People Of Faith Should Oppose Uk’s Migration Bill, Church Leader Says
The pending “Illegal Migration Bill” in the UK would unduly limit access for legitimate asylum seekers and should be withdrawn or defeated, the leader of Metropolitan Community Churches said today.
The legislation would result in immediate detention and deportation for people with legitimate needs, eliminating due process and opportunity for lawful immigration for thousands of migrants.
“Two-thirds of people who cross the English Channel seeking asylum in the UK have it granted after rigorous checks and investigations,” said Rev. Elder Cecilia Eggleston, moderator of MCC worldwide and an English citizen. “Immediately returning all migrants to their countries of origin without that process would be an act of cruelty that would result in tremendous harm to innumerable individuals and families.”
“Our church offers support and solidarity to LGBTQ+ asylum seekers,” said Rev. Kai Millar, pastor of Northern Lights MCC in Newcastle, England. “As we journey with them our community is enriched and blessed as they take part in NLMCC church life and share their gifts, their culture and cuisine.”
Eggleston and Millar have joined other faith leaders in signing a petition offered by the Joint Public Issues Team (JPIT), a partnership between the Baptist Union of Great Britain, the Methodist Church, and the United Reformed Church. That petition, opposing the Illegal Migration Bill, can be found here: https://jpit.uk/response-to-illegal-migration-bill
Many MCC churches in the UK and around the world offer unconditional support to LGBTQ+ asylum-seekers.
“Many asylum-seekers have come through the doors of MCC North London who have been traumatised by the events they have lived through, and then further by the detention system,” said Rev. Peta Evans. “We have walked with them as they heal and regain their strength and emerge as gifted and loving members of our community. They give back so much more than they have asked of us, and enrich every aspect of our church life.
“Just one example is someone who narrowly escaped with his life from homophobic persecution, who has gone on to gain his asylum claim and serve as a worship leader and excellent pastoral care leader, but there are many more I could mention,” Evans said. “The cruelties of the detention system, the uncertainty of the claim process, and the constant fear of being returned to a country where their lives are under threat, all take a deep toll on the physical and mental health of our asylum-seekers, which I have witnessed first-hand, along with the compassion and generosity which they respond in supporting their new-found community here.”