https://www.thedailybeast.com/episcopal-church-defies-trump-by-refusing-to-resettle-his-south-african-refugees/
Major Church Defies Trump by Refusing to Resettle His ‘Refugees’
“It has been painful to watch one group of refugees, selected in a highly unusual manner, receive preferential treatment,” the presiding bishop said.
William Vaillancourt
Updated May 13 2025 4:11AM EDT
Published May 12 2025 7:18PM EDT
The Episcopal Church is ending its refugee resettlement partnership with the federal government over the Trump administration’s “preferential treatment” of white South Africans.
In a letter to church members Monday, the Most Rev. Sean Rowe objected to the administration‘s call to help resettle white Afrikaners while refugee admissions from many other countries remain on hold.
“In light of our church’s steadfast commitment to racial justice and reconciliation and our historic ties with the Anglican Church of Southern Africa, we are not able to take this step,” Rowe wrote. “Accordingly, we have determined that, by the end of the federal fiscal year, we will conclude our refugee resettlement grant agreements with the U.S. federal government.”
Rowe took issue with the selective nature of the Trump administration’s approach to white South Africans’ refugee claims.
“It has been painful to watch one group of refugees, selected in a highly unusual manner, receive preferential treatment over many others who have been waiting in refugee camps or dangerous conditions for years,” he wrote.
After the first flight of white South Africans to the U.S. departed on Sunday, Trump claimed baselessly that their ethnic group were victims of “genocide.” In February, he had outlined a “rapid pathway to citizenship” after South-African born Elon Musk raised the issue.
Rowe, in his letter, also criticized other aspects of Trump’s hardline approach to migrants.
“I am saddened and ashamed that many of the refugees who are being denied entrance to the United States are brave people who worked alongside our military in Iraq and Afghanistan and now face danger at home because of their service to our country,” he wrote. “I also grieve that victims of religious persecution, including Christians, have not been granted refuge in recent months.”
Though the Episcopal Church has aided immigrants to the U.S. since the late 1800s, the Episcopal Migration Ministries was formally established in the 1980s, according to its website. The group says it has helped more than 100,000 people resettle in the U.S.
There are currently about 1.5 million Episcopalians in the country, according to recently released statistics.
Rowe said that the church would still be investing its resources to help migrants in other ways, but acknowledged the huge loss in federal funds—more than $50 million annually—could not be “bridged with donor funds or proceeds from investments.”
https://www.thedailybeast.com/episcopal-church-defies-trump-by-refusing-to-resettle-his-south-african-refugees/
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It's refreshing to see a major American church take the high road for a change. This is why I'm proud to be an Episcopalian. -- Suzi
@Suzianne said2.1 million members world wide and declining the last 20 years because of radical liberal beliefs, hardly a strong major church.
It's refreshing to see a major American church take the high road for a change. This is why I'm proud to be an Episcopalian. -- Suzi
God is love although he also has things he doesn’t stand for called sins. Your church disregards those and says his love (which is funny coming from you) will give you a free pass so they don’t matter. I never saw in the Bible where your bishops can be married to the same sex, along with everything they teach.
@mike69 saidThe church I belong to is only in America. The Episcopal Church of America. This is to differentiate it from other Anglican churches.
2.1 million members world wide and declining the last 20 years because of radical liberal beliefs, hardly a strong major church.
God is love although he also has things he doesn’t stand for called sins. Your church disregards those and says his love (which is funny coming from you) will give you a free pass so they don’t matter. I never saw in the Bible where your bishops can be married to the same sex, along with everything they teach.
Other churches in the same synod are not as liberal, especially in places like Africa.
In case you haven't heard, all church membership is down worldwide. The right's attempted "ownership" of it is a major reason why. The right's ideology is simply not Christ-like.
@Suzianne saidOk? 1.5 million not a major church and it’s been declining for 20 years not because of COVID because it gets more and more liberal. Back up how we’re not Christ like and why your church is more so by changing the Bible to fit your needs and self righteousness in Gods eyes. Like I said, one group is following the Bible and another bypassing/changing it to fit their needs how does this make you Christ like or following the Bible. I ask you plenty of questions you don’t reply directly and just through insults.
The church I belong to is only in America. The Episcopal Church of America. This is to differentiate it from other Anglican churches.
Other churches in the same synod are not as liberal, especially in places like Africa.
In case you haven't heard, all church membership is down worldwide. The right's attempted "ownership" of it is a major reason why. The right's ideology is simply not Christ-like.
@mike69 saidName one that isn't shrinking in US membership.
2.1 million members world wide and declining the last 20 years because of radical liberal beliefs, hardly a strong major church.
God is love although he also has things he doesn’t stand for called sins. Your church disregards those and says his love (which is funny coming from you) will give you a free pass so they don’t matter. I never saw in the Bible where your bishops can be married to the same sex, along with everything they teach.
@mike69 saidThis is because you are a Trumpublican and cannot listen to reason. You worship a lover of money. If you worship mammon, as Trump does, you cannot worship God also.
Ok? 1.5 million not a major church and it’s been declining for 20 years not because of COVID because it gets more and more liberal. Back up how we’re not Christ like and why your church is more so by changing the Bible to fit your needs and self righteousness in Gods eyes. Like I said, one group is following the Bible and another bypassing/changing it to fit their needs how d ...[text shortened]... llowing the Bible. I ask you plenty of questions you don’t reply directly and just through insults.
No one's changing the Bible, pinhead. You're mixing us up with the Jehovah's Witnesses.
@mike69 saidIF that's what he said, he's wrong. If your source says that, it's probably Fox News or some equally false Trumpublican media source. He's hated the Episcopal Church ever since one of our bishops asked him for mercy for those on the blunt end of his racism and his transphobia. And if HE hates something, you can bet all of you do, too. It's a case of the blind leading the blind.
@Suzianne
Did you read rowes interview stating his job was to help the church decline gracefully.
He's not wrong about the dominant racist, Donald Trump, though.
@mike69 said"one group is following the Bible and another bypassing/changing it to fit their needs"
Ok? 1.5 million not a major church and it’s been declining for 20 years not because of COVID because it gets more and more liberal. Back up how we’re not Christ like and why your church is more so by changing the Bible to fit your needs and self righteousness in Gods eyes. Like I said, one group is following the Bible and another bypassing/changing it to fit their needs how d ...[text shortened]... llowing the Bible. I ask you plenty of questions you don’t reply directly and just through insults.
Couldn't agree more. When you worship a money-lover over Jesus, who chastised the money-changers profiting from God, that's what happens. But you think you can worship both. Jesus said, you will love one and hate the other. Since none of you are following what Jesus actually taught, we can guess which one you hate.
@Suzianne saidLook it up all I did was google his name, it had nothing to do right wing anything. Look up your church, Every article I went to said your church is dead already and will be totally dead within 20 more years. Not one article said different and blamed progressive views and implanting them.
IF that's what he said, he's wrong. If your source says that, it's probably Fox News or some equally false Trumpublican media source. He's hated the Episcopal Church ever since one of our bishops asked him for mercy for those on the blunt end of his racism and his transphobia. And if HE hates something, you can bet all of you do, too. It's a case of the blind leading the blind.
He's not wrong about the dominant racist, Donald Trump, though.
@Suzianne saidFool, your church is the blind leading leading the blind
IF that's what he said, he's wrong. If your source says that, it's probably Fox News or some equally false Trumpublican media source. He's hated the Episcopal Church ever since one of our bishops asked him for mercy for those on the blunt end of his racism and his transphobia. And if HE hates something, you can bet all of you do, too. It's a case of the blind leading the blind.
He's not wrong about the dominant racist, Donald Trump, though.
2 Timothy 4: 3 which says:- "For the time will come when men will not endure sound doctrines, instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear"
@mike69 saidThat's what happens when you only read conservative claptrap.
Look it up all I did was google his name, it had nothing to do right wing anything. Look up your church, Every article I went to said your church is dead already and will be totally dead within 20 more years. Not one article said different and blamed progressive views and implanting them.
They hate us only because Trump hates us, all because a bishop asked him for mercy in his dealings with an already oppressed people. Disgusting. Not surprised you would perpetuate this kind of disinformation.
@wildgrass saidNot shrinking will be totally dead within 20 years and has been for twenty years not because of COVID. 53 million Baptist, 1.3 billion Catholics, 75 million Presbyterians, does this compare to 1.5 million and dying because of the things I’ve mentioned? This is just naming a few.
Name one that isn't shrinking in US membership.
@mike69 saidYou don't need a "great number".
Fool, your church is the blind leading leading the blind
2 Timothy 4: 3 which says:- "For the time will come when men will not endure sound doctrines, instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear"
You only need one, the "great" and "powerful" Donald Trump.
The "great number of teachers" here is all the Trump-media ass-kissers. The MAGA clowns.
Come on, midterms.
@Suzianne saidThis has been going on for 20 years??? LOOK IT UP yourself!!! Your not following the Bible on your liberal viewpoints, people care except liberals.
That's what happens when you only read conservative claptrap.
They hate us only because Trump hates us, all because a bishop asked him for mercy in his dealings with an already oppressed people. Disgusting. Not surprised you would perpetuate this kind of disinformation.