‘When a foreigner resides among you in your land, do not mistreat them. The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt.’
Leviticus 19:33-34
We want to see a society that welcomes the stranger. Migration, whether voluntary or forced, appears in political discussions time and again. As Churches we approach the question of migration first and foremost with the understanding that we are all children of God. We highlight the ongoing plight of refugees and displaced people affirming a human response to the crisis. We emphasise the importance of treating people with decency whatever our immigration policy. This is why as Churches we are calling for a fairer and more compassionate asylum system, an end to the hostile environment policies, for a humane approach to those seeking sanctuary, and for asylum seekers to have the right to work.
Current campaigns
Refugee Family Reunion: Support safe routes and reunification of refugee families by signing our faith leaders letter to the Home Secretary and sharing our campaign content.
Click here to find out more about the campaign for refugee family reunion.
The Right to Work: Asylum seekers in the UK are effectively banned from working.
Click here to find out more about the campaign to Lift The Ban.
Fair Begins Here: As part of the coalition Together With Refugees, we are calling for a fair new plan for refugees that:
- Ensures protection for people fleeing war and persecution by upholding the UK’s commitment under international law to the right to claim asylum.
- Forges stronger global cooperation to tackle the root causes that force people to flee their homes and provides positive solutions when they do, including through safe routes to refugee protection.
- Provides a proper strategy for welcoming refugees, who do so much to enrich our society, by ensuring fair, rapid decisions on their application for asylum, and the chance to rebuild their lives through settling in a community.
Read more about the campaign and how you can call on your MP to sign the Fair Begins Here pledge.
Useful resources
Practical resources for local churches
| How can churches help integrate refugees? | Theos |
| Guidance for ministers called to give evidence in support of asylum applications | JPIT |
| Right to Remain Toolkit – a guide to the UK immigration and asylum system | Right to Remain |
| Jubilee+ Refugee Training Course – 6 videos | Jubilee+ |
| Sanctuary in Scotland – includes facts and figures, definitions, current issues and ideas for practical action by faith communities in Scotland | Scottish Faiths Action for Refugees |
| Welcome Course – for churches to offer to new arrivals in the UK | Welcome Churches |
Note: JPIT is not in a position to provide guidance on specific individual asylum applications or cases. Immigration advice is a regulated specialist activity. It is recommended that queries be referred to expert local support or advice services, such as Citizens’ Advice.
Worship materials
| Hospitality and Sanctuary For All | Inderjit Bhogal / Church of Sanctuary / CTBI |
| Sanctuary: The Hospitality of Host, Guest and Stranger | Inderjit Bhogal and Jayme Reaves / Church of Sanctuary |
| Sanctuary Sunday – CTBI | CTBI archive of Sanctuary Sunday materials |
| God with Us – worship resource on the theme of refugees, migration and sanctuary | Church of Scotland / SFAR / CTBI |
Helpful organisations
| Welcome Churches | |
| Scottish Faiths Action for Refugees | |
| Church of Sanctuary | |
| Faiths Stream of City of Sanctuary | |
| Boaz Trust | |
| Churches’ Refugee Network – CTBI | |
| Home – Reset Communities for Refugees | Community Sponsorship support |
| Sponsor Refugees | Citizens UK community sponsorship support |
| Refugees at Home | For individuals/families wanting to open homes to refugees |
Previous campaigns, updates and briefings
The Illegal Migration Act
In July 2023, the UK Government passed the Illegal Migration Act.The Act is designed to fundamentally change the status of asylum seekers in the UK, making it illegal to enter the UK and claim asylum without permission. The legislation states that anyone who enters the country without permission, whether by crossing the channel or by another means, will be detained, removed to another country, and unable to apply for asylum in the UK at any point in the future.
We’ve produced a summary of what the Illegal Migration Act means for the UK asylum system.
Briefing on the UK Asylum System: January 2023
With issues facing asylum seekers and refugees arising in the media so frequently, it can be hard to see beyond the headlines and build a bigger picture understanding of the questions and challenges around asylum and refugee policy.
We’ve produced a briefing looking at:
- Some of the key issues currently facing asylum and refugee policy
- Key thoughts underpinning a Christian response
- Proposals for an improved system
The Nationality and Borders Act 2022
In April 2022, The Nationality and Borders Act passed into law. Our Churches campaigned against this bill during its time in parliament, and together we have signed the Anti-Refugee Laws pledge. Together with hundreds of other organisations and charities, we pledge to:
- Defend the right to seek safety from war and persecution in the UK
- Speak out against attempts to criminalise and punish those who make their own way to safety
- Challenge the anti-refugee laws which will risk the lives and well-being of people
- Work towards a refugee protection system that treats all people with dignity and compassion
The Rwanda scheme
In April 2022 the UK Government announced a new deal to send people to Rwanda who cross the channel in order to claim asylum in the UK. Our churches have been vocal in their opposition to this policy.
Read the response of the Methodist Church here.
End Hostility – The ‘hostile environment’ is a web of government policies designed to make life so difficult for people who cannot prove they have the right to live in the UK that they will choose to leave. We are calling for an end to the hostile environment. Click here to find out more about the campaign to End Hostility.
A welcoming environment – In this context of migration and hostility, churches can play a positive and practical role in creating an environment of welcome and hospitality. Many already do. Click here to read our blog series on a welcoming environment.