ABHMS posts Refugee Council USA’s advocacy toolkit for World Refugee Day
UPDATE (ABNS 6/19/18): American Baptist Home Mission Societies will co-sponsor a faith vigil in Washington, D.C., on World Refugee Day. Leaders from various faith traditions will gather at noon on Wednesday, June, 20, on Capitol Hill to demand that Congress hold the administration accountable for trying to dismantle the refugee program with the lowest refugee arrivals in history.
VALLEY FORGE, PA (ABNS 6/5/18)—In time for 2018 World Refugee Day on June 20, American Baptist Home Mission Societies (ABHMS) has made available on its website the Refugee Council USA’s advocacy toolkit “World Refugee Day 2018: Reaffirming U.S. Commitment to Refugee Resettlement & Protection.”
This resource provides information about participating in local congressional visits, inviting elected officials to your World Refugee Day events, and ways to build champions for refugee protection and resettlement.
As people of faith, we are called to welcome the stranger. American Baptists have been involved in the ministry of refugee resettlement for 70 years. Since then, more than 100,000 refugees have been sponsored by American Baptists, finding new homes and new hope in the United States.
Under the current U.S. administration, according to ABHMS partner Church World Service, the refugee admissions goal for fiscal year 2018 was set at 45,000—the lowest level in U.S. history. Even more sad is the fact that the United States is on track to resettle approximately only 20,000 refugees this year.
We must ensure that our members of Congress do everything they can to see the administration meet at least the 45,000 refugees admissions goal and commit to resettling at least 75,000 refugees next year.
Take action to ensure that our leaders affirm the importance of the refugee resettlement program. Tell Congress to welcome refugees: Call 1-866-961-4293. Please call three times to be connected with your representative and both of your senators.
To download the toolkit, visit www.abhms.org > Ministries > Immigration and Refugee Resettlement, then scroll down to Resources.
When sharing on social media, use the hashtags #WRD2018, #RefugeesWelcome, #WhereRtheRefugees, and #WithRefugees.
American Baptist Home Mission Societies partners with American Baptists to promote Christian faith, cultivate Christ-centered leaders and disciples, and bring healing and transformation to communities across the United States and Puerto Rico.
American Baptist Churches USA is one of the most diverse Christian denominations today, with approximately 5,000 congregations comprised of 1.3 million members, across the United States and Puerto Rico, all engaged in God’s mission around the world.
