Episcopal Migration Ministries and the Office of Government Relations is hosting a one-hour free webinar, Our 1939 Moment: Continuing the Legacy of Welcome, on Monday, June18 at 4 pm Eastern (3 pm Central/2 pm Mountain/1 pm Pacific/noon Alaska/11 am Hawaii). 

Presented as part of the World Refugee Day observance on June 20, the webinar will be a conversation about the history and present of the Episcopal Church’s legacy of refugee welcome.

“Our present moment is not so unlike our past,” noted Episcopal Migration Ministries’ Allison Duvall, Manager for Church Relations and Engagement. “In the 1930’s and 1940’s, the Church was galvanized to stand for refugees fleeing Nazi atrocities in Europe. Today, over 22.5 million children of God are refugees, fleeing terror, persecution, violence, and war. We are called, at this moment, to stand for them.”

Joining Duvall will be Lacy Broemel, Immigration and Refugee Policy Advisor in the Office of Government Relations, and Episcopal Migration Ministries’ Kendall Martin, Communications Manager, for a conversation about the Church’s history and heritage of welcome, and how we are called to continue that legacy today.

 “Our 1939 Moment: Continuing the Legacy of Welcome will offer information, inspiration, and specific ways individuals and congregations can claim this legacy and this work as their own,’ Martin said.

Broemel explained that Our 1939 Moment: Continuing the Legacy of Welcome will also be released as a podcast episode on Episcopal Migration Ministries’ podcast, “Hometown,” which is available on Apple Podcasts, GooglePlay, Stitcher, and SoundCloud. Each episode is also released on Episcopal Migration Ministries’ blog, and featured on social media – @emmrefugees.
                            

Registration is required and is available here.   

The webinar will be available on-demand following the event.

For more information, contact Duvall.

Episcopal Migration Ministries
Episcopal Migration Ministries is the Episcopal Church’s foremost response to refugee crises. Working in partnership with offices and groups within the church as well as with governments and non-government organizations (NGOs), Episcopal Migration Ministries assures safe passage and provides vital services for thousands of refugee families upon their arrival in America: English language and cultural orientation classes; employment services; school enrollment; and initial assistance with housing and transportation. For each family, the goal is self-reliance and self-determination. After years of living in limbo, refugees now have the opportunity to begin again on a strong foundation that honors their stories and dignity, thanks to Episcopal Migration Ministries.

Office of Government Relations
The Episcopal Church Office of Government Relations (OGR) represents the priorities of the Episcopal Church to the policy community in Washington, D.C. Through engaging Congress, the Administration, and U.S. government departments and agencies, the Office of Government Relations aims to shape and influence policy on critical issues, highlighting the voices and experiences of Episcopalians and Anglicans globally. Advocacy priorities of the Office of Government Relations include refugees and immigration, environmental stewardship, and international development and conflict. Through the Episcopal Public Policy Network, the Office of Government Relations strives to equip Episcopalians to become advocates themselves on these critical issues.