WCC CONFRONTS ‘RACISM, DISCRIMINATION AND XENOPHOBIA’ AGAINST MIGRANTS
Alexander Henley
Religious Intelligence Ltd, UK
wsID=1918
April 23 2008
Hosting a World Council of Churches public hearing on migration,
on April 15-16 in Beirut, Armenian Catholicos Aram I declared: "This
consultation is a wake-up call to the ecumenical movement, to NGOs,
to governments."
Set in the fitting context of the residence-in-exile of the Armenian
See of Cilicia, the meeting’s aims were to overturn prejudices and
seek a ‘pastoral approach to this burning issue’. The Christian
response, Catholicos Aram concluded, must be ‘more than humanitarian
work’. "We must embrace those people who linger on the periphery of
our communities."
The WCC’s achievement was in going beyond simple commandments to
‘love thy neighbour’ or ‘welcome the sojourner’. Experts from around
the world reflected on a wide range of social, political and economic
aspects of migration, contributing to a holistic response. Inspired
by faith, the hearing grappled with often-gritty worldly
realities. Envisioned as the launch of a worldwide conversation, it
is one in which non-believers and secular organisations or governments
can participate fully.
Speakers came not only from the Christian world, but also included
notable Lebanese Sunni, Shi’a and Druze representatives. "We are
challenged to strengthen inter-faith relations in addressing the
issue of international migration," said WCC Secretary-General the Rev
Dr Samuel Kobia. This pragmatic approach hopes that cooperation on
global concerns will produce a natural dialogue: one that does not
rely on dry academic initiatives for impetus.
"Much language about migration is derogatory," said Dr Kobia in the
closing statement of the meeting. Events since 9/11 have contributed
to the demonisation of migrants, who are regarded as a security threat.
"Migrants are not commodities, illegal aliens or mere victims. They
are human beings with God-given rights and economic potential."
The hearing did not ignore the negative implications for both
sending and receiving countries, but accepted migration as a ‘fact of
life’. Instead of responding with ‘hysteria and fear’, the WCC argues
that loving the neighbour – by granting legitimacy and recognition
to migrants – can transform them into a force for the social and
economic good.