What Is Happening Right Now Among European Church Leaders in Response to the Syrian Refugee Crisis

Source: Samaritan's Purse donation page for Europe Refugee Relief | Sept 22, 2015 (click photo to go to link)

This year alone over 477,000 refugees have already made the arduous journey from the eastern edge of the Mediterranean into southern Europe. Estimates as high as four million refugees have poured into neighboring countries due to ongoing violence and bloodshed in Syria and the Middle East over the last decade. To add to the crisis, six thousand refugees are entering daily into Greece, Macedonia, Serbia, Croatia, Bulgaria, Austria, Germany, and Italy. 

Some people think the church is actively involved in the Syrian refugee crisis. In fact, the church joins European governmental agencies in scrambling to make sense of the situation.  In spite of the consternation and confusion, there are some things happening in the face of the "largest refugee crisis in modern Europe since WW2":

• UNHCR's lead story on the "management mayhem" of this "increasingly chaotic and unpredictable" refugee crisis which is overwhelming an ill-prepared European system. "UNHCR outlines proposals to manage refugee and migration crisis in Europe ahead of EU Summit." Sept 22, 2015
• Letter from the Churches' Commission for Migrants in Europe (WCC) Sept 9, 2015. It's basically a solicitation for stories and the need for an ecumenical response.
• European Methodist Council met this week, the featured project is for new church development in Albania, but nothing about refugees. They did reflect theologically and draft a pastoral letter. They, I'm sure, have been planning logistically for an active response (I hope).
• Further statements from the WCC leaders with more links after the article. Sept 16, 2015 
• Samaritan's Purse is partnering with Hungarian Baptist Fund to deliver 800 food parcels. And, they definitely have a dude there with a camera, though. The Hungarian Baptist Fund does not have anything related to the crisis at their website. In fairness, it looks like these organizations are trying to respond in the short-term while trying to figure out the long term demands. You can donate to the response by Samaritan's Purse by clicking the photo above.
• Statement on the European refugee crisis from the Board of General Superintendents dated Sept 17, 2015. It's says something like pray and donate until we figure out what to do. There are specific ways to donate to the NCM Refugee and Immigrant Support Fund. There are some local stories like this post from Teanna Sunberg.
• Thomas Kemper, top executive for UMC Global Missions offers the most comprehensive statement on the refugee crisis from basic facts, biblical responsibility, specific stories on what has been done, and ways in which local churches can act today, including becoming a sponsor for resettled refugees while acknowledging the risks and responsibilities involved. Includes many links to helpful information especially for Methodists.
• Christian Missionary Alliance folks, well, they're on it. Updates on what they've been doing already and more recent updates from Syria.

Overall, it seems like everyone is overwhelmed, no one is prepared, and the crisis is just beginning.

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