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 2023, The Episcopal Church – through Episcopal Migration Ministries – gathered together with partners to focus sustained attention on them for the first time in its history.

Together, we:

  • Discerned how we as individuals, congregations, and communities should work with and for LGBTQ+ forced migrants
  • Developed resources that help us to learn, pray, witness, and serve for the benefit of those in need, and to draw more people into this work
  • Provided witness to hundreds of thousands of people in Pride marches, World Refugee Day events, and social media

Together, we:

  • Learned that many Episcopalians and friends want to join this ministry, and that we need more resources in order to galvanize it
  • Heard and understood that LGBTQ+ forced migrants need extra support to develop their potential as leaders in this work
  • Realized that The Episcopal Church has an important role to play in terms of framing aid to LGBTQ+ forced migrants as a way of living out our faith. At the same time that this ministry saves lives and nurtures us spiritually, it serves as a counterpoint to the use of religion to condemn and persecute LGBTQ+ people.

As we approach Christmas and the New Year, we at Episcopal Migration Ministries want to express our gratitude to all who have made this year of discernment, action, and love possible. In particular, we want to thank our inaugural class of Rainbow Initiative Congregations and Communities (RICs):

To learn more about the Rainbow Initiative’s 2023 accomplishments, visit our newly redesigned webpages and read our Retrospective Report. To keep up-to-date on our 2024 plans, subscribe to our email list, and follow us on Facebook and Instagram. To find out how you and your congregation can be involved in this ministry, contact [email protected].