Global Ecumenical Network on Migration

Introduction
Migration is not merely a reality today but a challenge to the whole world. Research indicates that billions of people are crossing boarders today for many reasons. People are forced to migrate because of economic, social and political reasons, while there are others who voluntarily migrate in search of better prospects in life and the countries they move into accept them as they are professionals. It is in this light that Asian, African and Latin American ecumenical Councils need to reflect together with the European Churches on the challenge and opportunity which migration poses doing mission which is not divorced from the ministries of justice, peace and compassion. The national, regional and global factors integral to the whole issue of migration or movement of people either voluntarily or forced should also be considered.

All Africa Council of Churches
Prior to the conference the GEM Group met to discuss the issues related to the conference. The All Africa Conference of Churches (AACC) presented a paper highlighting local migrant issues and regional migrant ministry plans and activities. Migration is a major concern that the churches in Africa are faced with, and being addressed within the context of a globalized world characterized by free trade, open markets, and free flow of capital. Powerful and rich nations want the poor and powerless nations to open their markets and for capital to move freely into and out of these countries. However, poorer nations are experiencing more restrictions when it comes to movement of people, especially in areas of work permits, visas, living and health needs.
Many churches in Africa have a long and painful history of labor migration. However, many churches are also silent when it comes to the suffering and inhuman treatment of migrants whether in Africa or elsewhere. It is important for the African churches to break the silence and demand for justice and human dignity in the name of the God of justice and life.

Christian Conference of Asia
The main task of the CCA Justice, International Affairs, Development and Service (JID) is to accompany Asian Churches and National Councils on Asian Migrant Workers issues. In this regard CCA has the following objectives:

o To break the silence and to raise prophetic voices within churches on issues related to migrants o To facilitate sharing and exchange of relevant information regarding migrants among Asian Churches
o To build coalitions (networks) at local levels to protect and guide migrants, and to draw up advocacy campaigns
o To organize groups at national level to pressure governments and local authorities to protect migrants.

According to a study by the International Labor Organization, Asian women are now the fastest growing category of international migrant workers. Therefore, they need special protection because as migrants and non-national workers they are vulnerable to various forms of discrimination, exploitation and abuse.

Very recently media has focused on extreme cases of abuse of Filipino and Sri Lankan maids. Media also revealed the daily work environment and exploitation of these workers, and the lack of adequate international laws to safeguard these women.

It is true that migration provides productive labour and an economic lifeline for millions of Asian men and women. But, wages are earned amidst many risks and insecurities. It is thus important to highlight the plight of unprotected female migrant workers. Lately this issue has become a public concern.

Human rights and women’s groups pointed out that women should have equal opportunities in areas of immigration and emigration policies. Furthermore, women should have equal access to international labour markets regardless of their status as migrants or non-nationals. However, these concerns have been ignored by authorities, consequently making women more vulnerable to discrimination, exploitation and abuse. Indonesia, Philippines, Sri Lanka and Thailand who send out women in large number looking for employment must take note of these concerns. At the same time receiving countries in the Gulf States, particularly Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, Hong Kong, Japan, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia and Brunei must make every effort to honour the dignity and humanity of these women.

Latin American Council of Churches
A country which faces major humanitarian crisis is Colombia. Millions of Colombians are forced to flee from conflict zones in the countryside to the poorest areas of the cities, or to seek refuge in the borders of neighbouring countries. Today the Colombian government recognizes that it has 3.2 millions Colombians on the move classified as forced migrants and who suffer violence and human rights abuses. The UNHCR has received the commitment of other Latin American nations, such as Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Uruguay and Paraguay, to collaborate with refugee services.

The Ecumenical organizations such as the WCC, Latin American Council of Churches, and the ACT Alliance have decided to support Colombian Churches and social organizations to respond to this crisis as early as possible.

European Churches’ response to migration
The European Churches’ response to migrant issues focused on the aspect of UNITY. Three areas of concern highlighted are a) migration as opportunity and challenge for the Unity of the Church; b) migration as an opportunity for the churches to witness; and, c) migration as an opportunity for advocacy work.

Some theological reflections
I was happy to be there and to hear about the ministry of the churches in Europe to those who have come to their countries looking for shelter, security, employment and better living conditions for them as well as for their children. Some fled violent situations and wars to save their lives. It is these vulnerable people we lump together into the category of migrants. More than 75% percent of these people fall into the category of forced migrants.

Voluntary migration is nothing new in the history of humankind and we could see such movements of people right through history. To such people borders of rich and powerful nations are not closed but open and they feel welcomed. Concern is for those who flee their countries to escape hunger, malnutrition, and death, effects of climate change, violence, war, sexual exploitation and human rights violations. They leave their families, friends and their own countries not because they are eager to leave but because conditions prevailing in their countries force them to. To such people boarders in affluent and countries where there is security and protection are often closed. Even if they manage to cross the borders and enter these countries, they end up either spending long years in prison or refugee camps where living conditions are inhuman and horrible. The cries of these people who languish in camps are almost the cries of the psalmist who lamented, “How long, O Lord? Wilt thou forget me for ever? How long wilt thou hide any face from me? How long must I bear pain in my soul, and have sorrow in my soul,..” (Psalm 13:1; 35:17).

One has to acknowledge and commend the ministry of the European churches to migrants at their borders. It is a caring, sharing, healing and a ministry of being a Good Samaritan. These churches are also driven by their own Christian conviction informed by the words of Jesus who said “I was hungry, naked imprisoned…” Mt. 25:31f). While the caring ministry of the churches in Europe is appreciated, it is also important to engage these churches in a deeper dialogue by raising some critical questions such as: Why are there migrants and why do they leave their countries and who should take responsibility for their forced migration?

The dominant view which prevails in many of the receiving countries is that migrants want to come to their countries because they want to enjoy the privileges of affluent countries. The saying is that they are looking for “greener pastures”. Because of this pre-conceived notion there is so much prejudice and resentment against the stranger at the boarder. Often, the migrant is also a person of different colour, culture and class. Therefore, the discrimination and rejection of the migrants are also rooted on issues of race, colour and class prejudice combined with fear. Although we are well versed with the saying of Paul which says, “ There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Gal. 3: 28), we find it difficult to live this out in our daily lives. The stranger and the other, who is a person of colour is always a problem to deal with for many of us, and hard to live by as a Christian spirituality. When it comes to the issue of migration we see these deep seated prejudices and how the Church identifies itself with the dominant cultures which go against the spirit and the mind of Christ.

If the churches in receiving countries are to comprehend the issue of migration at its depth, then they will have to listen and dialogue with critical voices, especially the voices which are raised within churches and civil society groups in sending countries. The sending countries must accompany the churches in receiving countries by telling their story of suffering and crucifixion. In other words, to listen to the critical voices form sending countries is to listen to migrant stories of suffering, pain and crucifixion.

The story of most of the sending countries is a story of colonization, divide and rule conquests, plunder and rape of their cultures, religion, wealth and resources for more than 500 hundred years. Furthermore, with neo-colonialism and the rise of globalization, collaboration has taken place between the rich and powerful minorities within receiving countries with the rich and powerful within colonizing and powerful nations. Those who oppose these alliances are branded as enemies of the state, communists or terrorists. Such branding gives powers-that-be the license to kill, imprison or banish who question or oppose the status quo. They end up at the boarders of other countries and become migrants themselves.

Those in affluent countries should realize that they are affluent not because God is biased towards them but because over the centuries they have raped and reaped the resources of the sending countries. They have become rich by making others poor. The time has come for these countries to repent and say and live the words of Zacchaeus “Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have defrauded any one of anything, I restore it fourfold” (Luke 9: 8). Repentance can come only when the rich and the powerful realize that for the world to be just and fair, they must go beyond charity and practice justice. Those who are at the boarders are not beggars seeking pity and mercy but are crying for justice and reparation. They are asking them to return all what was stolen from.

Some churches and groupa in receiving countries see migrants in their midst as an opportunity to evangelize or to proselytize, which is a wrong understanding of mission and evangelism. Rather than trying to evangelize the other in one’s midst, is it incumbent to recognize the broken and wounded Christ amongst migrants. Then the response becomes not evangelism or conversion but witnessing to the Gospel of Jesus Christ by being a community that accompanies victims and advocates in their just cause. In that accompaniment they will be able to see the face of Jesus as the disciples saw the face of Jesus when he accompanied them on the road to Emmaus (Luke 24: 13f). Can the Jesus community in these affluent nations be like the one who accompanied the disciples on the road to Emmaus? It is this kind of doing mission and evangelism which is needed today.

One should not think that the one at the door has come only to take away things, but also to share many gifts and cultures. Without them one’s culture will be dull and economics stagnant. The migrant is not merely a recipient but also a giver. It is acknowledged that in 2008 alone Australia managed to earn almost 4 billion Australian dollars from the migrants who are in their midst. Therefore, the churches in all nations have a golden opportunity to prophecy to the nations to look at the issue of migration with new insights and humane spirit for the healing and reconciling of individuals, communities and nations.