Holy Resistance to the Theater of Hypocrisy

The Episcopal Church takes an ethical stand against political racism

Trinity Episcopal Church in Henrietta, TX © David Bumgardner; Edits mine

“I am saddened and ashamed that many of the refugees who are being denied entrance to the United States are brave people who worked alongside our military in Iraq and Afghanistan and now face danger at home because of their service to our country,” the Most Rev. Sean W. Rowe, Presiding Bishop of The Episcopal Church, wrote in an open letter the same day 59 white Afrikaners arrived via a taxpayer-funded Omni charter flight to the U.S.¹

Some protestors were at the Dulles Airport, including one with a sign that said “Real Refugees Are Still Waiting.”²

The South African nationals were welcomed as refugees with tiny American flags, red, white, and blue balloons, and an overscripted welcome speech from some suits in a private hangar, a month after the MAGA administration suspended the longtime bipartisan-supported U.S. refugee resettlement program. In the taxpayer-funded spectacle of recruiting and importing white refugees while violently kicking non-white citizens, residents, green card holders, refugees, and asylum seekers out is signature MAGA hypocrisy. And that hypocrisy is not an oversight, it’s a flex. Nor is it a dog whistle, as some commentators have labeled the policy changes. It is an overt white supremacy show of force.

But the Episcopal Migration Ministries, the nationwide organization that leads the Episcopal Church’s refugee resettlement ministry, took an ethical stand against a political regime trying to redefine racism at home while exacerbating suffering abroad.

“It has been painful to watch one group of refugees, selected in a highly unusual manner, receive preferential treatment over many others who have been waiting in refugee camps or dangerous conditions for years,” Bishop Rowe continued in explaining the Episcopal’s Church’s decision to terminate their partnership with the U.S. government in assisting and resettling refugees in the U.S.

The first of what is promised to be multiple cohorts of white Afrikaners from South Africa, fleeing “racial discrimination,” meet no international standards for refugee status.

But the Episcopal Church is listening to international experts.

The UN traditionally participates in the vetting of asylum seekers and refugee application processes, but was not involved in vetting these white Afrikaners. South African-born and raised Elon Musk is claiming his country is perpetrating a “genocide” against white farmers, an ethnic minority primarily descendants of Dutch colonizers who, 30 years after apartheid ended, still own 75% of the land while only representing 7% of the population.³

The International Organization for Migration was not involved in their resettlement to the U.S., as they typically are.⁴

Trump tweeted in all caps about MASSIVE HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS without referring to any evidence or substantiating any of the claims of violence against the white farmers or their land being seized after a recent land reform bill that the South African government describes as comparable to eminent domain in the U.S.

In a State Department press release, Tammy Bruce said, “Today, the United States sends a clear message, in alignment with the administration’s America First foreign policy agenda, that America will take action to protect victims of racial discrimination. … No one should have to fear having their property seized without compensation or becoming the victim of violent attacks because of their ethnicity. In the coming months, we will continue to welcome more Afrikaner refugees and help them rebuild their lives in our great country.”⁵

After successfully pressuring the NFL to remove the words “End Racism” from its privately owned Super Bowl end zones,⁶ and after issuing an executive order removing all DEI language from federal agencies,⁷ the MAGA/Musk administration

When federal agencies try to correct for historical inequalities or any organization merely acknowledges that racial discrimination exists, the MAGA White House refers to it as “motivated by discriminatory equity ideology.”⁸ Racism, racial discrimination, and genocide are only acknowledged and responded to by this administration when the purported victims are white. If white people inflict racism or racial discrimination on non-white people, the books are removed from circulation,⁹ and the Critical Race Theory curricula are removed from schools.¹⁰

The Episcopal Church is not distracted by the doublespeak. By refusing to facilitate discriminatory policies, they are staying true to their mission.

“As Christians, we must be guided not by political vagaries, but by the sure and certain knowledge that the kingdom of God is revealed to us in the struggles of those on the margins. Jesus tells us to care for the poor and vulnerable as we would care for him, and we must follow that command. Right now, what that means is ending our participation in the federal government’s refugee resettlement program and investing our resources in serving migrants in other ways.”¹¹

Their longstanding commitment to the difficult humanitarian work of resettling vulnerable people is the highest Christian calling.

“We have served nearly 110,000 refugees during this time, many of whom are now American citizens and beloved members of our communities, workplaces, and neighborhoods. Over the years, EMM has resettled individuals from Ukraine, Democratic Republic of Congo, and Myanmar. We have supported vulnerable populations from across the globe, regardless of nationality.”

Read below to find out how they will redirect their commitment and follow them to stay up to date on how you can help them.

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You can read Pastor Rowe’s open letter below.

Dear People of God in The Episcopal Church:

I am writing today with some significant news about Episcopal Migration Ministries, the organization that leads The Episcopal Church’s refugee resettlement ministry.

Since January, the previously bipartisan U.S. Refugee Admissions Program in which we participate has essentially shut down. Virtually no new refugees have arrived, hundreds of staff in resettlement agencies around the country have been laid off, and funding for resettling refugees who have already arrived has been uncertain. Then, just over two weeks ago, the federal government informed Episcopal Migration Ministries that under the terms of our federal grant, we are expected to resettle white Afrikaners from South Africa whom the U.S. government has classified as refugees.

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. Accordingly, we have determined that, by the end of the federal fiscal year, we will conclude our refugee resettlement grant agreements with the U.S. federal government.

I want to be very clear about why we made this decision—and what we believe lies ahead for Episcopal Migration Ministries’ vital work.

It has been painful to watch one group of refugees, selected in a highly unusual manner, receive preferential treatment over many others who have been waiting in refugee camps or dangerous conditions for years. I am saddened and ashamed that many of the refugees who are being denied entrance to the United States are brave people who worked alongside our military in Iraq and Afghanistan and now face danger at home because of their service to our country. I also grieve that victims of religious persecution, including Christians, have not been granted refuge in recent months.

As Christians, we must be guided not by political vagaries, but by the sure and certain knowledge that the kingdom of God is revealed to us in the struggles of those on the margins. Jesus tells us to care for the poor and vulnerable as we would care for him, and we must follow that command. Right now, what that means is ending our participation in the federal government’s refugee resettlement program and investing our resources in serving migrants in other ways.

For nearly 40 years, Episcopal Migration Ministries has put hands and feet to our church’s commitment to seek and serve Christ in migrants and refugees. We have served nearly 110,000 refugees during this time, many of whom are now American citizens and beloved members of our communities, workplaces, and neighborhoods. Over the years, EMM has resettled individuals from Ukraine, Democratic Republic of Congo, and Myanmar. We have supported vulnerable populations from across the globe, regardless of nationality.

Since March, a dedicated team of Episcopal Migration Ministries employees has fulfilled our commitment to serve people who arrived just before or in the first days of the new administration. Now that we are ending our involvement in federally funded refugee resettlement, we have asked the administration to work toward a mutual agreement that will allow us to wind down all federally funded services by the end of the federal fiscal year in September. We are working with the affected staff members to provide extensive outplacement services and severance packages.

I have said before that no change in political fortunes alters our commitment to stand with the world’s most vulnerable people, and I want to reaffirm that promise. While our public-private partnership as a refugee resettlement agency is no longer viable, we are hard at work on a churchwide plan to support migrants and refugees through:

• Diocesan partnerships: We have vibrant ministries around the church serving migrants of all kinds. Episcopalians support newcomers through education, direct service, and advocacy. Our dioceses also work to address the root causes of migration. We pledge to redouble our efforts to support these ministries and the migrants among us.

• Global connections: We will invest in our ministries that support forced migrants throughout the countries and territories of The Episcopal Church and the Anglican Communion. This includes our powerful ministry in Europe, where the Convocation of Episcopal Churches in Europe has served more than 140,000 refugees in the last two years, primarily from North Africa, Ukraine, and Central Asia. We will continue to work with our dioceses and Anglican partners throughout Central America to help those seeking safety.

• Continued support for refugees: While new refugee arrivals and funding have been curtailed by the current administration, thousands of refugees welcomed by Episcopal Migration Ministries in previous years still need support. We will invite Episcopalians to connect with resettled refugees and explore how to continue services we have long provided—language services, continuing education, support with childcare, and job training. If refugee resettlement begins again with the support of private sponsors, we will explore those new possibilities.

• Fundraising: It is important to understand the scale of federal grant money from which we are stepping away. In most recent years, Episcopal Migration Ministries received more than $50 million annually in federal funds. This is not a loss that can be bridged with donor funds or proceeds from investments. However, we will raise funds for new and expanded migration ministries across the church and for our partners in this ministry. You can contribute to this new work by making a donation on the Episcopal Migration Ministries website.

In the coming weeks, Episcopal Migration Ministries will share more news about how to be involved. In the meantime, please pray for vetted refugees who have not been granted permission to come to this country, for the staff who will be affected by the end of these federal grants, and for everyone who grieves the end of our federal refugee resettlement work.

May our faith in the Risen Christ, who draws all people to himself, sustain and guide us through the tumult of these times.

https://www.episcopalchurch.org/publicaffairs/letter-from-presiding-bishop-sean-rowe-on-episcopal-migration-ministries/

1. https://www.episcopalchurch.org/publicaffairs/letter-from-presiding-bishop-sean-rowe-on-episcopal-migration-ministries/

2. https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/12/us/politics/white-south-africans-refugees.html

3. https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/south-africa-racist-white-farmers-trump-musk-genocide-ramaphosa-rcna190749

4. https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/white-south-africans-arrive-in-u-s-after-receiving-refugee-status-from-trump

5. https://www.state.gov/releases/office-of-the-spokesperson/2025/05/welcoming-afrikaner-refugees-fleeing-discrimination/

6. https://www.npr.org/2025/02/08/nx-s1-5290233/nfl-super-bowl-end-racism-end-zone

7. https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/01/ending-radical-and-wasteful-government-dei-programs-and-preferencing/

8. https://www.google.com/search?q=white+house+removing+racism+racial+discrimination+language&rlz=1C5CHFA_enUS988US990&oq=white+house+removing+racism+racial+discrimination+language&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUyBggAEEUYOTIHCAEQIRiPAtIBCTE2NTk0ajFqOagCALACAQ&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

9. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/may/10/pentagon-dei-gender-ideology-books

10. https://www.nationalreview.com/news/college-board-confirmed-to-have-removed-various-crt-topics-from-african-american-studies-curriculum-following-desantis-pushback/#:~:text=NewsEducation-,College%20Board%20Confirmed%20to%20Have%20Removed%20Various%20CRT%20Topics%20from,Studies%20Curriculum%20following%20DeSantis%20Pushback

11. https://www.episcopalchurch.org/publicaffairs/letter-from-presiding-bishop-sean-rowe-on-episcopal-migration-ministries/