In a significant decision that marks the conclusion of a nearly forty-year relationship, the Episcopal Church announced on Monday that it is terminating its partnership with the federal government concerning the resettlement of refugees. This decision stems from the church's moral opposition to resettling white Afrikaners from South Africa, who have been classified as refugees under the Trump administration.
The Most Rev. Sean W. Rowe, the presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church, communicated this decision in a letter to church members. He revealed that two weeks prior, the government had informed Episcopal Migration Ministries that, under the federal grant terms, they were expected to resettle white Afrikaners from South Africa. Rowe emphasized that this request crossed a moral line for the church, which holds a prominent position in the global Anglican Communion—a community that includes notable leaders like the late Archbishop Desmond Tutu, a dedicated opponent of apartheid in South Africa.
Rowe stated, "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." Consequently, the church has decided to end its refugee resettlement grant agreements with the U.S. federal government by the close of the federal fiscal year.
While Episcopal Migration Ministries will wind down all federally funded services by the end of September, Rowe assured church members that the denomination would continue supporting immigrants and refugees through other means. This includes offering aid to those refugees who have already been resettled in the United States.
The announcement coincided with the arrival of flights carrying Afrikaners at Dulles International Airport near Washington, D.C. This marked the first wave of entries following Trump's executive order in February, which allowed the U.S. to accept Afrikaners from South Africa who are reportedly victims of unjust racial discrimination.
The South African government has vehemently denied allegations of systemic racial animus, a sentiment echoed by a coalition of white religious leaders in the region, including several Anglicans. In a letter, these leaders expressed their unanimous rejection of claims stating that white South Africans face victimization, violence, and hateful rhetoric, particularly in light of land expropriation legislation without compensation.
The Episcopal Church has a long-standing history of advocating against apartheid in South Africa, having begun to alter its financial holdings in the region as early as 1966. By the mid-1980s, the church had voted to divest from companies operating in South Africa, demonstrating its commitment to social justice. Rowe's announcement comes at a time when the Trump administration has effectively frozen the refugee program, with Afrikaners being among the few individuals allowed entry as refugees since January.
Shortly after taking office, Trump signed an executive order that halted the refugee program and discontinued payments to organizations that assist with refugee resettlement. This shift has left many refugees, including Christians fleeing religious persecution, without a clear path forward. As a result, ten refugee resettlement groups, seven of which are faith-based, have been forced to lay off numerous workers while still attempting to support recently arrived refugees.
Four of these faith-based organizations have initiated separate lawsuits against the government, with one lawsuit resulting in a court ruling intended to restart the refugee program. However, refugee groups have accused the government of delaying compliance with this court order.
A representative from Church World Service, one of the organizations currently litigating against the administration, expressed concerns that the U.S. government has prioritized the admission of Afrikaners while neglecting other refugee populations in desperate need of assistance. Rick Santos, head of Church World Service, stated, "By resettling this population, the Government is demonstrating that it still has the capacity to quickly screen, process, and depart refugees to the United States."
Matthew Soerens, vice president of advocacy and policy at World Relief, an evangelical Christian organization that assists in refugee resettlement, highlighted the complexities of the current situation. He noted that the government is not utilizing the traditional State Department resettlement process for these new arrivals, which has historically involved partnerships with various agencies.
Soerens concluded by urging the administration to resume the initial resettlement process for a broader range of individuals fleeing persecution based on faith, political opinion, or other valid reasons under U.S. law. He emphasized that there is significant support for this initiative from evangelical Christians, including some conservative evangelicals who view refugee resettlement as a critical tool for protecting those denied religious freedom abroad.
