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The United Church of Christ (UCC), in collaboration with 48 other faith-based organizations, has aligned with Church World Service (CWS) to support the Ash Wednesday Ecumenical Declaration. This declaration is a public statement opposing policies that threaten refugee rights, separate families, and undermine humanitarian traditions.
Rev. Karen Georgia Thompson, UCC General Minister and President/CEO, endorsed the declaration. She stated that the UCC remains committed to advocating for welcoming policies and providing resources for all individuals in pursuit of a just world.
Church World Service issued The Ash Wednesday Ecumenical Declaration: Defending Refuge as a call to action from faith communities nationwide. With 45 initial signers, including CWS’ Covenant Members, this declaration represents a commitment by religious leaders and organizations to oppose policies endangering refugees and immigrants.
Amid defining choices about its treatment of displaced persons, the United States faces moral scrutiny. The declaration urges people of faith to base their advocacy on scripture and challenges political leaders to remember America's immigrant history. It asserts that how the nation treats its most vulnerable will shape both domestic communities and its global moral standing.
Following executive orders opposing American traditions of welcome and directives affecting global leadership roles, the Declaration states:
"Together in faith and rooted in love, we resolve to continue in the centuries-old practice of Christian communities walking alongside refugees and immigrants in their pursuit of safety and dignity."
It further pledges hospitality regardless of origin or language spoken:
"We pledge to restore and promote hospitality...regardless of where they are from, how they pray or what language they speak."
Guided by faith principles, signatories stand against measures harming vulnerable families:
"These actions not only cause immediate harm but also threaten our country’s long-term ability to welcome..."
The declaration emerges during uncertainty for the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program.
Rev. Thompson emphasized biblical teachings supporting welcoming strangers:
“The ministry...is grounded in biblical teaching...Decades-long federal support for these commitments was abandoned by the new administration..."
She added: “The United Church of Christ joins this ecumenical declaration affirming historic...faith commitments..."
Supported by CWS’ Covenant Members along with various organizations like National Council of Churches; AME Zion Church; Catholic Legal Immigration Network; The Episcopal Church; Friends United Meeting; Latino Christian National Network; Mennonite Central Committee US; Sojourners; World Relief—the Declaration remains open for signatures through Lent.
For more information or interviews with Rev. Thompson, contact jeffersonc@ucc.org.
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