Welcoming the stranger

The Chaplain for Displaced People is the Bishop of Liverpool’s lead officer responsible for developing ministry in and among refugees and asylum seekers in the Diocese of Liverpool.

I will work with other officers and staff in the Diocese of Liverpool and those holding similar roles in other dioceses and nationally, to develop and implement a range of programme initiatives and projects in fulfilment of an agreed strategy for working with displaced people within the diocese and beyond.

So this will be working across Liverpool Diocese with different organisations such as Together Liverpool and other agencies including Local Authorities in mapping out needs, sharing resources and training packages.  Also, connecting with the ‘Presence and Engagement’ agenda with ecumenical and Inter-faith groups as necessary to signpost people to places where they can express their faith and desire to worship.

Long term, I hope to achieve:
• Developing ministry in and among refugees and asylum seekers in the Diocese of Liverpool. 
• Drawing together programmes which directly facilitate work that considers the needs of refugees and asylum seekers, provide a directory of resources and share in an external event for faith communities.
• Determining where the Diocese can proactively engage in the national agenda to address the systems and processes which discriminate against displaced people.

Churches in the Diocese can help by sharing good practice, resources and projects that are already creating safe spaces, and empowering individuals to ‘welcome the stranger’.

I would also like to encourage Local Missional Leaders in developing pastoral and worship resources and appropriate welcoming initiatives to their social outreach and worship events.

My biggest challenge will be fitting it into one day a week alongside my parish ministry as I am currently Interim Priest-in-Charge, at Christ Church Newburgh & St James Church Westhead.

The biggest opportunities to make a difference in this role are being humbled to get alongside people as an advocate for them where appropriate, working alongside colleagues, multi-faith, health, social and voluntary sector to draw together resources and support for those within the system and for those supporting them and engaging in the national agenda to address the injustice of the experiences of asylum seekers and refugees.

It’s a real privilege to be called to this work and to work alongside my colleagues to support those who are vulnerable in our society, to address injustice and show our Liverpool love to them.