Church of England Clery Perspectives on Supporting Asylum Applications

As a recently retired clergyperson, my experience within the Church of England has taught me that there is no specific guidance provided when it comes to supporting asylum applications. Clergy members, like any other citizen, can either support or oppose an asylum application based on their honest knowledge and understanding of the applicants' situation.

There is no expectation for clergy to support or oppose asylum applications beyond being truthful in their representations to the relevant authorities. However, personal experiences can sometimes lead to involvement in such matters.

A Personal Experience

I recently wrote a letter in support of a young couple who are members of the church I attend. The couple came to the UK as students and have integrated well, embodying the best of British values. They were disillusioned with Islam and became Christians, taking the final step of being baptized as adults and publicly proclaiming their faith.

However, their decision to convert to Christianity was seriously viewed by the Iranian government. As a result, the Iranian government immediately withdrew their support for the couple's student visa, despite Iran's general tolerance of baptism in Christian families. Baptism can be a serious crime for a person born a Muslim, and although it is rarely demanded by the state, it still looms over them. Family and friends are also expected to shun them, adding to the couple's isolation.

Without the support of Iran, the couple lost their right to study in the UK and were relocated to a different part of the country. I wrote a letter to express my pain at their removal from our local community and the loss our community felt.

Challenges in the Role of Clergy

Clergy members are often faced with various challenges and pressure from individuals for their own ends. For instance, there are instances where people may approach a clergyperson who they barely know, asking for a signature on their passport application, despite the clergyperson only having lived in the parish for a short period. There are also situations where people who never attend the church request a signed statement to join a Church of England, but not a Catholic, school.

While these situations may seem unusual or uncomfortable, most clergy are well versed in not readily signing such documents. They are used to the pressures and are aware that not everyone can be trusted to provide honest information.

Conclusion

In conclusion, while there is no specific guidance provided by the Church of England on how to handle situations involving asylum applications, clergy members, like any other member of the public, are encouraged to be honest in their representations. Personal experiences and pressures from various individuals may occasionally lead to more direct involvement, but the core responsibility remains to be truthful and to respect the boundaries of one's knowledge and understanding.