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08 March 2023

Response to the new 'Illegal Migration Bill'

Church Leaders from the Methodist Church, the United Reformed Church and the Baptist Union have signed the following joint statement expressing opposition to the government's new 'Illegal Migration Bill':

We are appalled by the proposals in the government's 'Illegal Migration Bill' to detain, punish and reject thousands of people seeking safety. They are completely incompatible with our Christian conviction that all human beings are made in the image of God, and are therefore inherently worthy of treatment which honours their dignity. Instead of dignity, these plans will foster discrimination and distrust, and cause immeasurable harm to people already made vulnerable by conflict and persecution. If ever there was a contemporary example of ignoring our neighbour and walking by on the other side, this is it.
When two in three people who cross the channel to seek sanctuary in the UK are granted asylum following rigorous checks, it seems unthinkable to reject them before they have even had a chance to have their claim for asylum heard. Many people fleeing war and persecution in countries such as Iraq, Iran, Syria, Eritrea and Sudan have been left with no safe and accessible routes to claim asylum in the UK, forcing people to make difficult and dangerous decisions. The UK falls far behind our global neighbours in welcoming people seeking sanctuary into our communities, and yet these plans essentially put a ban on claiming asylum and reject the UK's responsibility to play our part in responding to global inequalities and conflict.
We all agree that we cannot continue to see thousands of people risk their lives to reach safety in the UK, but the solution cannot be deterrence and punishment.
As Christians, we believe that we should be amongst the first to welcome the stranger with open arms. We urge the government to withdraw this legislation, to honour our moral and international obligations and to behave with compassion and fairness by establishing safe and accessible routes to enable the UK to play its part in welcoming people in need of safety.

Signed by
Revd Fiona Bennett, URC General Assembly Moderator
Revd Lynn Green, General Secretary of the Baptist Union
Revd Graham Thompson, President of the Methodist Conference
Anthony Boateng, Vice-President of the Methodist Conference

You can read the whole statement, as well as a link with advice on writing to your MP, ...HERE

Global Peace Prayer on 22 March at 3pm Central European Time (2pm GMT).

Christians are called into prayer and advocacy for peace. In a global context where war and violence abound, the practice of peace has become even more urgent.

The World Methodist Council, alongside other Christian World Communions and the World Council of Churches, will be taking part in a Global Peace Prayer on 22 March at 3pm Central European Time (2pm GMT).
This online prayer event will be held on Zoom, and you can register to attend ...HERE

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