Church World Service Criticizes Governors over Syrian Refugees

on November 16, 2015

Officials from a church agency that includes Mainline Protestant churches among its members are criticizing U.S. governors for declining to resettle Syrian refugees in their states.

The announcement from Church World Service (CWS) comes after terrorist attacks in Paris that left more than 130 dead and wounded hundreds more. The Paris assailants appear to have been radical jihadists connected to the Islamic State (ISIS); at least one recently arrived in France as a refugee traveling through Greece.

CWS President and United Methodist Clergy John L. McCullough urged public officials to avoid “knee-jerk” reactions and claimed that the governors were ignoring “robust security” in the refugee resettlement process.

“Governor [Robert] Bentley of Alabama and Governor [Rick] Snyder of Michigan have turned their backs on Syrian refugees who, like the Parisians with whom the world is mourning, are the victims of ISIS,” McCullough charged. “For these governors to falsely assert that the U.S. refugee admissions program places their states at risk is utterly preposterous.”

According to USA Today, Bentley and Snyder are two of at least 11 governors who say their top concern must be the safety of state residents, and they say there’s a chance the refugees include people with terrorist ties. Immigration is under the purview of the Federal government, but the governors can use executive orders to instruct state agencies to halt relocation of Syrian refugees to their states.

“Michigan is a welcoming state and we are proud of our rich history of immigration,” Snyder said in a statement. “But our first priority is protecting the safety of our residents.”

In addition to resettling refugees and other immigrants, CWS advocates for continued federal funding for its own work.

McCullough claimed that refugees are the single most scrutinized and vetted individuals to travel to the United States, “undergoing more than seven security checks by intelligence agencies, including biometric tests, medical screenings and in-person interviews with Department of Homeland Security officials.”

“These knee-jerk reactions stoke fear and bigotry, and have no place in this great nation. History will judge us all in this moment, when we had the opportunity to stand in solidarity with the victims of ISIS and work together to defeat hate, or to instead turn our backs on them in cruel irony,” McCullough continued. “At CWS, we pray for Governor Bentley and Governor Snyder, that they will choose wisdom over rhetoric and show true leadership in this time of great tragedy. We call on our elected officials to stand with the millions of Americans across the country who are donating to help refugees abroad and volunteering to welcome refugees in their communities. Our nation’s leaders must affirm the importance of resettling refugees who are fleeing the brutality of ISIS.”

Refugee resettlement can be a significant source of income for nonprofit organizations. The Episcopal Church, which is a member denomination of CWS, received $13.8 million in federal funds for refugee resettlement in 2013 through Episcopal Migration Ministries.

Church World Service, which was spun off from the National Council of Churches, counts 37 Christian denominations among its members, including the Mainline Protestant Presbyterian Church (USA), United Church of Christ, United Methodist Church, Episcopal Church, American Baptist Churches USA, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).

Update: National Association of Evangelicals (NAE) President Leith Anderson has called for continued resettlement of Syrian refugees in the United States: “Our system is designed to keep terrorists out and to help desperate families with little children. We want to help the victims of terrorism in the Middle East, not punish them.” Access Anderson’s full statement here.

  1. Comment by Ronette on November 16, 2015 at 6:14 pm

    Big Church loves the chaos that is illegal immigration (on a terror free day), somehow believing this is loving?? It hurts the poor the most, but hey, who’s really thinking logically? When terrorists ride in on the illegal wave, who are we to judge? Thank you Abdul, may we have another? And the national suicide continues.

  2. Comment by Curt Day on November 17, 2015 at 9:04 am

    Though their theology is often wanting, we should note how the mainline churches excell in reaching out and trying to help the marginalized in the world. Conservative churches, such as the one I belong to, would better honor the Gospel if they followed the mainline churches’ example here without following their theology.

  3. Comment by Charles on November 17, 2015 at 12:04 pm

    I’m not sure I agree that they can justifiably criticize these politicians when they have two different jobs. The Government has a job to protect it’s citizens, and I think they can justifiably be concerned about Syrian refugees who are not going through a thorough vetting process. The Church has an obligation to serve it’s community. So, if Syrian refugees incidentally become a part of the Church’s surrounding community, then they do have an obligation to serve them.
    On the other hand, the church has an obligation not only to serve in it’s community, but to serve throughout the world. That isn’t to say serving in one’s community isn’t important, but we are commanded to go to all the nations. Rather than complain that the government is not providing asylum for the refugees, these mainstream ministers (who often preach the health and wealth gospel from their mega-churches) should use the abundant resources they have to reach out and help the refugees where they live – even if that means being put in harms way. After all, to die is gain, and to die well is to die for others.

  4. Comment by Charles on November 17, 2015 at 12:08 pm

    Also, I agree with you saying they excel in reaching out and trying to help. But it is important to recognize that their version of help may not actually help anyone other than monetarily. If we recognize the chief concern for Christians is that of a lost soul, then the message we carry is of the upmost importance. As I mentioned a moment ago, these mainline churches often teach a health and wealth version of the Gospel rather than a Christ centered theology.

  5. Comment by Sandra K Jenner on November 18, 2015 at 2:46 pm

    Thanks for posting this. CWS is one of many reasons that so many people have fled the mainlines.

  6. Comment by Dan Roth on November 20, 2015 at 6:23 pm

    Hooray to CWS & the NAE for standing up for the good news of the Kingdom.

  7. Comment by gobmom on November 21, 2015 at 9:16 pm

    These people need to relocate in areas closer to their homes. Surely we can fund aid even though they are on another continent. We do not have the resources to adequately take care of the people in need in our own country. This is not being selfish or mean. It is being realistic.

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