Refugee Week: Our Story, Our Song of Welcome

The Revd Richard Andrew, President of the Methodist Conference, and Matthew Forsyth, Vice-President, offer this reflection for Refugee Week

The theme for our presidential year, “Our Story, Our Song,” feels very timely in relation to Refugee Week. (Monday, 15 June to Sunday, 21 June, with World Refugee Day on Saturday, 20 June.) One strand of our theme focuses on those whose stories are missing from our narratives. When you talk to a refugee, you often hear stories of the pain and the sorrow of displacement. Behind the headlines are very human stories: a parent seeking safety for their child, a young person escaping violence, a family torn apart by war or persecution. Some are displaced by conflict, others by political oppression or discrimination. Increasingly, climate change is also forcing communities from their homes as floods, drought and environmental crises reshape entire regions. As voices are raised against migrants, we are reminded of our Methodist calling, of our story, which should give us the confidence to offer an alternative to the hostility being generated by many in the debate about refugees.

When you listen to stories of dangerous journeys at the hands of criminals, you realise that it is very doubtful that anyone would become a refugee by choice. However, it is these people, those who are among the most vulnerable in our society, who are being singled out as those we are told we should fear the most.

Take a glance at newspaper headlines and social media, and you will see refugees and migrants being blamed for sexual offences and knife crimes, for housing shortages, low wages, poor employment opportunities and often for just “not being British enough.”

Sharing and hearing stories is one powerful way to counter some of the misinformation and misunderstanding that is so widespread in relation to refugees. So often, transformation does not result from angry debates but begins with an encounter. When people meet, when stories are shared, when we understand one another as human, as an individual, something changes. When people become friends, when there is trust and understanding, communities grow and fear falls away. Our communities are enriched by those who have arrived here seeking refuge, those who long to belong and contribute to our society.

Luton does not apologise for its diversity. During a presidential visit to the town last autumn, and specifically to the interfaith charity Grassroots, we heard from many faith leaders in the community about their concerns regarding the rhetoric around migrants and refugees. But the ongoing “stop the boats” protests and the raising of union flags that has taken place across the country could not intimidate the people of Luton. Luton has a shared sense of purpose, a shared sense of belonging. Here, faith leaders expressed their solidarity in the face of this indirect aggression. The town’s response was a community walk with people from different ages, backgrounds, faiths and no faith, walking together in solidarity saying, ‘This is who we are. We're a community that comes together’.

Such community courage is going to be vital in the months, and maybe years, ahead.

In some places anti-migrant protests have become aggressive and even violent, in other cases personal, with abuse and threats on social media.

The Methodist Church in Epsom found itself at the centre of protests when an allegation of a rape in its church grounds caused an eruption of anger after police were unable to release information regarding the background of any alleged offenders. The protesters were of the belief that migrants may be involved. Even the words of our minister there, Revd Catherine Hutton, words intended to calm and reassure the community, became used against her on social media.

In Kent, local council members were pelted with eggs during a public meeting discussing whether the area should become a Borough of Sanctuary, part of the City of Sanctuary movement inspired by Methodist minister, The Revd Dr Inderjit Bhogal.

While there are legitimate discussions to be had about migration policy, at present the ‘debate’ is too often led by voices that trade in fear, half-truths, resentment and the scapegoating of anyone seen as being ‘the other’. As Christians, committed to truth and commanded to welcome the stranger, we need to call this out. The assumption that refugees will be a 'drain' on the British economy is a prejudiced assumption as ultimately migrants and refugees provide a total benefit to the UK economy, boosting the income from tax revenues and providing much needed labour. This can be particularly helpful in business sectors where we have a skills shortage.

Some claim that those who arrive here should seek refuge in the first safe country they arrive in. The vast majority of the world’s refugees do indeed claim asylum in the first safe country they reach. Only a tiny number of those refugees who arrive in Europe reach the United Kingdom. The UN High Commissioner for Refugees global trends report for 2024, stated that there are 31.0 million refugees worldwide, excluding Palestinians. 67% were hosted in neighbouring countries. That year a total of 84,231 asylum case claims were made in the United Kingdom. In the European Union a total of 997,350 people claimed asylum.

Those who do not attempt to seek asylum before reaching the UK are often seeking to rejoin their families and communities who are already here.

We need to challenge narratives that dehumanise. Sometimes it may be the government we have to challenge as with the tone and content of the Home Secretary’s announcement on asylum policy reform last November, that risked deepening the fractures in our communities rather than healing them. The arguments in the debate on how to “restore order and control to our borders” and deter people from seeking asylum in the UK was not well presented.

The Methodist Church, through the Joint Public Issues Team, have worked to highlight unjust policies. In March this year, more than 800 faith leaders, including us on behalf of the Methodists, signed a joint letter to the Home Secretary expressing concern about the proposals and the suspension of refugee family reunion. The refugee family reunion scheme used to allow people granted refugee status in the UK to apply for their immediate family members to join them. The government abruptly suspended this scheme last September and now proposes a much more restrictive approach.

Sometimes the support we can offer refugees may be practical, creating spaces of welcome in our churches where, through conversation, through shared meals, strangers become friends. We can offer clothes, toiletries and advice but we can listen and share the stories that disarm through empathy and understanding. There are organisations in nearly every community working alongside refugees and asylum seekers who we can support.

Many Methodist churches are already part of the Church of Sanctuary movement, committing to learning about migration, embedding welcome in their worship and community life, and actively supporting refugees. Becoming a Church of Sanctuary is a powerful witness.

Sometimes our support may be personal, not just the befriending of a refugee, but more awkwardly, we may need to find ways to challenge a friend or family member who is repeating the assumptions and misapprehensions peddled by others.

Seeking asylum is a human right. Anyone fleeing persecution, conflict, or human rights abuses has a right to seek protection in another country. According to the UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, at least 79.5 million people around the world have been forced to flee their homes. We must be courageous in tackling the causes of the global refugee situation.

Some leave their homes due to fears of persecution due to their race, religion, nationality, sexual orientation or political opinion. In other parts of the world conflict makes daily life almost impossible with infrastructure being destroyed and millions forced to leave their homes.

Weather events and environmental conditions are made worse with global heating, contributing to multiple and overlapping crises increasing poverty and straining previously good relations between communities which creates conditions for conflict and further forced displacement.

Our Methodist calling to seek justice compels us to tackle these factors that are driving displacement. With our global partners – charities and churches - we can contribute to work for peace and development and to tackle the climate emergency And in this country, we should continue to call for people to be treated with decency by a fairer and more compassionate asylum system, an end to hostile environment policies and for a humane approach to those seeking sanctuary.