Episcopal Church Statement on White House Refugee Resettlement Cap Decision

Published April 16 2021 Today the Biden administration announced it would not increase the refugee cap for Fiscal Year 2021 from a historic low of 15,000 refugees to 62,500. Given that President Biden campaigned on increasing the refugee cap in FY2021 and took the necessary steps to make these changes in February, we express disappointment […]

Wise Stewardship of Land

EPPN Creation Care Series 2021 Part 2 **After reading, don’t forget to use the link below to urge your Members of Congress to practice wise stewardship and permanently protect the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge!** Genesis 1:26 “Then God said, ‘Let us make humankind in our image, according to our likeness; and let them have dominion […]

Protecting Voting Rights

Overview of Voting Rights The Office of Government Relations is working to maintain momentum from the 2020 U.S. election, where the country saw considerable interest and energy on voter education, voter registration, and getting out the vote. We want to harness that energy into civic engagement in the non-election years when hugely consequential decisions are […]

The Paris Agreement and 1.5 Degrees Celsius

Statement commending TPS designation for Venezuelans in U.S.

The Episcopal Church commends the Biden administration’s decision to grant Temporary Protected Status (TPS) to Venezuelans living in the United States. The status, which allows all individuals from a TPS-designated country to legally remain in the United States for renewable 18-month terms, will provide short-term relief for thousands of Venezuelans unable to return home due […]

Statement on President Biden’s Day One Actions

The Episcopal Church commends President Biden for his commitments to rejoin the Paris Agreement, rescind the Muslim travel ban, and rejoin the World Health Organization (WHO). Many of these policies uphold missional statements of our faith and contend for justice and peace. Since its creation in 2015, 197 countries have endorsed the Paris agreement. Biden […]

Resources for MLK Day and Inauguration

In this message, we want to share a quick guide to the coming days and offer a brief reflection on our incredible tradition of the transfer of power, the turbulent times we are living in, and the nonviolent legacy of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.  Check out our Inauguration Resources including prayer resources for yourself and your congregation, information on vigils taking place in the coming […]

The Episcopal Church Condemns the Oil & Gas Lease Sale in the Arctic Refuge

The Episcopal Church opposes the oil and gas lease sale in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge that occurred on Wednesday, January 6th, 2021. Oil and gas drilling in the Refuge threatens the traditional existence of the Gwich’in people—many of whom are Episcopalian—and has failed to deliver on its promises of economic prosperity. Less than one percent of the projected $1.8 billion lease sale revenue was generated: only $14.4 million.   Sparse industry interest […]

OGR Priorities for the New Congress and Administration

On Sunday, members of the 117th Congress were sworn in. This new Congress is the most diverse in U.S history in terms of race and ethnicity, including having a record number of Black and Indigenous women in Congress. There are more women in Congress than at any other time in history, as well as record numbers of the LGBTQ community. Members […]

Year-End Advocacy Update: COVID Relief and the NDAA

As we near the end of the year, we write to you to once again to express our gratitude for all those who took action again and again to urge Congress to pass COVID-19 relief this year. Last night, Congress passed legislation containing many of the provisions we have advocated for: SNAP increases, unemployment insurance, […]