What does the Rwanda plan mean for our local churches?

Written by Emily Shepherd, CEO of Welcome Churches

It has felt like a long few years for those of us helping to welcome people seeking refuge and asylum in the UK. First, Priti Patel launched her ‘New Plan for Immigration’ in the Spring of 2021. This was followed by the Nationality and Borders Bill on July 21. Then came the Illegal Migration Act announced by Suella Braverman in March 2023. The political landscape for people seeking asylum in the UK has been hectic! Time and time again, Welcome Churches is being asked - what is the role of the UK Church at this time?

At Welcome Churches, we believe there is a strong Biblical mandate for all churches to be involved in welcoming those seeking refuge and asylum in the UK. No matter what your political views are, we are firstly people who profess the Christian faith and seek to follow the teachings of Jesus Christ. Therefore, we need to actively show how important welcoming people in need of safety and protection is to Christians today. You can find out more about this in our Refugees in God’s Story resource, written by Christians from a refugee background, and UK church leaders.

It is clear that people are continuing to come to the UK to seek refuge and asylum. We continue to see people making the dangerous journey across the English Channel and we continue to see people claiming asylum and seeking refuge in the UK. Despite the asylum process becoming more and more difficult for those arriving, Christians are compelled to show compassion to them. We need to be ready to welcome them - many of whom are Christians themselves and have fled their home countries because of their Christian faith. These people especially need the welcome of their Christian brothers and sisters in the UK.

It was fantastic to see a great example of Christian unity on 23rd April, with a joint statement on the passing of the Safety of Rwanda Bill from senior church leaders in the UK. This statement recognises how important welcoming refugees is for Christians. We celebrate the unity there is across different denominations and traditions in this area. In a time when we are often encouraged to think about what divides us, and the differences we have, we are celebrating instead where we see unity and agreement. Through UK churches welcoming and embracing those in need of asylum and refuge, Christian unity comes to the fore. 

It is wonderful to see church leaders speak out regularly about how important welcoming refugees is to Christians. But there is more we can all do to ensure this continues to be a reality into the future. Each of us has a part to play, to join in with what God is doing through people seeking refuge today. How can we provide community and welcome as Christians and local churches for those seeking refuge in our communities? By joining our Welcome Network, we can help you on that journey of welcome as a church today.

Can we also give financially to help welcome refugees in the UK? There are many charities supporting people seeking refuge who need long-term funding in order to serve these people well. Our churches also need more resources to be able to make the most of the missional opportunities we have to welcome people seeking refuge in our communities. Can we give financially ourselves? Can we also encourage our church organisational structures and denominations to invest significantly, both financially and with other resources, to help welcome refugees in the UK today? 

Finally, but most importantly, we need to pray. Here at Welcome Churches, we truly believe that God is at work through the people who are coming to the UK as refugees and people seeking asylum. We want to join in with what he is doing, as he blesses our church communities through these amazing people. We need to pray for our friends who are seeking asylum at the moment. We need to pray for compassion and justice to be at the centre of our asylum policies. And we need to pray for ourselves and our churches, that we would be ready to learn from the people who are arriving in our communities, helping them to find a place in our communities to belong and to call home.

There is much more we can do, to show our communities how important refugees and people seeking asylum are to the God we serve. What might God be asking of you at this time?

Welcome Churches is equipping local churches to continue to welcome everyone seeking refuge in our communities, which is needed now more than ever. Could you consider giving a regular donation to help us see every refugee welcomed by the local Church? Click here to donate today.