Background
Over the next 4-5 years, the United States expects to welcome tens of thousands of refugees from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), scene of some of the world’s worst ongoing violence and human rights abuses. According to UNHCR, approximately 430,000 refugees from the DRC have sought protection in neighboring countries, including Burundi, Rwanda, Uganda and the United Republic of Tanzania. In addition, there are some 2.7 million internally displaced people (IDPs) within the country itself.
Of the 5,155 refugees resettled last year by Episcopal Migration Ministries and its network of affiliate organizations, 420 were Congolese and that number is expected to grow in 2015.
How can your faith community support and advocate for the plight of Congolese refugees? How can your congregation prepare to welcome these new Americans into your community?
February 19 Educational Webinar
Please join Kurt Bonz, Program Manager for Episcopal Migration Ministries; Allison Duvall, Episcopal Migration Ministries’ Church Relations Manager; and Katie Conway, Policy Analyst for Immigration and Refugees in the Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society’s Office of Government Relations, in a church wide webinar on Thursday, February 19 at 7:00 pm EST.
Participation is via registration here: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/6141019095904459265
Allison, Katie and Kurt will: provide an overview of the conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), update the current status of Congolese refugees, and suggest what you can do in your community to continue to welcome Congolese refugees as they arrive in our country seeking safety, peace, and a chance to begin their lives again.
Questions are welcomed and encouraged and can be submitted via the webinar chat room or on social media using #ShareTheJourney.
Resources
The webinar content is ideal for Sunday forums, discussion groups, adult formation classes, youth groups, and formation classes. A discussion guide is available here: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/files/documents/congolese_refugees_webinar_guide.pdf
