The theme in the JPIC team this month is ‘Loving the Stranger’. This month we remember victims of genocide on Holocaust Memorial Day on 27 January and the Nationality and Borders Bill approaches its final stages in the Houses of Parliament.
Holocaust Memorial Day has been observed on 27 January every year since 2001, and on it we remember victims of the Holocaust and Nazi persecution as well as victims of genocide in other countries and times including Rwanda, Bosnia, Darfur and Cambodia.
Today, people fleeing persecution end up in refugee camps near their countries of origin, where the most vulnerable are sometimes identified by the UN as refugees for resettlement, while others make dangerous journeys and sometimes arrive in the UK as asylum seekers. How they are received is determined by our legislation, which is being changed at the moment in the Nationality and Borders Bill. Elements of this are being opposed by Church of England Bishops, including changes to rights for asylum seekers and changes to nationality rules (Clause 9). A letter from twelve Bishops, including our own Bishop Christopher and Bishop Jonathan, was signed in November.
What can I do?
- Pray for love between all peoples, despite our differences, remembering especially those who suffer persecution and who flee their homelands to seek safety elsewhere. Prayer resources, including Bible readings, a reflection and a set of intercessions, are offered at Resources for churches on Holocaust Memorial Day.
- Write to your MP about the Nationality and Borders Bill before it returns to the House of Commons for Consideration of Amendments (‘ping pong’). Help on how to do this is provided by Welcome Churches.
- Consider what you as a church can do to support refugees and asylum seekers locally. There is lots of information available. Some examples are the Church of England’s toolkit on supporting Afghan refugees, signing up for community sponsorship, or joining the Welcome Churches Network. If you would like more information about any of this, please contact the Head of JPIC, Nicola Thomas.
When an alien resides with you in your land, you shall not oppress the alien. The alien who resides with you shall be to you as the citizen among you; you shall love the alien as yourself, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God.
Leviticus 19:33-35
A Prayer on Holocaust Memorial Day:
The ‘One Day’ Prayer
Eternal God, you hold all of our days in your hands.
On this day, we come before you to remember the victims of the Holocaust.
We lament the loss of the six million Jews who were killed in the Holocaust, the
millions of other victims of Nazi persecution, and other genocides.
May our minds be clear and attentive to their memory and our hearts be moved to
bear witness to their lives.
Today, help us to remember and recognise the sanctity of each human life, that all
people are made in Your image.
One day, we pray that genocide and hatred will be no more, and that love will
triumph over evil.
In our prayers and in our actions, help us to show this love in the world today.
Amen.
