New York Episcopalians React to Syrian Refugee Crisis

At St. Mary’s Episcopal Church in Mohegan Lake, the congregation spent last Sunday writing letters of support to refugee children.

“We are part of the Diocesan group looking to support refugees when they land. We hope to support a family,“ said the rector, Mother Claire Woodley. “Our ties with HVICC have encouraged us to love our neighbors by making them our neighbors.”

The Rev. Canon Susan Harriss, rector of Christ’s Church in Rye, echoed the sentiment.

“I feel very strongly about this,” Harriss said. “We have been taught to love our neighbors as ourselves, period. To refuse Syrian refugees is simply unthinkable to me; they are, after all, targets of ISIS’ violence themselves. We hear with regret about decisions made in the thirties and forties when the United States refused to accept Jews fleeing Hitler; aren’t we making the same mistake again?”

Their stances are backed up by the head of their denomination. Episcopal Church headquarters in New York City is running special webinars to explore the current situation and how Episcopalians can be involved in a ministry of welcome. Presiding Bishop and Primate Michael B. Curry said,

The Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society, through its Episcopal Migration Ministries service, works with dioceses and congregations, and the United States government, to settle refugees in communities across this great country. The Episcopal Church has been engaged in this ministry for more than 75 years. We will not let the nightmare this world often is keep us from carrying out the words of Jesus who told us to be a neighbor to those in need.

Refugees from places like Syria seek to escape the precise same ideological and religious extremism that gave birth to the attacks in Paris. They seek entry into our communities because their lives are imprisoned by daily fear for their existence. Just as Jesus bids us not to be afraid, we must, in turn, pass those words of comfort to those who turn to us for help.

Often in the gospels, fear grips the people of God, and time and again, either the angels, or Our Lord himself, respond with the same words of comfort: “Be not afraid.”

Episcopal Deacon Dorothee Caulfield, an Ossining resident, said she thought politicians were falling prey to what the Islamic State wants -- showing enmity to all Muslims.

And she admitted to feeling frustrated by those who want to close their states. “Seriously! This is America! Founded by refugees!”

PHOTO: Syrian refugee crisis/Mstyslav Chernov