WCC NEWS: WCC moderator addresses Churches’ Commission for Migrants in Europe

World Council of Churches moderator Bishop Dr Heinrich Bedford-Strohm addressed the Churches’ Commission for Migrants in Europe on 2 December, during a conference in Frankfurt commemorating the 60th anniversary of the commission. Ukrainian refugees arrive at the train station in Záhony, Hungary. A town of some 3,500 residents, Záhony has become a key border crossing for Ukrainians going to Hungary, particularly by train. Following the beginning of the Russian invasion of Ukraine more than 200.000 people have crossed the border from Ukraine into Hungary, to seek refuge from war and an increasingly desperate humanitarian situation, Photo: Albin Hillert/Life on Earth Pictures 4 December 2024 The theme of the conference was “Reflecting on a Europe Protecting People More Than Borders.” Bedford-Strohm spoke on human dignity and human rights, as well as central motives for churches´ work on asylum and migration. “More than 20,000 people have drowned while fleeing across the Mediterranean,” he said. “The number of unreported cases is probably much higher.” Despite this, he noted, Europe is allowing ships that are supposed to save people from drowning to be blocked or obstructed, while at the same time European states are refusing to resume sea rescue operations in the Mediterranean themselves. “This is a moral scandal,” Bedford-Strohm said. “From the point of view of basic Christian principles, it is not decisive why people are in mortal danger. It is only that their lives are in danger. And then you simply have to save them.” Bedford-Strohm also took a closer look at why the present European policies toward refugees is in strong tension with the moral basis of Christian heritage. “Dealing with migration in accordance with our principles looks different,” he said. “Legal access routes must be strengthened and the options for switching between immigration and asylum law must be expanded.” Bedford-Strohm, in his conclusion, concluded that God’s love is for the whole world and does not stop at national borders. “God created all people in his image and has thereby given each and everyone inviolable dignity,” he said. “Love one’s neighbor is an obligation. It must show in readily receiving refugees.” He pointed out that the desire for security must be carefully balanced against the rights to freedom and tolerance, which are the very foundations of an open society. “Faith in God means that justice and peace are the guiding principles for our responsibility towards the world,” said Bedford-Strohm. “Christians are opening their eyes to the injustices and their role in combating such inequalities.”   Learn more about the Churches’ Commission for Migrants in Europe and the 60th anniversary of the commission Learn more about the work of WCC on migration and multicultural ministry Church engagement to end statelessness See more

The World Council of Churches promotes Christian unity in faith, witness and service for a just and peaceful world. An ecumenical fellowship of churches founded in 1948, today the WCC brings together 352 Protestant, Orthodox, Anglican and other churches representing more than 580 million Christians in over 120 countries, and works cooperatively with the Roman Catholic Church. The WCC general secretary is Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay from the Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa. Media contact: +41 79 507 6363; www.oikoumene.org/press Our visiting address is: World Council of Churches Chemin du Pommier 42 Kyoto Building Le Grand-Saconnex CH-1218 Switzerland