Christian Churches Launch Campaign To Support Refugees

President Trump’s hardline stance on immigration was made manifest in January through an executive order blocking citizens from seven countries, sparking protests at airports across the country. (Photo by Drew Daudelin)

Religious groups around the country Friday announced a coordinated effort to fight immigration policies being pushed by the Trump administration. The campaign includes 37 Christian denominations representing 30 million Americans.

President Donald Trump’s hardline stance on immigration was made manifest in January through an executive order blocking citizens from seven countries – said to protect Americans from foreign-born terrorists. A federal judge blocked the order, but a revised version is expected soon.

The order has been divisive among faith groups. But on Friday a number of Orthodox and mainline Protestant churches announced a grassroots effort to fight any version of the ban.

Sharon Watkins is president of The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), which is headquartered in Indianapolis.

“We will invite all our constituents and all other people of faith to join us in espousing a future that evokes the spirit of love…not fear,” Watkins says.

Watkins says her church will offer resources and support to encourage public demonstrations urging members of Congress to rescind ant-immigrant orders.

The campaign also hopes to raise $1 million over the next six months to help refugees.

It was announced through the National Council of Churches and Church World Service, a group that helps settle refugees. Out of the nine agencies that resettle refugees in the U.S., six are faith-based.