees it resettles.

More here-

https://livingchurch.org/2018/08/21/not-a-beat-skipped/

Utah's Episcopalian bishop cites LDS donations as example of differing faiths working together

From Utah-

Saying Americans “are hungry” for disagreeing people who continue to maintain positive relationships, the Episcopal Diocese of Utah is citing recent humanitarian donations from the LDS Church and the latter’s hosting of Episcopal Migration Ministries officials as evidences of successful efforts shared by differing faiths.

“I believe that it is very important to demonstrate that people can work together, value each other, and have friendships with each other, even though there are points of profound differences between us,” wrote the Rt. Reve. Scott B. Hayashi on the Episcopal Diocese of Utah’s Facebook page in a Thursday evening post. “I believe that the people of this nation are hungry to see people disagree and still be in positive relationship.”

More here-

https://www.deseretnews.com/article/900007984/utahs-episcopalian-bishop-cites-lds-donations-as-example-of-differing-faiths-working-together.html

LDS Church donates another $5 million in 2017 for refugee resettlement in U.S.

From Salt Lake-

For a second straight year, the LDS Church has donated $5 million worth of aid to the nine voluntary refugee resettlement agencies in the United States.

The $1.2 million in cash and $3.8 million in commodities or services will be used during 2018 by the nine charitable organizations, who have agreements with the State Department to provide reception and placement services for refugees who arrive in the United States.

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Each organization will receive a different amount. Some are long-time partners of the church. Other relationships began in late 2015 or during 2016.

"Episcopal Migration Ministries and our 22 affiliate partners are deeply grateful for the generosity and support of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints," one said in a statement provided to the Deseret News. "With a gift of $50,000 cash and $200,000 in-kind donations, the LDS Church has donated $500,000 combined (cash and in-kind) to Episcopal Migration Ministries since 2016. In addition, they are working with the Episcopal Migration Ministries team to create a strategic media plan to broaden outreach."

More here-

https://www.deseretnews.com/article/865693855/LDS-Church-donates-another-5-million-in-2017-for-refugee-resettlement-in-US.html

Episcopal Migration Ministries’ director responds to travel ban’s ‘relationship’ stipulation

From ENS-

The Rev. E. Mark Stevenson, director of Episcopal Migration Ministries, issued the following statement June 30 in response to the “relationship” stipulation in the Trump administration’s executive order banning the entry of foreign nationals. 

A Response to the Administration’s Decision on Relationships

The Reverend Canon E. Mark Stevenson

Director, Episcopal Migration Ministries

Earlier this week, the Supreme Court issued a decision regarding the litigation around the president’s executive order banning entry into this country of certain foreign nationals and halting for a time the welcoming of refugees. The Court seemed to stake out a position that the president has the right to do these two things but that he has to take a number of things – particularly relationships – into account when implementing policy. I wrote at the time that we would need to wait for the logistics to be sorted. Little did I expect that the sorting would become a tool to tear apart relationships, and to further propagate a false narrative about people who have fled violence and persecution.

More here-

http://episcopaldigitalnetwork.com/ens/2017/06/30/episcopal-migration-ministries-director-responds-to-travel-bans-relationships-stipulation/

Refugee admissions down in Kansas, Wichita amid ‘uncertain times’

From Kansas-

In late January, Episcopal Migration Ministries-Wichita said it hoped to resettle another 110 refugees in Wichita between then and the end of September, the end of the federal fiscal year.

It has resettled 16 refugees since Jan. 27, Schmidt said last week. The organization expects a few families to arrive in May since the State Department is still scheduling some travel for refugees to the U.S.

Schmidt said the number of refugees expected to arrive the rest of the year is “impossible to predict during these uncertain times in refugee resettlement.”

The national ministry of the Episcopal Church announced last month it was cutting some affiliate offices because of the lower number of refugees being resettled in this country.

Read more here:

http://www.kansas.com/news/politics-government/article148158359.html#storylink=cpy

Episcopal Church Says Trump's Refugee Order Is Forcing Closure of 6 Offices

From Christian Post-

Episcopal Migration Ministries will reduce the number of its 31 affiliates to 25 and will not be resettling refugees in the removed affiliate areas for 11 months, starting in October through September 2018.

EMM Director the Rev. Canon E. Mark Stevenson told Episcopal News Service that the reduction was a "painful" but necessary step.

"It's painful; it's horrible, but we hope — we pray — that we have made the right decisions for the health of the overall network and for the well-being of the refugees," Stevenson said in the interview with ENS.

"It's important for us to have a system where refugees are resettled where it is safe, where it's affordable, where opportunity is given to them to thrive as new Americans."


Read more at

http://www.christianpost.com/news/episcopal-church-says-trumps-refugee-order-forcing-closure-six-offices-180390/#3C0dMhuTvMwJvIzZ.99

Episcopal Migration Ministries launches fundraising campaign

From ENS-

 Episcopal Migration Ministries, the refugee resettlement agency of the Episcopal Church, invites participation in supporting its life-saving work through Stand To Support Refugees, a fundraising campaign to maintain a strong, viable ministry network to welcome those fleeing war, violence and persecution. Donations to Stand To Support Refugees will help strengthen important ministry to some of the most vulnerable throughout the world.

On March 6, President Donald Trump signed a revised executive order with elements that include: suspending refugee resettlement for 120 days; cutting the previously determined number of refugees to be resettled in the United States for the current year from 110,000 to 50,000; and prohibiting entry for most nationals from Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen for at least 90 days.

More here-

http://episcopaldigitalnetwork.com/ens/2017/03/13/stand-to-support-refugees/

Episcopal Migration Ministries satellite office in Florida to close

From Anglican News-

After more than three decades serving as a model for successful resettlement and integration, the US based Episcopal Migration Ministries’ satellite office in Miami, Florida is to close at the end of July.

The Rev. Canon E. Mark Stevenson, Director of Episcopal Migration Ministries, explained that the closing was due in large part to changing Cuban migrant policy within the United States:  “Episcopal Migration Ministries - Miami began in 1980 in response to the Department of State’s request for assistance in processing Cubans arriving to the United States during the Mariel boatlift” he said, a reference to the mass emigration of Cubans over a six month period in 1980.

Under the direction of Charlande Michel, Episcopal Migration Ministries - Miami has resettled over 3,300 refugees from Cuba, Haiti, Colombia, Venezuela, Kosovo, Bosnia, Vietnam, Iraq, and Burma.

More here-

http://www.anglicannews.org/news/2017/03/episcopal-migration-ministries-satellite-office-in-florida-to-close.aspx

Refugees’ WV resettlement OK’d by State Dept.

From West Virginia-

In a statement issued Wednesday, the Rev. Canon E. Mark Stevenson, director at Episcopal Migration Ministries, announced that the West Virginia Interfaith Refugee Ministry had been approved to join its network of 30 refugee resettlement sites throughout the country.

“It is particularly heart-warming to me that this important step in the process of welcoming refugees comes as it does on the cusp of the commemoration and celebration of the birth of Jesus,” he said, “for, as Scripture tells us, it was not long afterwards that he himself became a refugee.”

Episcopal Migration Ministries, one of nine national refugee resettlement agencies that work with the federal government and local groups to place refugees, and local volunteers have been working together in hopes of establishing a resettlement community in Charleston, making the city a safe haven for people who have had to flee their homes because of war, persecution or other violence.

In the ministry’s “resettlement communities,” local organizers assist refugees with finding health care and work, translation and other services.

- See more at:

http://www.wvgazettemail.com/news-politics/20161221/refugees-wv-resettlement-okd-by-state-dept#sthash.cvqIR9Rm.dpuf

Ministry applies to establish refugee resettlement community in Charleston

From West Virginia-

A national refugee resettlement agency has submitted an application to the U.S. Department of State to turn Charleston into one of its “resettlement communities.”

Episcopal Migration Ministries, one of nine national refugee resettlement agencies that works with the U.S. government and local groups to place refugees, and the West Virginia Interfaith Refugee Ministry have been working together in hopes of making Charleston a safe haven for refugees.

The West Virginia Interfaith Refugee Ministry aims to create greater understanding of the Muslim community and the plight of refugees, including those fleeing Syria, where millions have been displaced and hundreds of thousands have been killed.

- See more at:

http://www.wvgazettemail.com/news/20161105/ministry-applies-to-establish-refugee-resettlement-community-in-charleston-#sthash.ySbw2Ubr.dpuf

How refugees resettle in WNY and make it home

From Western New York-

Volunteer organizations, such as Church World Services and Episcopal Migration Ministries inform Journey’s End when there’s a family facing persecution that needs to be resettled. They set up the airfare and refugees are required to pay it back.

Once they arrive at the Buffalo Niagara International Airport, Journey’s End employees greet them.

“We greet them right at the door and we bring them downstairs to collect everything. Then we bring them to their first apartment,” Scott said.

Scott added that federal funding helps the refugees with housing bills for the first month or two. During that time, workers help them get jobs and enroll in school to become self-sufficient.

More here-

http://wivb.com/2016/06/20/how-refugees-resettle-in-wny-and-make-it-home/

Christian Charity On $1 Billion Federal Gravy Train Leads Political Call to ‘Care Sacrificially for the Refugee

From Breitbart-

World Relief, one of five Christian charities among the top nine voluntary agencies (VOLAGs) receiving $1 billion a year in payments from the federal government as part of the U.S. Refugee Resettlement program, is leading a political charge calling on American taxpayers to “care sacrificially for the refugee.”

Two top executives at World Relief, Stephan Bauman, President & CEO of and Jenny Yang, Vice President of Advocacy & Policy, were among a dozen members of a drafting coalition of the recently organized “Great Commandment and Great Commission Summit” that issued a statement titled “Christian Declaration on Caring for Refugees: An Evangelical Response” on Thursday.

More here-

http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2015/12/18/christian-charity-on-1-billion-federal-gravy-train-leads-political-call-to-care-sacrificially-for-the-refugee/

Faith-based groups earn millions on refugee loan commissions

From Colorado Springs (RNS)-

Faith-based agencies that resettle refugees in America stand to gain more than a clear conscience if the United States — after what is expected to be a fierce debate in Congress — accepts a proposed 10,000 Syrian refugees next year.

More refugees also means more revenue for the agencies’ little-known debt collection operations, which bring in upwards of $5 million a year in commissions as resettled refugees repay loans for their travel costs. All nine resettlement agencies charge the same going rate as private-sector debt collectors: 25 percent of all they recoup for the government.

More here-

http://gazette.com/faith-based-groups-earn-millions-on-refugee-loan-commissions/article/1564720

Unholy Alliance: Christian Charities Profit from $1 Billion Fed Program to Resettle Refugees

From Breitbart-

Though they are officially “non-profit” organizations, Catholic Charities, Lutheran Social Services, and several other Christian organizations are profiting from lucrative contracts with the federal government to resettle refugees in the United States.

Of the 100,000 refugees resettled in the United States in 2014 under the Refugee Resettlement program, an estimated 40 percent were Muslims.

In FY 2015, the State Department, through the Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration and the Office of Refugee Resettlement, spent more than $1 billion on these programs, which settled international refugees “vetted” by the United Nations High Commission on International Refugees in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. The federal government spent hundreds of millions of dollars more than that on refugees, however. The Department of Health and Human Services also provided a number of “entitlements” to these refugees.

More here-

http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2015/11/29/unholy-alliance-christian-charities-profit-1-billion-fed-program-resettle-refugees-40-percent-muslim/

Faith leaders reject hard line

From Philadelphia-

In rare agreement across faith and ideological lines, leaders of major American religious groups have condemned proposed bans on Syrian refugees, contending a legitimate debate over security has been overtaken by irrational fear and prejudice.

Top organizations representing evangelicals, Roman Catholics, Jews, and liberal Protestants say close vetting of asylum seekers is a critical part of forming policy on refugees. But these religious leaders say such concerns, heightened after the Paris attacks a week ago, do not warrant blocking those fleeing violence in the Middle East.

"The problem is not the Syrian refugees," said Archbishop Thomas Wenski of Miami, who noted how Florida has welcomed many Cuban refugees over the years. "This is falling into the trap of what the terrorists wanted us to become."

more here-

http://www.philly.com/philly/news/nation_world/20151122_Faith_leaders_reject_hard_line.html

11th-Hour Detour Puts Family in Connecticut as Indiana Bars Syrian Refugees

From The New York Times-

Ms. Miller said having to find the family a new home was “one of the hardest things I’ve had to do in the eight years I’m here.”

“My role is to create a welcoming environment here in our state that gives a safe haven to refugees,” Ms. Miller added. “That we can’t be that because our state is not welcoming all is really painful.”

She turned to Episcopal Migration Ministries, which placed a call to Chris George, the executive director of Integrated Refugee and Immigrant Services in New Haven, which also coordinates resettlement operations there with Church World Service.

Mr. George said he was surprised by the request, which he accepted without hesitation because the family’s arrival was imminent.

More here

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/11/18/nyregion/11th-hour-detour-puts-family-in-connecticut-as-indiana-bars-syrian-refugees.html?_r=0