Church reps to hear 'true stories' from local asylum seeker
 
Members of churches from across the Diocese of Southwell & Nottingham will be urged to support a motion to call on the government for an amnesty leading to residency for asylum seekers.
 
The Asylum issue will be one of several items under discussion when around 200 members of the Southwell & Nottingham Diocesan Synod meet at Blackburn House, Brake Lane near Ollerton on Saturday, (13th October 2007) at 9am.
 
Earlier in the summer members agreed to discuss a private members motion on justice and asylum seekers.This motion comes as part of the recommendations of a report on the plight of asylum seekers, published by the Rainbow Project at St Stephen with St Paul's church, Hyson Green. The report, called 'True Ghost Stories - the voice of the living dead from Nottingham - April 2006 - April 2007' is available on the website for the Diocese of Southwell & Nottingham -  www.southwell.anglican.org <http://www.southwell.anglican.org/>
 
Members will hear the true story of an asylum seeker and his family who had to flee from their home country due to persecution on faith grounds. He will share with the synod his experience of seeking asylum over the past three years and how his case is now due to be heard in the next few weeks.
 
Vicar at St Stephen with St Paul's, the Revd Ruth Worsley, who will bring an amendment to the motion, said: ”The whole purpose of the motion and the amendment is both to raise people’s awareness and challenge misconceptions about those seeking asylum. Asylum is a very particular aspect of immigration and therefore has to be looked at quite separately. I’m hoping that the day to day stories we deal with, in terms of our own asylum families, will be able to shape political change to bring justice for all not just the few.”
 
Other items on the agenda for Saturday will include budget proposals for 2008 and a presentation on key leadership posts for the future.
 
 
Ends