'We retain deep misgivings about the safety of the Rwanda Bill' 

Churches have reiterated their opposition to the Rwanda Bill, which passed in Parliament on Monday night (23 April)

Since the Bill's passing on Monday, General Secretary Lynn Green has joined The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby and other church leaders in stating they retain 'deep misgivings about the Safety of Rwanda Bill... for the precedent it sets at home and for other countries in how we respond to the most vulnerable.'

The church leaders' statement expressed gratitude for those who work alongside refugees and asylum seekers, in the face of rising hostility of this support from some quarters in recent weeks.

Issued amid news of further lives tragically lost in the English Channel overnight, the statement continued, 'Like so many in this country, we seek to support a system that shows compassion, justice, transparency and speed in its decisions. We grieve the appalling loss of life in the Channel today. 

'There may be differences between our churches and Government on the means by which our asylum system can be fair, effective and respecting of human dignity, but we do agree that borders must be managed and that vulnerable people need protection from people smugglers.

'We have pledged to continue to work with the Home Office, and we do so in good faith.'


The full letter is published on the Joint Public Issues website and at the end of this article. 

 

'Cruel law that will risk people's lives'

The Rwanda Bill seeks to deter unlawful migration, particularly by unsafe and illegal routes, by allowing some migrants to be sent to the Republic of Rwanda.

The Joint Public Issues Team, of which the Baptist Union is a member, has been active in campaigning against this policy since it was announced two years ago. 

The JPIT Churches - the Methodist Church, the United Reformed Church and the Baptist Union - have been signatories on multiple letters, statements and petitions calling for a practice of welcome, hospitality and compassion. 

Churches have urged for the protection of human rights, more safe routes and emphasised that this Bill is contrary to the teachings of Jesus.

On Tuesday JPIT joined more than 250 organisations from across civil society in the UK in signing an open letter to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak following the passage of the Rwanda Bill. 

The Rwanda Act is described in the letter as 'a shameful and performatively cruel law that will risk people’s lives', while the UK Government is accused of rewriting facts following the UK Supreme Court’s ruling that Rwanda is not a safe country in which to send refugees. 

The Rwanda Plan breaks international law and 'abandons our duty to share in the global responsibility towards those forced to seek safety, the letter continues. 

Signatures across the refugee sector include the Refugee Council, JCWI, Jesuit Refugee Service UK, Detention Action, Refugee Action, Freedom from Torture and Care4Calais. 

Other high profile signatories include Oxfam GB, Human Rights Watch, Children’s Rights Alliance for England and Disability Rights UK.

Read the letter in full on the JPIT website here. 

'One of JPIT’s Six Hopes for Society is for a society that welcomes the stranger,' the JPIT website adds.

'We believe that all humans are children of God, known by name and loved by God. We believe that all human beings deserve dignity, respect, safety and their human rights. 

'This is why our churches have signed this open letter and previous statements on this issue.' 


 

Joint church leaders' statement on Rwanda Bill - 23 April 2024

We retain deep misgivings about the Safety of Rwanda Bill, passed in Parliament last night, for the precedent it sets at home and for other countries in how we respond to the most vulnerable. This includes victims of modern slavery and children wrongly assessed as adults, whom we have a duty to protect.

As leaders in Christian churches we wish to express our profound gratitude to those who live out Jesus’s call to feed and clothe the poor, and to welcome the stranger, through their work with asylum seekers and refugees, at times in the face of opposition and prejudice.

We note with sadness and concern the rise in hostility towards those who come to these islands seeking refuge and the way in which the treatment of the refugee and asylum seeker has been used as a political football.

We are disappointed that the kindness and support offered by churches and charities to the people at the heart of this debate - those fleeing war, persecution and violence trying to find a place of safety - has been unjustly maligned by some for political reasons.

In their response to the tragic attack in Clapham earlier this year, some former Home Office ministers, MPs and other commentators sought to portray churches and clergy as deliberately facilitating false asylum claims. It was for this reason, at the request of Anglican leaders, that representatives of our Churches met the Home Secretary in February.  When asked, neither he nor officials could provide evidence to support the allegations of widespread abuse. Home Office Ministers have since confirmed this in a written parliamentary answer, and on questioning by the Home Affairs Select Committee. Follow-up meetings have since been agreed to promote closer cooperation and co-working between the churches and the Home Office.

Like so many in this country, we seek to support a system that shows compassion, justice, transparency and speed in its decisions. We grieve the appalling loss of life in the Channel today. There may be differences between our churches and Government on the means by which our asylum system can be fair, effective and respecting of human dignity, but we do agree that borders must be managed and that vulnerable people need protection from people smugglers. We have pledged to continue to work with the Home Office, and we do so in good faith.

 
Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby

Archbishop of York, Stephen Cottrell

Bishop Paul McAleenan, Lead Bishop for Migrants and Refugees

Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales

Bishop of Southwark, Christopher Chessun

Revd Lynn Green, General Secretary, The Baptist Union of Great Britain

Revd Dr Tessa Henry-Robinson, United Reformed Church General Assembly Moderator

Revd Gill Newton, President of the Methodist Conference