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Joy Anyway: Pride and Migration in 2025
Written by Max Niedzwiecki, PhD, of EMM's Rainbow Initiative, and member of The Episcopal Church’s Standing Commission on World Mission. “Always be ready to make your defense to anyone who demands from you an accounting [...]
Letter from Presiding Bishop Sean Rowe on Episcopal Migration Ministries (May 12, 2025)
Note: Link to the letter in English and Spanish. Read more in these FAQs. See also: Letter from Archbishop Thabo Makgoba of Cape Town to Presiding Bishop Sean Rowe See the links below for some [...]
Words Matter When We Talk About Immigrants
By Becky Teiwes Whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, or praiseworthy – I’ve been mulling over these words found in Philippians 4:8 (NIV) the last few weeks. Like many of us, I’m [...]
“One thousand cuts won’t stop us:” Turning towards neighbors in need in Syracuse
If we see harm being done to others, how do we choose to respond? This question is inspired by the reflections of a member of the EMM network, in response to executive actions taken [...]
Take Action to Support Our Refugee and Immigrant Neighbors
On January 21, 2025, the Trump administration signed a range of executive orders that will profoundly impact immigration in the U.S. and put the lives of hundreds of thousands of vulnerable people at risk. Read [...]
Working together: employment support for New Americans in Syracuse
Imagine starting your life over in a place where everything is unfamiliar: the language, the culture, the city where you now live. You have no savings, no connections, no recognized credentials that will open doors. [...]
Essential Resources for Immigrant Families
Every family deserves to feel safe, supported, and informed, no matter where they come from or where they are now building their lives. Access to accurate and empowering information is vital for immigrants navigating complex [...]
EMM Affiliate Staff Spotlight
Here's a fresh installment in our series spotlighting the dedicated affiliate staff who tirelessly work behind the scenes to support our mission to welcome. Staff are nominated by colleagues who wish to recognize their hard [...]
EMM Affiliate Staff Spotlight
Here's a new installment in our series spotlighting the dedicated affiliate staff who tirelessly work behind the scenes to support our mission to welcome. Staff are nominated by colleagues who wish to recognize their hard [...]
Hometown Season 7, Bonus Episode: Safeguarding Refugee Resettlement
Today we offer a bonus episode: a recording of a webinar recently co-hosted by EMM and the Episcopal Church’s Office of Government Relations, entitled “Safeguarding Refugee Resettlement: Navigating Policy Shifts in a Changing Political [...]
Mental Health, LGBTQ+ Forced Migrants, and People Helping Them
Helpful Resources Max Niedzwiecki, Ph.D. Rainbow Initiative, Episcopal Migration Ministries Special thanks to: Janet Day-Strehlow, European Institute of Christian Studies The Rev. Canon Alison Grey, Convocation of Episcopal Churches in Europe Anita H. Fábos, Ph.D., [...]
A Michigan Episcopalian Takes a Stance Against Dehumanizing Rhetoric
EMM recently heard from Rob Burgess, an Episcopalian who lives in Lincoln Township, south of Benton Harbor, Michigan. Now retired, Rob remains active as a volunteer with many local organizations, including Southwest Michigan Interfaith Action, [...]
EMM Affiliate Staff Spotlight
Here's another installment in our series spotlighting the dedicated affiliate staff who tirelessly work behind the scenes to support our mission to welcome. Staff are nominated by colleagues who wish to recognize their hard work [...]
IRIS-LA on the front lines of welcome and advocacy
Every organization involved in refugee resettlement undertakes its work with an eye to local conditions. For Interfaith Refugee and Immigration Services of Los Angeles (IRIS), one of EMM’s affiliates, that means confronting the challenges and [...]
RISA-NOLA: Portrait of a Rainbow Initiative Congregation, Part 5
This is the final installment in a series about RISA-NOLA, a Rainbow Initiative Community (RIC) associated with St. Anna’s Episcopal Church in New Orleans. Like other groups formed under the aegis of EMM’s Rainbow Initiative, RISA-NOLA emerged [...]
RISA-NOLA: Portrait of a Rainbow Initiative Congregation, Part 4
This is the fourth installment in a series about RISA-NOLA, a Rainbow Initiative Community (RIC) associated with St. Anna’s Episcopal Church in New Orleans. Like other groups formed under the aegis of EMM’s Rainbow Initiative, RISA-NOLA emerged [...]
RISA-NOLA: Portrait of a Rainbow Initiative Congregation, Part 3
This is the third installment in a series about RISA-NOLA, a Rainbow Initiative Community (RIC) associated with St. Anna’s Episcopal Church in New Orleans. Like other groups formed under the aegis of EMM’s Rainbow [...]
RISA-NOLA: Portrait of a Rainbow Initiative Congregation, Part 2
This is the second installment in a series about RISA-NOLA, a Rainbow Initiative Community (RIC) associated with St. Anna’s Episcopal Church in New Orleans. Like other groups formed under the aegis of EMM’s Rainbow [...]
Standing with Our Haitian Neighbors: A Call to Action and Advocacy
Statement from Sarah Shipman, Director of EMM In recent days, we have witnessed harmful rhetoric and falsehoods being spread about our Haitian neighbors in Springfield, Ohio. These words do more than misinform; they stoke fear, [...]
EMM Affiliate Staff Spotlight
Here's another installment in our series spotlighting the dedicated affiliate staff who tirelessly work behind the scenes to support our mission to welcome. Staff are nominated by colleagues who wish to recognize their hard work [...]
RISA-NOLA: Portrait of a Rainbow Initiative Congregation, Part 1
In New Orleans, Louisiana, a group of people have been providing support for LGBTQ+ asylum seekers as they build new lives for themselves. This group, known as RISA-NOLA, has been doing this work since [...]
EMM’s Proud Summer
EMM’s Rainbow Initiative is finishing its second fiery – you could say “flaming” – summer. With our partners including 29 Rainbow Initiative Congregations/Communities (RICs), we have: Elevated awareness about LGBTQ+ forced migrants through Pride and [...]
EMM Affiliate Staff Spotlight
Today, we continue a new series spotlighting the dedicated affiliate staff who tirelessly work behind the scenes to support our mission to welcome. Staff are nominated by colleagues who wish to recognize their hard work [...]
Immigration and The Episcopal Church: 2024 General Convention Recap
By Max Niedzwiecki, Consultant for EMM's Rainbow Initiative Curious about The Episcopal Church’s commitment to immigrants over the next three years? This blog post is for you! Episcopalians from every diocese gathered in June 2024 [...]
Guntersville Church of the Epiphany Donates Household Items to Global Ties>Alabama
There are many ways to participate in welcoming our new neighbors and ensuring they have the support needed. The Episcopal Church of the Epiphany in Guntersville, AL, held its annual household items collection, an effort [...]
Hometown Season 7, Episode 8: An Interview with Salemu Alimasi
In this episode, we have the pleasure of talking with Salemu Alimasi, a community organizer and advocate for refugee integration based in Houston, Texas. If his name is familiar, it may be because Salemu [...]
EMM Affiliate Staff Spotlight
We are thrilled to introduce the first installment of a new series spotlighting the dedicated affiliate staff who tirelessly work behind the scenes to support our mission to welcome. Staff are nominated by colleagues who [...]
Hometown Season 7, Episode 7: An Interview with Robert Vivar
In this episode, we speak with Robert Vivar, Migration Missioner for the Episcopal Diocese of San Diego since January 2023. Having lived on both sides of the U.S./Mexico border, Robert understands the factors driving [...]
Hometown Season 7, Episode 6: An Interview with members of St. John’s Episcopal Church, Ocean Springs, Mississippi
Members of St. John’s Episcopal Church in Ocean Springs, Mississippi felt called to welcome refugees to the community they know and love. On this episode of the Hometown podcast, we talk with three members [...]
EMM at work: Casey VanHattum on Preferred Communities programs
Continuing our “EMM at Work” series, we turn now to Casey VanHattum, Senior Program Officer for Preferred Communities (PC) programs. Casey has worked in refugee resettlement for four years and with EMM since November 2022. [...]
EMM at work: Candace Linn on Preferred Communities programs
Welcome back to “EMM at Work,” our series of short videos featuring members of the EMM headquarters staff. Next up, we are pleased to introduce two colleagues who work together to oversee the Preferred Communities [...]
An update on asylum in the U.S.
In May and June 2024, important changes to the process of seeking asylum in the U.S. were made. Here, we offer an expandable blog: comprised of some background information, an update on recent developments, and [...]
This June, Stand in Solidarity with LGBTQ+ People Seeking Safety
Pride Month is in full swing. World Refugee Day and The Episcopal Church’s General Convention are just around the corner. In this blog post, we discuss how EMM and its Rainbow Initiative partners are leveraging [...]
Hometown Season 7, Episode 5: An Interview with Karimullah Kamwar
This episode features a conversation with Karimullah Kamwar, who goes by “Karim.” He is an Afghan national who now lives and works in Syracuse, New York. Due to the work he had done for [...]
Hometown Season 7, Bonus Episode: A Closer Look: LGBTQIA2S+ Migration
Join us for a bonus Hometown episode featuring the recording of the April 26 first installment of the "A Closer Look" Immigration Series. This session featured LGBTQIA2S+ migration expert Craig Mortley, MSc, who [...]
EMM at work: Sila Boz on employment services through the Matching Grant program
Meet Sila Boz, Senior Program Officer for the Matching Grant program at EMM. Sila has worked in refugee resettlement since 2014, and for the past several years, has focused on employment support services for newcomers. [...]
Hometown Season 7, Episode 4: An Interview with Mariti Zirarusha
Meet Mariti Zirarusha, a high school student who now lives in Tucson, Arizona. This congenial young man also goes by “Martin,” a name that is easier for English speakers to say and remember. Mariti [...]
EMM at work: Sarah Neiheiser on family reunification
Ensuring the well-being of our family is paramount for many of us. Can you imagine what you would do to reunify members of your family if you were separated through the vagaries and violence of [...]
Hometown Season 7, Episode 3: An Interview with Nasratullah Khalil
Today’s episode features a conversation with Nasratullah Khalil. Khalil, as he prefers to be called, now lives and works in Syracuse, New York, but grew up in Afghanistan. In August 2021, Khalil and his [...]
From “invasion” to invitation: let’s use words of welcome
A contagion of “invasion” rhetoric is poisoning the atmosphere, as Republicans increasingly use this and similar words to stir up fears about immigration and the future of the U.S. As Jazmine Ulloa of the New [...]
EMM’s Sila Boz Attends Tent Partnership’s Second U.S. Business Summit
Representing EMM, Sila Boz -- Senior Program Officer for Matching Grant -- recently attended the Second U.S. Business Summit organized by Tent Partnership for Refugees. (Sila is pictured above, in red, between Tent founder Hamdi [...]
Hometown Season 7, Episode 2: An Interview with Professor Rebecca Hamlin
Today’s episode features Rebecca Hamlin, a professor of political science and legal studies at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst. Professor Hamlin’s research and teaching interests are centered on law and immigration. She has a special [...]
Hometown Season 7, Episode 1: An interview with Mohammad Jawad
Today’s episode features a conversation with Mohammad Jawad, who with his wife and children were resettled in Syracuse, New York as refugees from Syria. Mohammad shares memories of his youth in Syria prior to [...]
The Rainbow Initiative: A Toolkit for Congregations
Dear friends, In the summer of 2022, The Episcopal Church passed General Convention Resolution D045: “On Supporting LGBTIQ+ Refugees and Asylum Seekers.” The resolution called on the Church to focus attention on “persons forced to [...]
A Message from EMM’s Director, Sarah Shipman
How much do you know about Episcopal Migration Ministries? Are you familiar with its history or what it does in the world today? As global migration continues to expand, in response to wars, violence, political [...]
Partners in learning: the Refugee School Impact program in New Bern (Part 7)
Interfaith Refugee Ministry cultivates partnerships not only with community sponsors, but also with other service providers, such as public schools and adult education programs. In this final segment of our spotlight on organizations involved in [...]
Lessons learned from community sponsorship in New Bern (Part 6)
This is Part 6 of a series of posts about community sponsorship as practiced by one of EMM’s affiliates, Interfaith Refugee Ministry, in New Bern, NC. Read Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4 and Part [...]
Partnership in action: the role of community sponsors in New Bern (Part 5)
This is Part 5 of a series of posts about community sponsorship as practiced by one of EMM’s affiliates, Interfaith Refugee Ministry, in New Bern, NC. Read Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, and Part 4. The [...]
A new chapter in co-sponsorship: the First Presbyterian Church of New Bern (Part 4)
This is Part 4 of a series of posts about community sponsorship as practiced by one of EMM’s affiliates, Interfaith Refugee Ministry, in New Bern, NC. Read Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3. Many community [...]
Join EMM and Show Your Support for LGBTQ+ Forced Migrants in 2024
Persecution against LGBTQ+ people continues unabated throughout the world, causing multitudes to flee their homelands in search of safety. The Episcopal Church is responding, and inviting congregations and other partners to join this effort through [...]
Working with co-sponsors in New Bern (Part 3)
This is Part 3 of a series of posts about community sponsorship as practiced by one of EMM’s affiliates, Interfaith Refugee Ministry, in New Bern, NC. Read Part 1 and Part 2. Resettlement agencies want [...]
Wrangling with challenges in New Bern (Part 2)
This is Part 2 of a series of posts about community sponsorship as practiced by one of EMM’s affiliates. Read Part 1. Interfaith Refugee Ministry (IRM) has been resettling refugees in eastern North Carolina for [...]
Essential partnerships: resettling refugees in New Bern, NC (Part 1)
In our previous post in the “Voices of Welcome” series, we explained the principles of “community sponsorship.” To better understand how community sponsorships work, we need to consider the perspective of both professional staff and [...]
Voices of Welcome: Community Sponsorship 101
Our "Stories of Welcome" series began with an exploration of Remote Placement Community Partners (RPCPs). We continue with an "explainer" on community sponsorship. The most common way for people to engage in the work of [...]
The Faces of My Brothers: The Artwork of José Luis Arias
Art and poetry stop us in our tracks. They make us look again, listen more closely, and reconsider what we think we know. José Luis Arias paints portraits of migrants and murals of migration, aiming [...]
Migrant children living and working in our midst
In recent years, record numbers of children from other countries traveling without parents or guardians have entered the U.S. – legally -- as unaccompanied minors. Typically arriving at ports of entry at the U.S./Mexico [...]
Episcopal Migration Ministries and LGBTQ+ Forced Migrants: Giving Thanks for 2023
Millions of people around the world suffer from persecution simply because of who they love or who they are, and hundreds of thousands flee from their home countries in search of safety every year. In [...]
Global Refugee Forum 2023
The 2023 Global Refugee Forum, a meeting of states and stakeholders from around the world to act in support of forcibly displaced people, is taking place December 13-15 in Geneva, Switzerland. Following the initial [...]
Refugee Voices: What does welcome look like?
Welcome! The word trips off our tongue, perhaps even in multiple languages. But when those of us who feel at home in the U.S. welcome newcomers, what exactly are or should we be doing? [...]
Affiliate spotlight: Tucson LSS-SW’s Refugee Youth Mentorship Program Broadens Horizons
Lutheran Social Services of the Southwest (LSS-SW), EMM’s affiliate in Tucson, Arizona, runs an innovative program for refugee-status youth, ages 15 to 24. The Refugee Youth Mentorship Program (RYMP) serves youth who have been [...]
Refugee Voices: An invitation to listen and learn
In August, we began a new blog series, “Refugee Voices,” through which we aim to uplift the unique perspectives and strengths of people who have experienced forced displacement and resettlement to a third country. [...]
The Great EpisGopal Race
The United Thank Offering and Episcopal Migration Ministries are teaming up to bring you the 4th Annual Great EpisGOpal Race! Grab your sneakers, skates, or fins and join together in gratitude to race your way Nov. 20-28. [...]
Voices of Welcome: Murray Ecumenical Partners, Part 4
This is the conclusion of a four-part series. Read Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3. Stepping up to serve as a Remote Placement Community Partner (RPCP) required time, talent, teamwork, and some start-up funds, to [...]
Voices of Welcome: Murray Ecumenical Partners, Part 3
This is Part 3 in a four-part series. Read Part 1 and Part 2. Murray Ecumenical Partners began their work as an RPCP with a desire to help, but only a basic understanding of all [...]
Voices of Welcome: Murray Ecumenical Partners, Part 2
This is Part 2 in a four-part series. Read Part 1 here. In 2023, Murray Ecumenical Partners became EMM’s first RPCP, or Remote Placement Community Partner, working with EMM to welcome a Colombian refugee family [...]
Voices of Welcome: Murray Ecumenical Partners, EMM’s first Remote Placement Community Partner
This is Part 1 in a four-part series. Read the introduction to the series. In recent years, opportunities for community groups to engage in refugee welcome -- including groups in more rural areas -- [...]
Voices of Welcome: Serving as a Remote Placement Community Partner (RPCP)
Our series on community sponsorship begins with an exploration of a relatively new form of engagement: Remote Placement Community Partners (RPCPs). RPCPs take responsibility for ensuring that one or more refugees (often admitted as a [...]
Episcopal Migration Ministries Commends FY24 Presidential Determination
Episcopal Migration Ministries commends the Biden Administration’s Presidential Determination of 125,000 refugee admissions in FY24, maintaining the PD of the last two years. This decision reflects our country’s ongoing commitment to providing refuge and a [...]
Introducing Voices of Welcome, a new series about sponsoring refugees
There are many ways for people across the U.S. to take part in the work of welcoming refugees and others forced by persecution, war, or violence to flee their homes. “Sponsorship” is an umbrella term [...]
Nicaraguans welcomed by Episcopalians in Portland, Oregon
Many congregations choose to take part in the work of welcoming newcomers to their communities, including people who enter the U.S. as refugees, SIV holders, humanitarian parolees, and asylum seekers. Here is the story of [...]
Refugee Voices: Yalda Royan advocates for action to end legal limbo for Afghan evacuees
Yalda Royan, an Afghan woman, fled Afghanistan with her daughters in August 2021. A long-time human and women’s rights advocate and a member of the Hazara ethnic minority, she knew that with the U.S. withdrawal [...]
IRIS welcomes newcomers in multiple languages
In how many different languages can you say “hello” or “welcome?” At Interfaith Refugee and Immigration Services of Los Angeles (IRIS), staff make a point of welcoming newcomers with familiar words, using one of more [...]
Salemu’s story, Part 3: Adulthood and resettlement in Houston, Texas
This is Part 3 of Salemu's story. Read Part 1 and Part 2. After years of living with relentless adversity and dire threats to their safety, the Alimasi family – a multigenerational group of 17 [...]
Salemu’s story, Part 2: Young adulthood in Nakivale Refugee Camp, Uganda
This is Part 2 of a three-part narrative. Read Part 1 here. At 8 years old, Salemu Alimasi had already spent 18 months in a refugee camp far from his home in the Democratic Republic [...]
Two years on, Afghan allies and refugees face uncertainties
August 2023 marks two years since the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan. What has happened in this time to Afghans who fled or sought to flee their country, to escape persecution from the Taliban? What has [...]
Salemu’s story, Part 1: Child of Lake Tanganyika
This is Part 1 of a story told in three segments, and part of EMM’s “Refugee Voices” series. Salemu Alimasi began his life in the early 1990s in Uvira, a town nestled in a verdant [...]
EMM launches new blog series “Refugee Voices”
On World Refugee Day in June 2023, we read a thought-provoking piece by Eric Reidy at The New Humanitarian titled “What does World Refugee Day mean to refugees?” Reidy’s article recaps a conversation with several [...]
Community support for migrants in need
Despite the polarization in the U.S. around immigration, there are many people, organizations, and communities who are responding to newcomers’ needs with kindness, generosity, and hospitality. For some, caring for “the stranger” is part [...]
Justice for Separated Families
In 2018, people across the U.S. came out in protest of family separations, forcing the Trump administration to end this cruel policy. By July 2018, the federal government was supposed to have reunited all separated [...]
EMM Rainbow Initiative Partners Shine a Spotlight on LGBTQ+ Forced Migrants during Pride Month
This June, EMM worked with 21 congregations and other partners throughout the U.S. and Europe to shine a spotlight on people who have been forced to flee their country of origin because of homophobia and [...]
Fearless love
Recognition of the unique vulnerabilities of LGBTQIA+ refugees and asylum seekers is growing, thanks to organizations who, like EMM through our Rainbow Initiative, have chosen to uplift this population during this year’s Pride Month and [...]
A message from EMM Director Sarah Shipman on World Refugee Day
June 20, 2023 As we celebrate Pride Month and World Refugee Day - my first as the Director of Episcopal Migration Ministries - I find myself filled with gratitude. These past few months, I've had [...]
Celebrate Juneteenth!
On June 19, we mark Juneteenth, which commemorates the date in 1865 when federal troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, to ensure that all enslaved people in the state were freed. While Juneteenth celebrations began in [...]
Presiding Bishop Michael Curry’s World Refugee Day sermon
We are honored to share these words from our Presiding Bishop, The Most Rev. Michael B. Curry, on the occasion of Pride Month and World Refugee Day (June 20). This was originally published by The [...]
Rainbow Initiative Events
We are thrilled to announce several events being hosted by our Rainbow Initiative Communities. Find a Rainbow Initiative event. Learn more about the Rainbow Initiative. ------------- Episcopal Migration Ministries is a ministry of The Episcopal [...]
What is the Rainbow Initiative?
Every year on June 20, we celebrate the strength, resilience, and stories of refugees on World Refugee Day. This year, our marking of this important event will be even more special as we also join [...]
Driving while Black, male and non-native in the U.S.
In the U.S., many White people take for granted the ability to drive and to get where they want to go without incident. But for drivers who are Black, male and non-native, driving in the [...]
Give Me Your Hand: Refugee Resettlement in Syracuse
If you’re new to the world of refugee resettlement, you may wonder what it entails. If you’re already involved, you know there’s always more to learn. In this spirit, we share a recent update from Syracuse, [...]
Post-Title 42 Update, Advocacy, and Resources
From the Office of Government Relations and Episcopal Migration Ministries On May 11, 2023, the public health order implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic known as Title 42 ended. For three years, this order ran [...]
Reuniting Central American Families
Families belong together. Yet displaced people, in their search for safety, are often forced to separate from their loved ones. Many organizations serving refugees and other displaced people work to reunite families. To illustrate what [...]
Episcopal Migration Ministries Announces Rainbow Initiative Congregations and Communities
Twenty-one congregations and communities around the United States and in Europe have joined Episcopal Migration Ministries (EMM) to focus attention on LGBTQ+ people who have fled their homelands in search of safety. While the list [...]
Asylum and refuge 101: what to know and what to do
What exactly is asylum? How is an asylum seeker different from a refugee or others forced to flee their homes? If someone wants asylum in the U.S., what do they have to do? If [...]
Affiliate spotlight: IMGH’s Afghan Family Festival
Like their counterparts around the country, the Refugee Services team at Interfaith Ministries for Greater Houston (IMGH) devotes much time to helping their clients get settled. The practical matters of housing, employment authorization, medical [...]
Affiliate Spotlight: Cultivating Relationships with Employers: A Win-Win Strategy
Finding suitable employment is a pressing concern for newcomers to the U.S. Given their desire to achieve self-sufficiency and the fact that federal assistance is only available for a limited time, resettlement staff are [...]
A Year of Welcome: Episcopal Migration Ministries
Monday, February 27, 3-4PM EST Register here. Each new year brings new possibilities and opportunities. It also brings its shares of challenges. One of the challenges facing our nation today is settling refugees and welcoming [...]
The Rainbow Initiative
Episcopal Migration Ministries (EMM) is excited to announce The Rainbow Initiative, a 2023 project focused on working with Episcopal congregations to bring visibility and aid to LGBTQ+ forced migrants. Participation is also encouraged in an [...]
January 2023 Anglican Commentary: Martin Dickinson
*This is a repost of a reflection from Martin Dickinson on Virginia Theological Seminary's Anglican Commentary. Martin Dickinson (right) Rev. David Chavez (left) and Sister Angelica Bacias Mejia (center) at La Casa de Misericordia, [...]
Episcopal Migration Ministries’ 2023 calendar to feature Kelly Latimore icons
Episcopal Migration Ministries is teaming up with renowned iconographer Kelly Latimore to create an inaugural monthly calendar featuring depictions of refugees, asylum seekers, and displaced persons. The 2023 calendar includes a newly commissioned triptych for [...]
Detention Visitation Ministry and Accompaniment of Asylum Seekers in Detention
There are many ways to engage in detention visitation ministry through direct and indirect means. The first step is identifying if an immigration detention center is located nearby. Freedom for Immigrants maintains a national map [...]
“The Lord Is Your Strength”: Accompanying Ben through Detention and Release: A Case Study
The following is the story of The Rev. Leeann Culbreath, a priest in the Diocese of Georgia, and her friendship with Ben, an asylum seeker. This story serves to demonstrate the importance and power of [...]
Blessings & Lessons: Rev. Chris McNabb on the Joy and Journey of the Neighbor to Neighbor Program
EMMRefugees · Blessings & Lessons: Rev. Chris McNabb on the Joy and Journey of the Neighbor to Neighbor Program On this episode, we speak with Rev. Chris McNabb, the Program Officer for Recruitment & [...]
Love God Love Neighbor: Advocacy in Action
Love God, Love Neighbor: Advocacy in Action is a virtual advocacy training and day of action on Sept. 21, 2022, beginning at 12PM Eastern, offered by The Episcopal Church’s Office of Government Relations (OGR) and [...]
Leaving Home: Immigration Through the Eyes of Children
Episcopal Migration Ministries is proud to announce a new immersive retreat experience offered by members of the EMM Asylum & Detention Ministry Network. Leaving Home: Immigration Through the Eyes of Children, a retreat hosted October [...]
Reflections on the Journey of Community Sponsorship with St. John’s Norwood in Bethesda, M.D.
EMMRefugees · Reflections on the Journey of Community Sponsorship with St. John's Norwood in Bethesda, MD. On this episode of HomeTown, we speak with members of Neighbor to Neighbor's own St. John's Norwood Sponsor [...]
Welcoming our Neighbor with Gratitude
Welcoming our Neighbor with Gratitude United Thank Offering and Episcopal Migration Ministries hosted a webinar on August 30 - “Welcoming our Neighbor with Gratitude.” This one-hour webinar explored EMM’s Neighbor to Neighbor program, the relationship [...]
Episcopal Migration Ministries joins forces with the Tent Partnership for Refugees to help business integrate refugees in their new communities
Today, Episcopal Migration Ministries (EMM) is joining forces with the Tent Partnership for Refugees (Tent) - a global network of over 140 major companies committed to integrating refugees in their host communities - by becoming [...]
Episcopal Migration Ministries welcomes new director
Episcopal Migration Ministries (EMM) is pleased to announce the hire of Sarah Shipman as its new director, beginning Aug. 1. Shipman—who served most recently as deputy attorney general for Kansas—will oversee EMM’s operations as an [...]
EMM 2021 Annual Report
In 2021, EMM celebrated the resettlement of 100,000 individuals since the ministry’s inception as a resettlement organization in the 1980s. We could not have done this without the support, generosity, dedication, and spiritual gifts [...]
Better Together: Three Episcopal Churches Circle Up in Tri-Parish Sponsor Circle
From the communities of All Souls Episcopal Church in Washington D.C., St. John's Episcopal Church, Lafayette Square, and St. Mary's Episcopal Church in Arlington, VA: "As the Afghan refugee crisis escalated in August 2021, three [...]
Meghan Taylor leaves IRIS ‘family’ for new adventures, ministries
by Pat McCaughan | Apr 27, 2022 [The Episcopal News] Leaving IRIS after a dozen years as executive director is, for Meghan Taylor, saying goodbye to family. Leading the diocesan Interfaith Refugee and Immigration Service [...]
Collecting Smiles: Anonymous Donor Seeks to Bring Smiles to Our Afghan Child Neighbors
Anonymous Donor Seeks to Bring Smiles—Requests Invited Recently, an individual reached out to The Episcopal Church’s Office of Development with a question. While they were watching the horror unfold on TV in Afghanistan, [...]
The French Connection: Grace, Ocala, Aids Italian Church in Ministry to Ukrainian Refugees in Tri-Parish Sponsor Circle
UPDATE: Since the publication of this article, Grace, Ocala, has raised close to $30,000 for Ukrainian refugees. The unthinkable is happening in Ukraine, and we watch it every day. Apartment buildings, hospitals and [...]
Sponsorship 101: Pathways to Welcome – Part 2
This post is part 2 of the "Sponsorship 101: Pathways to Welcome" series. Private Sponsorship: An exciting window of opportunity Dana Martin, member of St. Mary's Episcopal Church in Arlington and part of Neighbor to [...]
Hometown Season 6 Episode 6 – Better Together: Three Episcopal Churches Circle Up in Tri-Parish Sponsor Circle
EMMRefugees · Better Together: Three Episcopal Churches Circle Up in Tri-Parish Sponsor Circle In this episode of HomeTown, we speak with members of Neighbor to Neighbor's own Tri-Parish Sponsor Circle team. This Sponsor Circle [...]
Sponsorship 101: Pathways to Welcome – Part 1
Why do we need sponsorship? In our latest podcast episode, "Season 6, Episode 5 - Sponsorship 101: Pathways of Welcome", Allison Duvall, Senior Manager for Church Relations & Engagement for Episcopal Migration Ministries, cements in the fact [...]
Sponsor Circles Representing EMM & The Episcopal Church Lead the Way in Welcoming Our Newest Neighbors
Read The New Yorker story featuring interviews with Episcopal Migration Ministries’ Sponsor Circles discussing their experience with community sponsorship! To start the discernment process to see how you are called to this work, visit: [...]
Hometown Season 6 Episode 5 – Sponsorship 101: Pathways to Welcome
EMMRefugees · Sponsorship 101: Pathways to Welcome On this episode of HomeTown, we are joined by some of our very own Episcopal Migration Ministries team members, Allison Duvall and Zoë Bayer, who will help [...]
Hometown Season 6 Episode 4 – Empowering Refugee Women Through Art
EMMRefugees · Empowering Refugee Women Through Art In this episode recorded on International Women's Day, we spoke with some special guests from Interfaith Ministries for Greater Houston about their Women Refugee Art Program (WRAP), [...]
Affiliate Spotlight: “Driving in Style” – ANA Boise Car Donations Empower Families to Access Opportunities in Treasure Valley
We're casting the spotlight on our Idaho affiliate, Agency for New Americans (ANA), a refugee resettlement agency that utilizes a "holistic approach to assisting its refugee clients to get on the path to self-sufficiency and [...]
Hometown Season 6 Episode 3 – Partners in Sponsorship: Local Churches Link Up for Community Sponsorship
EMMRefugees · Partners in Sponsorship: Local Churches Link Up for Community Sponsorship Today's episode features a conversation with several members of the St. Matthew's & St. Andrews Pentecost Partnership Committee, a joint effort between [...]
The Crisis in Ukraine
“ We pray for peace. … We pray for a just peace. We pray that the lives of innocents and the lives of any human child of God will be spared. We pray that our [...]
Affiliate Spotlight: InterfaithWorks + Syracuse University Coat Drive
We're casting the spotlight on one of our affiliates, InterFaith Works of Central NY (IFWNY), who worked in partnership with Syracuse University (SU) to collect and distribute warm outerwear to 700 people throughout the city. [...]
Hometown Season 6 Episode 2 – Sponsoring Welcome: A Conversation About Neighbor to Neighbor & Community Sponsorship with Fr. Chris McNabb
EMMRefugees · Sponsoring Welcome: A Conversation About Neighbor to Neighbor & Community Sponsorship Today's episode features a conversation with Fr. Chris McNabb, the Program Manager of EMM's new Neighbor to Neighbor program initiative, to discuss [...]
Virtual Borderlands Experience
The Lenten Virtual Borderlands Experience (VBE) series is designed to expose participants to the border crossing experiences of immigrants, including their perilous journey towards the border, their interaction with detention centers, and the work of churches [...]
Hometown Season 6 Episode 1 – Welcoming Afghans: EMM’s Neighbor to Neighbor Program
EMMRefugees · Welcoming Afghans: EMM's Neighbor to Neighbor Program Today's episode features a recording from the Thursday, Jan. 20th webinar hosted by EMM called: "Welcoming Afghans: EMM's Neighbor to Neighbor Program", where we join [...]
Hometown Season 6 Trailer
EMMRefugees · Season 6 Trailer Join us this spring and summer for Season 6 of HomeTown, where we zoom in on EMM's newest ministry of welcome program, called Neighbor to Neighbor. We'll hear the [...]
Welcoming Afghans Webinar: EMM’s Neighbor to Neighbor Program
Episcopal Migration Ministries hosted a webinar on Thursday, Jan. 20, from 2-3 p.m. ET for those interested in learning more about how to provide support and welcome to Afghan individuals through a new sponsorship initiative. [...]
Hyatt Hotels: Supporting Afghan Refugees
As we welcome and resettle refugees, our goal is always for individuals to obtain security, self-sufficiency, and a solid foundation to begin a new life here in the U.S. In addition to receiving welcome from [...]
EMM Virtual Advent: Christmas Day 2021
DAY 27 of Advent - December 25, 2021 Advent Word: CHILD Reflection by The Rev. Canon C. K. Robertson In 1872, Christina Rossetti published a beautiful poem later put to music by composer Gustav Holst. The [...]
EMM Celebrates Resettling 100,000 Individuals!
This week, EMM celebrates resettling 100,000 individuals since our inception as a resettlement organization in the 1980s. We could not have done this without the support, generosity, dedication, and spiritual gifts of our partners and [...]
#PartnerSpotlight: Bridge Refugee Services – “She’s always there for me.”
Editor's Note: This post is shared with permission from Bridge Refugee Services. To learn more about Bridge Refugee Services and the critical services they are providing in Tennessee you can [...]
From Newcomers to Neighbors: Messaging and Best Practices for Building Welcoming Communities for Afghan Arrivals
As communities across the United States are beginning to receive Afghan allies, communities and their local elected officials and faith leaders face the challenge of building community support for welcoming these newcomers. This challenge is [...]
#NeighborsWelcome: Distant Neighbors are still Neighbors
Editor's Note: This blog post was written by Michael Fitzpatrick, originally featured on Journey With Jesus: A Weekly Webzine for the Global Church Since 2004 , posted originally on October [...]
#NeighborsWelcome: Funding a Warm Welcome with the Afghan Allies Fund
If you have ever found yourself feeling nervous or unsure in a new or unfamiliar place, you probably can connect with that sense of relief when someone gives you a [...]
#NeighborsWelcome: Action & Update Series – Your Voice Makes a Difference!
As Christians, we know that we are called to welcome the stranger and care for the immigrant, and work to build communities of care and kinship. For EMM, this is the guiding light of [...]
EMM Statement Commending Passage of the Continuing Resolution
Episcopal Migration Ministries (EMM) commends the passage of a FY22 Continuing Resolution (CR) and resettlement benefits for Afghans. This legislation includes $1.68 billion for Afghans arriving with humanitarian parole, $2.5 billion for unaccompanied children, an [...]
Neighbors Welcome: Updates & Action
Join Episcopal Migration Ministries and The Episcopal Church's Office of Government Relations (OGR) on September 27 at 12pm ET for an update on Afghan evacuations, arrivals, and ways you can take action to welcome your [...]
Neighbors Welcome: Episcopal Migration Ministries Responds to Afghanistan
August 27 at 1PM ET Join Episcopal Migration Ministries and The Episcopal Church's Office of Government Relations for a 45 minute conversation about The Episcopal Church's response to the Afghanistan evacuations and how we can [...]
A Light in the Darkness
This story is the second part of a two-part series from Interfaith Ministries for Greater Houston, one of EMM’s 12 affiliate partners. Read part one here. Below is an interview with Tehmina, Volunteer & Community [...]
A Single Mom Gets a New Chance
This story is a two-part series from Interfaith Ministries for Greater Houston, one of EMM's 12 affiliate partners Rawaa, a 42-year-old single mother of two teenagers and a refugee from Iraq, resettled in Houston in [...]
The Work of Your Church: An Evening in Support of Episcopal Migration Ministries
A special webinar highlighting the vital refugee work of Episcopal Migration Ministries featuring artist and iconographer Kelly Latimore in conversation with Presiding Bishop Michael Curry. “The Work of Your Church: An Evening in Support of [...]
Repairing the Breach: Building Beloved Community Through Welcome
EMMRefugees · Repairing the Breach: Building Beloved Community Through Welcome Today's episode features a recording from the June 10 panel discussion hosted by EMM. The discussion highlighted the work to rebuild the refugee resettlement [...]
Blessed By Giving
Members of Emmanuel Episcopal Church in Middleburg, Virginia, found a way to contribute to the ministry of Episcopal Migration Ministries by recognizing the individual blessings in their lives. During the season of Lent and Easter, [...]
Welcoming our Newest Neighbors: How Americans and the Episcopal Church Integrate Refugees into Their Communities
EMMRefugees · Welcoming our Newest Neighbors Today's episode features a recording of the June 1 webinar hosted by Episcopal Migration Ministries and The Episcopal Church's Office of Government Relations - Welcoming our Newest Neighbors: [...]
Repairing the Breach: Building Beloved Community Through Welcome
EMM hosted a panel discussion on Thursday, June 10 highlighting the work to rebuild the refugee resettlement program, perspectives from different faith traditions and practitioners, and the role of community support in providing welcome and [...]
Reflecting on The Geneva Convention: The State of Global Refugee Trends and Refugee Policy Today
EMMRefugees · Reflecting on The Geneva Convention: The State of Global Refugee Trends and Refugee Policy Today Today's episode features the recording of Reflecting on The Geneva Convention: The State of Global Refugee Trends [...]
“El Chiqui”
*** Update to the original story: After spending over a year and a half in ICE Immigration Detention, “El Chiqui” was removed (deported) back to Cuba in January 2021. My friend “El Chiqui” by Bill [...]
Welcoming our Newest Neighbors: How Americans and the Episcopal Church Integrate Refugees into Their Communities
2021 marks the 41st anniversary of the 1980 Refugee Act, landmark legislation that provided humanitarian protection to displaced populations fleeing persecution. The Refugee Act established the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program, that now partners with nine [...]
Reflecting on The Geneva Convention: The State of Global Refugee Trends and Refugee Policy Today
As the 70th anniversary of the 1951 Geneva Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees and the 60th anniversary of the 1961 Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness draws near, the world continues to experience [...]
April 4: Easter
Isaiah 58:9 “You shall cry for help, and God will say, “Here I am.” Reflection by The Most Rev. Michael B. Curry, Presiding Bishop and Primate, The Episcopal Church Throughout this Lenten season, we [...]
April 1
Isaiah 58:12 you shall be called the repairer of the breach Reflection by The Rev. Will Wauters Having failed twice at being a knight in wars, the young Francis of Assisi was at a desperate [...]
April 1: Young Francis of Assisi
Isaiah 58:12 you shall be called the repairer of the breach Reflection by The Rev. Will Wauters Having failed twice at being a knight in wars, the young Francis of Assisi was at a desperate [...]
Is the Biden Administration Turning a Page on Humanitarian Protection for Immigrants? | April 2021
Is the Biden Administration Turning a Page on Humanitarian Protection for Immigrants? Watch the recording here. Join Episcopal Migration Ministries and The Episcopal Church's Office of Government Relations for a webinar on Thursday, April 8, [...]
March 15 “If you offer your food to the hungry”
Isaiah 58:10 if you offer your food to the hungry... Reflections by Rev. Diana Linden-Johnson Before the pandemic, members of Peace Lutheran Church would gather on one night during the month of Ramadan with men, [...]
March 3: Healing Humanity
Isaiah 58:8 your healing shall spring up quickly... Healing Humanity by Natalie Patterson, used with permission Life is complex You should know that upfront. There will be tears and hurt and joy and pain So [...]
February 28
Isaiah 58:8 Then your light shall break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up quickly;your vindicator shall go before you, the glory of the Lord shall be your rearguard. Reflections this week are by [...]
February 27
Isaiah 58:7 Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover them, and not to hide yourself from your own kin? [...]
February 26
Isaiah 58:7 and not to hide yourself from your own kin?... Reflection by The Rev. Miriam Saxon The 58th chapter of Isaiah teaches us what God requires of us, of all of humanity and all [...]
February 25
Isaiah 58:7 when you see the naked, to cover them... Reflection by The Rev. Michelle Boomgaard My seminary was really a series of buildings, connected by long halls, with the chapel right in the middle [...]
February 24
Isaiah 58:7 and bring the homeless poor into your house... Reflection by Lynn Clarke I’ll never forget the unbridled joy on the faces of the children as they raced into their new apartment. Their arms [...]
February 23
Isaiah 58:7 with the hungry... Reflection by Bishop Sandra Steiner Ball The difference between false and true worship and the purpose of fasting is the context for the question posed in Isaiah 58:7. The question [...]
Lenten Devotion | February 23, 2021
Isaiah 58:7 with the hungry... Reflection By Bishop Sandra Steiner Ball The difference between false and true worship and the purpose of fasting is the context for the question posed in Isaiah 58:7. The question [...]
February 22
Isaiah 58:7 to share your bread... Reflection by The Rt. Rev. W. Michie Klusmeyer Previously, in the Chapter of Isaiah, the prophet recognizes what the ‘faithful’ are doing, and he calls them on it. During [...]
Lenten Devotion | February 22, 2021
Isaiah 58:7 to share your bread... Reflection By The Rt. Rev. W. Michie Klusmeyer, Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of West Virginia. Previously, in the Chapter of Isaiah, the prophet recognizes what the ‘faithful’ are [...]
February 21
Isaiah 58:7 Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover them, and not to hide yourself from your own kin? [...]
February 20
Isaiah 58:6 Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of injustice, to undo the thongs of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? Reflection [...]
February 19
Isaiah 58:6 Is not this the fast that I choose... to break every yoke? Reflection by Connor Travis When we fast - or perhaps more simply, when we pray - do we position ourselves to [...]
February 18
Isaiah 58:6 Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of injustice... "Leopard and its Cub," Reflection by Chol Majok The Dinka Tribe has a saying: “a leopard's cub is a [...]
Ash Wednesday
Isaiah 58:6 Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of injustice, to undo the thongs of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? Reflection [...]
Our Journey through Lent
Isaiah 58:6-12 Is not this the fast that I choose...? A Welcome Reflection by Allison Duvall Dear friends, Thank you for your interest in being part of Episcopal Migration Ministries’ journey through the Lenten [...]
EMM Statement on Executive Order – February 5, 2021
Episcopal Migration Ministries welcomes the administration’s commitment to restore the historic U.S. refugee resettlement program, allowing for a refugee admissions ceiling of 125,000 in the first full fiscal year of the Biden administration. Yesterday’s actions [...]
EMM Statement on Executive Orders – February 3, 2021
Episcopal Migration Ministries commends the administration’s executive orders to restore the U.S. asylum system, reunify families, address root causes of forced migration, and promote integration of New Americans. “At this critical point in time, when [...]
A Statement from Episcopal Migration Ministries – January 20, 2021
Episcopal Migration Ministries, the refugee resettlement and immigration ministry of The Episcopal Church, has welcomed refugees into local congregations and communities since the 1930s. An integral part of The Episcopal Church branch of the Jesus [...]
Artisans Beyond Borders at the U.S.-Mexico Port of Entry: Supporting Family & Faith
Devotional Embroidery by Asylum-seeker Selene Maldonado Reflection by Valarie Lee James When asked what inspires her, Selene Maldonado, our on-site coordinator in Nogales states pointedly: What I am, what I have lived, and [...]
A Christmas Reflection by Presiding Bishop Michael Curry
Today’s reflection comes from Presiding Bishop Michael Curry, the 27th and current presiding bishop and primate of The Episcopal Church. Transcript of the episode. Thank you for joining us for Season 4 of the Hometown [...]
Fourth Sunday of Advent: A Reflection from Ana Reza
Fourth Sunday of Advent Reflection by Ana Reza On the fourth Sunday of Advent we get closer to the celebration of the birth of Christ. The birth is our Salvation & Truth. In a time [...]
A Reflection on Hope by Jennifer Trezza
Jennifer Trezza, a global strategist currently offering pro-bono strategy services and humanitarian aid to Cruzando Fronteras in Nogales, Mexico, offers an Advent reflection on the spirit of hope in our shared humanity. Cruzando Fronteras is [...]
COVID-19 RESOURCES
Statements and Resources from The Episcopal Church Action Alert: Tell the Senate to continue to address COVID-19 May 11, 2020: The Dangers of Detention During COVID-19 April 24, 2020: Statement on President Trump’s Recent Immigration [...]
Third Sunday of Advent: A Reflection from Thomas Diaz
Thomas Diaz (he/him) is a 5th generation Angeleno. Thomas is from the diocese of Los Angeles and his home parish is All Saints Church, Pasadena.
Second Sunday of Advent: A Reflection from The Rev. Anna Page
Second Sunday of Advent Reflection by The Rev. Anna Page “God in the Wilderness” (Mark 1:1-8) Many people of faith have equated our COVID-19 environment to being “in the wilderness” – a location characterized by [...]
Border Ministries Summit 2020 – Bishops’ Statement
The Diocese of San Diego, with co-sponsors Episcopal Migration Ministries and The Episcopal Church's Office of Global Partnerships, hosted the Third Annual Border Ministries Summit on November Nov. 20-21. Several bishops who attended the [...]
First Sunday of Advent: A Reflection from Rushad Thomas
First Sunday of Advent EMM Reflection by Rushad Thomas "And what I say to you I say to all: Keep awake." Mark 13:37 Because Advent is a season of preparation for our celebration of [...]
What Did We Do For Our Faith?
Today’s episode of Hometown features an interview with Ben, a pastor, evangelist and asylee from Nigeria. He lives in the Southeast United States and was granted asylum in 2020. We also speak with the [...]
United Thank Announces COVID-19 Grant Awards: Episcopal Migration Ministries to receive UTO Grant to respond to COVID-19
October 28, 2020 — United Thank Offering announced the grant recipients for the 2021 granting year, and we are excited to share that Episcopal Migration Ministries will receive funding for New Start Asylee Orientation Program [...]
Walking with Asylum Seekers: Ministry Opportunities for Congregations
Today’s episode features the recording of Walking with Asylum Seekers: Ministry Opportunities for Congregations, the first of a three-part virtual training series offered in partnership with The Evangelical Lutheran Church of America’s AMMPARO program and [...]
Presiding Bishop Michael Curry’s statement on Administration’s 2021 refugee admission ceiling
The Trump Administration’s report to Congress on the proposed refugee admissions for 2021 calls for a ceiling of 15,000 refugee admissions. This is the lowest ceiling in our country’s history and an abdication of our [...]
An Interview with Rio Grande Borderland Ministries (RGBM)
Hometown Season 4, Episode 2 features our interview with The Rev. Mike Wallens, co-chair of the Rio Grande Borderland Ministries (RGBM) for the Diocese of the Rio Grande, and Nellie Fagan, project coordinator for Rio [...]
An Interview with Jessica Goudeau
Today's interview is with Jessica Goudeau, author of After the Last Border: Two Families and the Story of Refuge in America. Goudeau has written for The New York Times, The Atlantic, Washington Post, Los Angeles [...]
Walking with Asylum Seekers: A Training Series for Congregations | October 2020
In the month of October, Episcopal Migration Ministries, in partnership with the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America (ELCA) and Lutheran Family Services of the Rocky Mountains (LFSRM), hosted a three-part training series for congregations interested [...]
Inspiration to Action: One Woman’s Story with Sponsorship
On May 19, 2020, after attending Episcopal Migration Ministries’ webinar “Immigrant Detention during COVID-19: Prophetic Action & Compassionate Response,” Diane felt moved and inspired to volunteer in support of asylum seekers. A faithful Episcopalian and [...]
Hometown Podcast: Season 4 Trailer
EMMRefugees · Season 4 Trailer
Welcome Home
By Betty Ann (BA) Miskowiec, Executive Director West Virginia Interfaith Refugee Ministry “Welcome Home.” Two of the most beautiful words ever. “Welcome home” means You are accepted here. You belong. You are safe. You are [...]
EMM Engagement Seminary Internship Opportunities
Episcopal Migration Ministries' Church Engagement Team is excited to announce four new internship opportunities for students at seminaries or other pastoral/theological training programs. These internships will offer advocacy and policy skills, opportunities to connect with [...]
EMM chosen for a Wiki: 5 Organizations Offering Help To Migrants And Refugees
Founded in 2011, Ezvid Wiki was the world's first video wiki, and is now among the top 3,000 websites in the United States. Episcopal Migration Ministries (EMM) has been included in Ezvid Wiki's recently published [...]
Love God, Love Neighbor: Episcopal Action on Asylum
Today's episode is a webinar recording of Love God, Love Neighbor: Episcopal Action on Asylum, an overview of asylum in the United States, information about the new rule proposed, a panel conversation with our guests, [...]
Love God, Love Neighbor: Episcopal Action on Resettlement
Today’s episode is a recording from the June 16 webinar – Episcopal Action on Resettlement Week. Episcopal Migration Ministries and The Episcopal Church Office of Government Relations are hosting a three-part webinar series – Love [...]
Love God, Love Neighbor: Episcopal Month of Action | June 2020
In the month of June, the Episcopal Church Office of Government Relations and Episcopal Migration Ministries hosted Love God, Love Neighbor: Episcopal Month of Action, a series of webinars to help people learn and advocate [...]
Love God, Love Neighbor: Episcopal Action on DACA
Today's episode is a recording from the June 9 webinar - Episcopal Action on DACA Week. Episcopal Migration Ministries and The Episcopal Church Office of Government Relations are hosting a three-part webinar series - Love [...]
Connecting Neighbors: Faithful Supporters
The EMM initiative, Connecting Neighbors, was born out of our affiliate partners' need to supply clients with adequate technology to continue receiving services, pursuing education, and communicating with staff. Connecting Neighbors allows individuals and congregations [...]
Bound Together in Love
Reflection by The Rev. Deacon Caitlyn Darnell, Director of Formation & Mission, St. Martin's-in-the-Fields Episcopal Church, Columbia, SC Remember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them, and those who are mistreated, [...]
Immigrant Detention during COVID-19: Prophetic Action & Compassionate Response | May 2020
Webinar: Immigrant Detention during COVID-19: Prophetic Action & Compassionate Response Tuesday, May 19 4-5:15 PM ET On Tuesday, May 19, the Office of Government Relations and Episcopal Migration Ministries hosted Immigrant Detention during COVID-19: Prophetic [...]
Immigrant Detention during COVID-19: Resources, Networks, and Organizations to Know
Episcopal Migration Ministries and The Episcopal Church's Office of Government Relations hosted Immigrant Detention during COVID-10: Prophetic Action and Compassionate Response on Tuesday, May 19, 2020. This seventy-five-minute webinar included clergy and lay leaders from [...]
The Dangers of Detention During COVID-19
Originally posted on The Episcopal Church Office of Government Relations blog by Rushad Thomas The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic (commonly known as coronavirus) presents a host of challenges to our immigration system. The Episcopal Church was no [...]
Virtual Book Club Kits
Today's episode features an introduction to EMM's new Partners in Welcome virtual book club discussion kits. This new resource includes: Instructions on how to hold a virtual book club Book recommendations with book and author [...]
Refugees and COVID-19
Originally posted on The Episcopal Church's Office of Government Relations blog: The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic (commonly known as coronavirus) has upended life for hundreds of millions of Americans. The country now confronts a massive public health [...]
Episcopal DACA Action Day | April 2020
Webinar: Episcopal DACA Action Day Thursday, April 16, 12-2PM ET The Episcopal Church has long recognized the incredible contributions to our Church and communities by undocumented young people. Yet these valuable members of our society [...]
Easter is a time of hope.
Reflection by Asher Imtiaz Easter is a time of hope. Being involved in outreach to Internationals and collecting stories of immigrants, I have had the privilege of listening to countless first-hand accounts of people fleeing [...]
Reflections on Stations of the Cross: Station XIV
Reflection link Reflection on the Fourteenth Station By The Rev. Charles “Chuck” Wynder, Jr. Jesus, your body is prepared for burial. Joseph gave you his own tomb. He laid your body there and rolled a large [...]
Reflections on Stations of the Cross: Station XIII
Reflection link Reflection on the Thirteenth Station By The Rev. Matthew Dumont-Machowski When Jesus’ body is taken down from the cross, Mary’s child is finally at rest in her arms again. His face is clutched [...]
Reflections on Stations of the Cross: Station XII
Link to reflection Reflection on the Twelfth Station By The Rev. Jaime Briceño Dear God! The pain and the suffering of those forced to move away from their homes is your pain and suffering. The [...]
Reflections on Stations of the Cross: Station XI
https://soundcloud.com/emmrefugees/station-11-jesus-is-nailed-to-the-cross Reflection on the Eleventh Station By The Rev. Canon Amy Coultas “By your holy cross you have redeemed the world.” This is the statement we make at the opening of each station as we [...]
“Look for the helpers.”
April 6, 2020 Dear friends, As we begin our journey through Holy Week, it already feels like we’ve been here – like we’ve been in Good Friday now for many, many days. And if we [...]
Reflections on Stations of the Cross: Station X
https://soundcloud.com/emmrefugees/station-10-jesus-is-stripped-of-his-garments Reflection on the Tenth Station By The Rev. Canon Jean Baptiste Ntagengwa Dear Friends in Christ, Today we are meditating on the Tenth Station of the Way of the Cross. Jesus is stripped of [...]
Reflections on Stations of the Cross: Station IX
https://soundcloud.com/emmrefugees/reflections-on-stations-of-the-cross-station-ix Reflection on the Ninth Station By Rob Coulston When I think about this station on the Way of the Cross, I usually find myself thinking about the “a third time” portion of the title. [...]
Reflections on Stations of the Cross: Station VIII
https://soundcloud.com/emmrefugees/reflections-on-stations-of-the-cross-station-viii Reflection on the Eighth Station By Rev. Gregory Han with Elena Korbut Jesus meets the women of Jerusalem. Much like the woman wiping the face of Jesus to offer Him comfort and love, we [...]
Reflections on Stations of the Cross: Station VII
https://soundcloud.com/emmrefugees/stations-of-the-cross-station-vii Reflection on the Seventh Station By Abraham Mwinda It’s so comforting to know that our Lord Jesus can relate directly to my story. It sure has not been an easy journey to get to [...]
Reflections on Stations of the Cross: Station VI
https://soundcloud.com/emmrefugees/stations-of-the-cross-station-vi Reflection on the Sixth Station By The Rev. Francisco García Who was this woman who, according to popular tradition, engaged in this seemingly simple yet radically compassionate and risky gesture towards Jesus at his [...]
Reflections on Stations of the Cross: Station V
https://soundcloud.com/emmrefugees/stations-of-the-cross-station-v Reflection on the Fifth Station By The Rev. Deacon Paula Ott Growing up in Cincinnati, Ohio, I was often in the company of Jewish adults whose forearms bore the tattooed identification numbers they received [...]
el Vía Crucis
https://soundcloud.com/emmrefugees/el-via-crucis In English below: Este podcast es el audio que acompaña las Reflexiones sobre el Vía Crucis. Lo invitamos a rezar con nosotros la liturgia el Vía Crucis. Para complementar su experiencia de este podcast, [...]
Accurate Count: Engage the Census
This episode features a recording from the February 27 webinar, Accurate Count: Engage the US Census, a joint offering of Episcopal Migration Ministries and The Episcopal Church’s Office of Government Relations. Our presenters are Alan [...]
Reflections on Stations of the Cross: Station IV
https://soundcloud.com/emmrefugees/station-4-jesus-meets-mary Reflection on the Fourth Station By The Rev. Cristina Rathbone Mary couldn’t do much. Even in the face of her son’s terrible and unjust suffering, she roused no protests, gathered no crowds, pleaded with [...]
Holy Welcome and Advocacy
A reflection from The Rev. Canon Anna Carmichael, Ph.D. The question is often asked of those who enter the US illegally, “why don’t they just follow ‘the rules’ if they want to come in.” As [...]
Reflections on Stations of the Cross: Station III
https://soundcloud.com/emmrefugees/reflections-on-stations-of-the-cross-station-iii Reflection on the Third Station By The Rev. David Chavez Just to be clear, this is what happens when the way of love challenges the way of Empire. This is how Empire brands those [...]
Audio Reflections on Stations of the Cross
https://soundcloud.com/emmrefugees/reflections-on-stations-of-the-cross This is an audio compilation of EMM’s Reflections on the Stations of the Cross. We encourage all to share and use this resource for prayer at home and in congregations. The audio compilation features [...]
Reflections on Stations of the Cross: Station II
Station II: Jesus takes up his Cross Reflection by: Rushad Thomas https://soundcloud.com/emmrefugees/station-2-jesus-takes-up-his-cross After his condemnation to death and mocking at the hands of the Romans, the Lord Jesus summoned the courage and fortitude to press [...]
Reflections on Stations of the Cross: Station 1
Station 1: Jesus is Condemned to Death Reflection by: "Ben" In this station, let us reflect, think, meditate, and know that the condemnation of Jesus to death on the cross was for a course. Jesus [...]
Walking with God in the San Antonio Bus Station
A reflection from Tatiana Hoecker For the past year, I have been a volunteer with the Interfaith Welcome Coalition (IWC) at the Greyhound Bus Station in San Antonio, Texas. IWC aids asylum-seeking families by helping [...]
Accurate Count: Engage the 2020 Census | February 2020
Webinar: Accurate Count: Engage the 2020 Census Thursday, February 27, 4-5PM EST As an official partner of Census 2020, The Episcopal Church can help make the count as accurate as possible, but we need you [...]
Stations of the Cross: Ash Wednesday
Stations of the Cross: Ash Wednesday Reflection by: Allison Duvall, EMM Manager for Church Relations and Engagement My parish started offering “Ashes to Go” about a decade ago. Our clergy and lay assistants have been [...]
An Interview with Wendy Pearlman
Today's episode features an interview with Wendy Pearlman, author of We Crossed A Bridge and It Trembled: Voices from Syria. Pick up a copy at your local library or bookstore. Transcript of the interview: DOCX [...]
An Interview with Dina Nayeri
Today's episode features an interview with Dina Nayeri, author of The Ungrateful Refugee, our October Partners in Welcome book club read. Her essay of the same name was one of the most widely shared 2017 [...]
EMM Immigration Policy Update: State of Play
Today’s episode features a recording from the Tuesday, January 28 webinar hosted by EMM called Immigration Policy Update: State of Play. Rushad Thomas, migration policy advisor in The Episcopal Church's Office of Government Relations, discusses [...]
EMM Immigration Policy Update | January 2020
Immigration Policy Update Webinar - January 28, 4PM EST Migration policy is a fast-moving issue space, with new developments breaking all the time. Join Rushad Thomas, migration policy advisor in The Episcopal Church's Office of [...]
Welcome to Season Three!
Today's episode features an introduction to what listeners can expect in Season 3 of Hometown. We have a busy schedule of webinars, workshops, resources, and educational offerings. Be sure to sign up to be a [...]
Walking in Welcome: Migration, Hope, and Hospitality
“You know the heart of an alien, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt.” Exodus 23:9 The United Nations calculates that at the start of 2020, a record 70.8 million people were in [...]
Fourth Sunday of Advent: a reflection from The Rev. Deacon Leeann Culbreath
The Rev. Deacon Leeann Culbreath is a deacon in the Diocese of Georgia and a founding leader of South Georgia Immigrant Support Network, a humanitarian non-profit supporting individuals and families impacted by immigrant detention through hospitality, visitation, pen pal, post-release, [...]
“Creating space for Grace” – an Advent reflection from The Rev. Ranjit Mathews
Today’s Advent reflection comes from The Rev. Ranjit Mathews, the 22nd Rector of St. James Episcopal Church, in New London, CT. He has served in this capacity for the past two and half years. He [...]
“You did it to me”: An Advent reflection from Rushad Thomas
A native of Central Florida, Mr. Thomas brings a passion for the Gospel of Welcome to his new role as OGR’s Immigration and Refugee Policy Advisor. After working for three years on civic education and [...]
First Sunday of Advent: a reflection from Tatiana Hoecker
After completing a Master’s in International Development in Barcelona, Spain, Tatiana currently works as a Consultant for Global Partnerships with The Episcopal Church. She’s been involved with mission work for the last 12 years in [...]
Making Home: Advent Meditations on Refugee Ministry
We are so grateful to The Rev. Maria Tjeltveit for offering beautiful daily Advent meditations to EMM's supporters and community. Subscribe to receive the daily meditations by email, or visit this post to read meditations [...]
What now? Building Partnerships for a Changing Refugee Ministry
Today’s episode is a recording from a recent virtual workshop called What now? Building Partnerships for a Changing Refugee Ministry. Unlike the webinars we have previously shared, this is a virtual workshop which is intended [...]
Intro to Supporting Asylum Seekers Toolkit | November 2019
Join Episcopal Migration Ministries on Thursday, December 12, 4-5:30pm ET, for an overview and introduction to the new resource, Supporting Asylum Seekers: A Toolkit for Congregations. Presenters and practitioners from across the country and The Episcopal Church [...]
Partners in Welcome Book Club Virtual Discussion
Join us for our first Book Club meeting of 2020! We will discuss Wendy Pearlman's book We Crossed a Bridge and It Trembled: Voices from Syria on January 16th, 4-5pm Eastern. Register for the virtual discussion [...]
Angels Unaware: A Migration Policy Update
This episode is recorded audio from a recent webinar featuring an update from Policy Advisor Rushad Thomas from The Episcopal Church's Office of Government Relations. Rushad provides an overview of the migration policy landscape on [...]
Asset-Based Community Development 201: The Story of Galilee Ministries of East Charlotte
Today’s podcast episode is the edited audio from a recent virtual workshop called Asset-Based Community Development 201: The Story of Galilee Ministries of East Charlotte. Galilee Ministries of East Charlotte is a ministry of the [...]
U.S. Immigration Basics
This episode features audio from a recent webinar EMM hosted called U.S. Immigration Basics. Our webinar host is Alyson Ball, a member of EMM’s Partners in Welcome community who graciously offered to share a virtual [...]
Take Your Faith On The Road
Bill Robison, a supporter of Episcopal Migration Ministries, has organized a fundraiser to support our ministry. The cycling jerseys feature The Episcopal Church and Episcopal Migration Ministries logos. The jersey is available in Spanish. 10% [...]
Refugee Program Update
Hometown is a podcast from Episcopal Migration Ministries, the refugee resettlement and welcome ministry of the Episcopal Church. This episode features an update from Rushad Thomas, policy advisor in The Episcopal Church's Office of Government [...]
U.S. Refugee Admissions Program Q & A
What is the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program? The United States Refugee Admissions Program, or USRAP, is a longstanding program that has resettled more than 3 million refugees to the U.S. since 1980. This program has [...]
Episcopal Church Statement on the White House Decision to Reduce the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program
September 26, 2019 The Episcopal Church condemns the administration’s decision to reduce the number of refugees and further dismantle the refugee resettlement program. We also strongly condemn the decision to allow states and localities to [...]
Faith Leader Calls for Refugee Welcome
This letter was drafted by Anne Derse, an Episcopal deacon, partner to Lutheran Social Services of the National Capital Area (LSSNCA), and Love God, Love Neighbor alumni. As a faith leader and former career diplomat [...]
Entertaining Angels Unaware: A Migration Policy Update | September 2019
Date: October 9, 4pm Eastern REGISTER: https://zoom.us/j/242233175 As Christians, we are called to love our neighbors as ourselves, welcome the stranger, and acknowledge that whatever we do for the least of these, we do to Christ. [...]
Radical Hospitality: Welcoming the Stranger
By The Venerable Roger Saterstrom, Archdeacon Episcopal Diocese of Tennessee For the first time since World War II, there are nearly 70 million displaced people worldwide. Many of them are fleeing their homelands due to persecution [...]
EMM-EPPN Refugee Program Update | September 2019
Join Episcopal Migration Ministries and The Episcopal Church’s Office of Government Relations on Monday, September 30 at 4PM EST for an update on the U.S. refugee admissions program, ways you can take action, and how [...]
Partners in Welcome Book Club Virtual Discussion
Join us for the Partners in Welcome Book Club, where we read and discuss books that help inform the work of welcome. This quarter’s pick is The Ungrateful Refugee: What Immigrants Never Tell You by Dina [...]
Public Charge Rule – What You Need To Know
Prepared by Protecting Immigrant Families Campaign staff What is public charge? “Public charge” or the “public charge test” is used by immigration officials to decide whether a person can enter the U.S. or get lawful [...]
ABCD 201: The Story of Galilee Ministries of East Charlotte
September 10th, 3-4:30pm Eastern Register here. Galilee Ministries of East Charlotte is a ministry of the Episcopal Diocese of North Carolina, birthed through the identification of assets and intentional conversation with the community. Today, just [...]
Take Action to Save the Refugee Admissions Program
Politico Pro released an article today revealing reports of a Presidential Determination to set the refugee admissions ceiling at zero. The Episcopal Church response to these reports: The Episcopal Church is deeply concerned about reports [...]
U.S. Immigration: The Basics | July 2019
Sep 19, 2019 01:00 PM Eastern “U.S. Immigration – The Basics” is a 50-minute overview of U.S. Immigration history, laws, and system. Whether you’re working with refugees, immigrants, the unauthorized, or you’re a curious citizen [...]
Partners in Welcome Book Club Virtual Discussion: Dear America
Join us in July for the Partners in Welcome Book Club, where we read and discuss books that help inform the work of welcome. This quarter’s pick is Dear America by Jose Antonio Vargas. Discussion questions will be posted [...]
Intro to Partners in Welcome
Intro to Partners in Welcome July 23 @ 4:00 pm - 4:30 pm This webinar is for new and prospective members of EMM’s Partners in Welcome ministry network and online learning community. We’ll share with you the [...]
EMM & EPPN Webinar: Listen & Learn: Border Advocacy and Ministry | July 2019
The Episcopal Public Policy Network (EPPN) and Episcopal Migration Ministries (EMM) hosted a webinar with guest speaker Bishop Michael Hunn of the Diocese of the Rio Grande to discuss border ministry and advocacy. We covered [...]
Response to the Border: Education and Advocacy
Below is a compilation of resources, diocesan statements, and ways you can help in response to the crisis at the border. How You Can Help: Rio Grande Borderland Ministries, an agency of the Diocese of [...]
Walk in Love: Border Tour
Allison and Kendall recently had the opportunity to join the Diocese of West Texas for their Walk in Love Border Tour. The “Walk in Love” border tour highlighted some of the Episcopal ministries and humanitarian [...]
Advocacy Days 2019
"Advocacy Days 2019" features interviews from Refugee Council USA Advocacy Days on the Hill in Washington, DC. Kendall and Allison are joined by more than 250 other advocates - former refugees, members of the community [...]
Making Home project with The Rev. Maria Tjeltveit
Maria Tjeltveit is an Episcopal priest doing a sabbatical project on mission in the Episcopal Church. A second-generation missionary child, she initiated a Refugee Community Center in her parish in Allentown, Pennsylvania. Her sabbatical project [...]
Asylum-Seeker Accompaniment: Creating A Guide for Congregations
Background: Asylum-seekers flee persecution, violence, and conflict to find safety in another country, just as refugees do. Refugees have already received official protected status; asylum-seekers are seeking status. Many of the women, children, and men [...]
Asylum Hotline
Season 2, Episode 5 features an interview with Bethany Showalter, the Special Programs Manager with the CWS Immigration and Refugee Program. She has worked in refugee resettlement in CWS affiliate offices for the past ten [...]
The Arc of Flight to Safety
A reflection by Richard Mammana, Associate for Ecumenical and Interreligious Relations, The Episcopal Church One branch of my mother’s family came to Pennsylvania as religious refugees in 1737, following the suicide of their husband and [...]
Pilgrimage of Hope
Hometown is a podcast from Episcopal Migration Ministries, the refugee resettlement and welcome ministry of the Episcopal Church. This episode's interview features The Rt. Rev’d David C Rice, diocesan bishop, and Tom Hampson, both from [...]
Living the Faith: An Interview with Drocella Mugorewera
Hometown is a podcast from Episcopal Migration Ministries, the refugee resettlement and welcome ministry of the Episcopal Church. Reflection author and Interview Guest This week’s reflection author and interview guest is Drocella Mugorewera, Executive Director [...]
Stand with Constantin
St. Luke's Episcopal Church North Park, in San Diego, CA, a member of EMM's Partners in Welcome, is asking for your support of Episcopalian and St. Luke's member, Constantin Bakala, who is an asylum-seeker. When [...]
The One Journey Movement
The second episode of season two of Hometown features an interview with Wendy Chan and Vanda Berninger, cochairs for the One Journey Festival in Washington, DC. The mission of the One Journey Festival is to [...]
The Partners in Welcome Book Club: The Girl Who Smiled Beads
Join us on April 25th at 1pm Eastern for the inaugural Partners in Welcome Book Club, where we read and discuss books that help inform the work of welcome. This quarter’s pick is The Girl Who Smiled [...]
An Invitation to Partners in Welcome
We’re excited to bring you season two of Hometown. Each episode this season will include a Lenten reflection and a look into a new initiative from Episcopal Migration Ministries called Partners in Welcome. Partners in [...]
3/8/19, Partners in Welcome: an Orientation
Join us March 8th at 12:30pm ET to learn more about the Members' Web Portal and the different ways to engage with this community. Meet the team behind Partners in Welcome and get answers [...]
12/18/18 Partners in Welcome: Join Us On The Way
This is the third in our three-part Walking in Welcome Advent series. The program was released as a webinar in addition to this podcast episode. Webinar Recording: vimeo.com/307124206 Stay in Touch and Connect with Partners [...]
Introducing Partners in Welcome
In the face of the largest refugee crisis since World War II, what are we to do - as people of faith, as followers of Jesus? How do we support, stand in solidarity with, and [...]
God of the taxi cabs
By: Allison Duvall, Manager for Church Relations and Engagement I regularly find God in taxi cabs. Whenever I travel for work, usually to a large city, landing late at night at an unfamiliar airport, I [...]
Diocese of Nevada holds ‘Love thy Neighbor’ vigils in support of refugees
*Repost from Episcopal News Service - https://www.episcopalnewsservice.org/pressreleases/diocese-of-nevada-holds-love-thy-neighbor-vigils-in-support-of-refugees/ “Love Thy Neighbor” was the theme of interfaith vigils in support of refugees, migrants and pilgrims on Jan. 6 in Las Vegas and Reno led by the Rev. [...]
All Saints Church, Pasadena Welcomes Refugees
*Repost from https://allsaints-pas.org You may notice the new banner on the lawn on Sunday … or any day you happen to be at All Saints between now and Christmas. The graphic comes to us via Episcopal [...]
Partners in Welcome: Join Us On The Way
This is the third in our three-part Walking in Welcome Advent series. The program was released as a webinar in addition to this podcast episode. Webinar Recording: vimeo.com/307124206 Stay in Touch and Connect with Partners [...]
One Community’s Journey: The Story of West Virginia Interfaith Refugee Ministry
One Community’s Journey: The Story of West Virginia Interfaith Refugee Ministry is the second in our three-part Walking in Welcome Advent series. Webinar Recording: https://vimeo.com/306804790 Walking in Welcome Toolkit Please subscribe to EMM’s Hometown podcast [...]
Mapping the Way: Tools for the Journey
This is the first in our three-part Walking in Welcome Advent series. Some resources from the recording below: • Webinar Recording: vimeo.com/304853873 • Center for Applied Linguistics’ Cultural Orientation Resource Center (www.culturalorientation.net/) Upcoming Webinars Please [...]
Vote Faithfully: Our Guests
If you haven't had a chance to check out the Vote Faithfully podcast episode, check out our interview with Alan Yarborough and Ashley Coleman on voting, civic engagement, and how you can be involved here. [...]
Vote Faithfully
Today on Hometown, Kendall and Allison speak with colleagues Alan Yarborough, from The Episcopal Church's Office of Government Relations, and Ashley Coleman, from New American Pathways in Atlanta, about civic engagement, voter registration, and non-partisan [...]
#Pray4Refugees: Day Five
Thank you for joining us this week to #Pray4Refugees. It's more important than ever that we join together and reach out in support of refugee resettlement. Take action at advocacy.episcopalchurch.org. Make a donation to support [...]
#Pray4Refugees – Day 4
Listen to today’s episode – and pray with us. Pray, then act. Visit @theeppn on social media or advocacy.episcopalchurch.org to take action. Repost and share from our social media feeds. On Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, [...]
#Pray4Refugees: Day 3
Listen to today’s episode – and pray with us. Pray, then act. Visit @theeppn on social media or advocacy.episcopalchurch.org to take action. Repost and share from our social media feeds. On Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, [...]
#Pray4Refugees: Day 2
Listen to today’s episode - and pray with us. Pray, then act. Visit @theeppn on social media or http://advocacy.episcopalchurch.org to take action. Repost and share from our social media feeds. On Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, [...]
#Pray4Refugees: Day 1
Today we begin a week-long vigil of prayer for refugees. Join us in this solemn act of solidarity and hope with our sisters and brothers, the world over, seeking safety, peace, and a place to [...]
#Pray4Refugees
Why We’re Called to #Pray4Refugees We live in a time when an unprecedented 68.5 million people are displaced around the world, including more than 25 million refugees - the highest number in recorded history. With [...]
In Between
Hi there, Hometown listeners! Allison and Kendall are back for a short mid-season pod episode - to give you updates on what’s happening with the refugee resettlement program and to share some opportunities to join [...]
Embracing the Way of Love: Amanda Payne
Hometown is a podcast from Episcopal Migration Ministries. Be sure to subscribe – we’ll continue to release special episodes throughout the summer! Interview Today’s episode features an interview with Amanda Payne, Minister to Youth & [...]
Love is the Way: Vigil at Detention Center
This morning, staff from Episcopal Migration Ministries gathered with hundreds of Episcopalians at the T. Don Hutto Residential Center, a for-profit facility detaining 512 women, many of whom are seeking asylum in the United States. [...]
The Story of a Refugee Child: Fr. Alex Nagy
Allison and Kendall continue to meet amazing people at General Convention who are sharing why they #SupportRefugees. On today's episode, you meet one of those people - Padre Alex Nagy, Priest Associate for Latino Ministries at [...]
Mad Priest Coffee: Champion the Displaced
/ Hometown is a podcast from Episcopal Migration Ministries. Be sure to subscribe - we’ll continue to release special episodes throughout the summer! Interview Today’s episode features an interview with our friends from Mad Priest [...]
Our 1939 Moment: Continuing the Legacy of Welcome
On June 18, Episcopal Migration Ministries and The Episcopal Church’s Office of Government Relations hosted a webinar about the history and present of The Episcopal Church’s legacy of refugee welcome. The audio was released on [...]
Family Separation and Access to Asylum
The Episcopal Church has been engaged in multiple ways in advocacy around family separation and the treatment of immigrants. Presiding Bishop Curry joined a group of faith leaders in signing this letter: http://advocacy.episcopalchurch.org/app/document/28873301?1 Rebecca Blachly, [...]
Our 1939 Moment: Continuing the Legacy of Welcome | June 2018
On June 18, Episcopal Migration Ministries and The Episcopal Church’s Office of Government Relations hosted a webinar about the history and present of The Episcopal Church’s legacy of refugee welcome. Broadcast the week of World [...]
Bonus: The Rev. Chris Bishop & Stand with Iraqi Christians
We’re excited to release this bonus episode, featuring our conversation with The Rev. Chris Bishop, reflection author from Episode 10 (titled "A Home for All of Us"), as he shares more about his work with [...]
Speaking Truth
#RoyalWedding Preacher reprise - Before Presiding Bishop Curry was known around the world as the Royal Wedding Preacher, he, of course, was - and is! - the beloved Presiding Bishop of The Episcopal Church. Months [...]
Drop Your Anchor
Hometown is a podcast from Episcopal Migration Ministries and is part of the Good Book Club. This is the last episode in Season 1! Stay subscribed - we’ll release special episodes throughout the summer, including from [...]
Portraits of Immigrants: Unknown Faces, Untold Stories
Eleven years ago, Betsy Ashton returned to the art career that she’d abandoned in 1971, when she took a long detour into television news. Three credits shy of a master of fine arts degree in [...]
Reflection by the Rev. Canon Dr. Michael Barlowe
Wow! This section of the Acts of the Apostles is fast-paced enough for a remake of “Indiana Jones.” St. Paul seems to be in constant motion, moving from one place to another, encountering one challenge [...]
How Are You Called?
Hometown is a podcast from Episcopal Migration Ministries and is part of the Good Book Club. This week’s Good Book Club scripture readings: Acts 21:27—Acts 27:12. Reflection author This week’s reflection comes from The Rev. [...]
Reflection by the Rev. Gay Clark Jennings
One day in Philippi, the apostle Paul and his fellow missionary Silas got thrown in jail. They had ordered the spirit of divination to leave a young enslaved woman, and as a result, her owners’ [...]
Reflection by the Rev. Canon Charles. K. Robertson, Ph.D.
Bosnian-born author Aleksandar Hemon was on a visit to Chicago in 1992 when war broke out and a siege began in his hometown of Sarajevo. His vacation suddenly and indefinitely extended, the tourist-turned-refugee worked hard [...]
Put Prayer Into Action
Hometown is a podcast from Episcopal Migration Ministries and is part of the Good Book Club. This week’s Good Book Club scripture readings: Acts 16:16-Acts 21:26 Reflection author This week’s reflection comes from The Rev. [...]
Children of a Refugee
Hometown is a podcast from Episcopal Migration Ministries and is part of the Good Book Club. This week’s Good Book Club scripture readings: Acts 13:13-Acts 16:15 Reflection author This week’s reflection author is The Rev. [...]
What Are You Willing to Risk?
Hometown is a podcast from Episcopal Migration Ministries and is part of the Good Book Club. This week’s Good Book Club scripture readings: Acts 10:17-Acts 13:12. Reflection author This week’s reflection author is Julia Ayala [...]
Reflection by the Rev. Christopher Bishop
A reflection on Acts 7:1-10:16 In 2015, I met a young woman named Lina, living with her family in an Internally Displaced Persons Camp in Erbil, Kurdistan, after they were driven from their home in [...]
A Home for All of Us
Hometown is a podcast from Episcopal Migration Ministries and is part of the Good Book Club. This week’s Good Book Club scripture readings: Acts 7:1 - Acts 10:16 Reflection author This week’s reflection author is [...]
Reflection by the Rev. Canon Stephanie Spellers
There are any number of provocative stories and images tucked into chapters 4 and 5 of Acts. I’d like to dwell for a moment with Acts 4:32-Acts 5:11. Specifically, with these lines: “There was not [...]
Once Upon a Time…
Hometown is a podcast from Episcopal Migration Ministries and is part of the Good Book Club. This week’s Good Book Club scripture readings: Acts 4:23 - Acts 6 Reflection author This week’s reflection author is [...]
The Promise: For You and For All Who Are Far Off
The Acts of the Apostles Chapters 1-4 The Promise: For You and For All Who Are Far Off By: The Rev. Canon Jason D. Lewis Canon for Congregational Vitality, Diocese of Kentucky Jesus’ story doesn’t [...]
Hold On – Holy Week Bonus Episode
Hometown is a podcast from Episcopal Migration Ministries and is part of the Good Book Club. This Holy Week we are bringing you this special bonus episode to share a new song from Abraham Mwinda [...]
Holy Week Action Alert
SPECIAL: Check out this special bonus episode of the Hometown podcast featuring an action alert from Lacy Broemel, Refugee and Immigration Policy Advisor for the Office of Government Relations.
Precious Lord
Hometown is a podcast from Episcopal Migration Ministries and is part of the Good Book Club. This week’s Good Book Club scripture readings: Luke 22:47 through the end of Luke’s Gospel. This week’s reflection author [...]
Running for Home
Hometown is a podcast from Episcopal Migration Ministries and is part of the Good Book Club. This week’s Good Book Club scripture readings: Luke 18:18-Luke 22:46 On this week’s episode, we reflect on scripture, discuss the [...]
Lost and Found
Hometown is a podcast from Episcopal Migration Ministries and is part of the Good Book Club. This week’s Good Book Club scripture readings: Luke 15:1-Luke 18:17 On this week’s episode, we reflect on scripture, learn [...]
Part two – Rwanda: Land of a Thousand Hills
Hometown is a podcast from Episcopal Migration Ministries and is part of the Good Book Club. This week’s Good Book Club scripture readings: Luke 11:14-Luke 14 We don’t have a scripture reflection on the podcast [...]
Reflection by The Rev. Jean Baptiste Ntagengwa, Th.D.
Friends, the text for today contains many parables, healings, and teachings all by Jesus. I am going to take few minutes to reflect upon some of them and to come up with some lessons. After [...]
Rwanda: Land of a Thousand Hills
Hometown is a podcast from Episcopal Migration Ministries and is part of the Good Book Club. This week’s Good Book Club scripture readings: Luke 8 - Luke 11:13 On this week’s episode, we reflect on [...]
Meet Abraham Mwinda
Abraham Mwinda is a San Diego, CA based Congolese born, Kenyan raised singer, songwriter and rapper from Lexington, Kentucky. He hopes to make a difference, and bring positive change in the world one song at [...]
Where is home?
Hometown is a podcast from Episcopal Migration Ministries and is part of the Good Book Club. This week’s Good Book Club scripture readings: Luke 4:14 - Luke 7 Welcome to Episode 2 of Hometown! [...]
“The Archangel Gabriel”
In honor of our first episode of Hometown, we invite you to learn more about "The Archangel Gabriel" by Sheila Diemert. This piece was used as part of our social media graphics to promote Hometown. [...]
Hope Overcoming Fear
Reflection on Luke 1:1 – 4:13 By The Rev. Laurie Brock Fear makes its appearance quite early and rather frequently in the Gospel of Luke. We first meet fear as Zechariah offers incense in the [...]
Welcome to Hometown!
Hometown is a podcast from Episcopal Migration Ministries and is part of the Good Book Club. This week’s Good Book Club scripture readings: Luke 1- Luke 4:13 Welcome to Hometown! On the debut episode, we [...]
Advent IV – 2017
“The angel said to Mary, …‘nothing will be impossible with God.’…Then Mary said, ‘…Let it be with me according to your word.’” (Luke 1:37-38) In the past few weeks I was given the gift of [...]
Advent III – 2017
“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” (1 Thess 5:16-18) My wife and I have a Border Collie named Franklin. [...]
Advent II – 2017
“The Lord… is patient... (Therefore) what sort of persons ought you to be in leading lives of holiness and godliness?” (2 Peter 3:9,11) Patience is a hard thing for some of us. When we know [...]
Introduction to HomeTown
Join Allison Duvall and Kendall Martin of Episcopal Migration Ministries, the refugee resettlement ministry of the Episcopal Church, for an introduction to HomeTown, a podcast featuring voices from across the US, the Episcopal Church, and [...]
Advent I – 2017
“Beware, keep alert; for you do not know when the time will come.” (Mark 13:33) As we begin the season of Advent and prepare for the coming of Christmas, we are reminded by scripture that [...]
A Statement on Refugee Admissions for FY 2018
28 September 2017 The Administration has reported to Congress that their intent is to set the refugee admissions ceiling for the coming year at 45,000 persons, a cap that is not only the lowest in [...]
A Statement from Episcopal Migration Ministries
A Response to the Administration’s Decision on Relationships by The Rev’d Canon E. Mark Stevenson Director, Episcopal Migration Ministries June 30, 2017 Earlier this week, the Supreme Court issued a decision regarding the litigation [...]
A Statement from Episcopal Migration Ministries
A Statement by The Rev’d Canon E. Mark Stevenson Director, Episcopal Migration Ministries June 26, 2017 We learned this morning that the Supreme Court has decided to allow portions of the president's executive order(s) [...]
A Statement from Episcopal Migration Ministries
A Statement by The Rev’d Canon E. Mark Stevenson Director, Episcopal Migration Ministries On behalf of Episcopal Migration Ministries, I give thanks that the courts have once again acted in defense of refugees and [...]