AN ASH WEDNESDAY declaration that pledges and calls for Christian action to oppose anti-immigration policies in the United States has been signed by 45 religious groups, including the Episcopal Church there.

The declaration, “Defending Refuge”, has been organised by the ecumenical organisation Church World Service. It calls on Christians to engage “faithful action” in the light of President Trump’s executive orders cutting all support for resettling migrants while severely reducing the numbers entering the US.

“This Ash Wednesday, we remember. We remember our shared humanity. We remember that we, too, were once strangers in a foreign land. And we remember that faith calls us to act,” Church World Service said.

The declaration reads: “With our nation now facing critical decisions about how it will uphold its most cherished values in relation to vulnerable immigrants and refugees, the ecumenical declaration urges the church to ground itself in Scripture. It also challenges our political leaders to remember that we are largely a nation of immigrants, and that how we treat the most vulnerable among us speaks volumes about our power and values on the global stage.”

Signatories are asked to pledge to “speak out against dehumanizing and divisive rhetoric”.

The chief executive of Church World Service, Rick Santos, said: “Against a backdrop of cuts to essential programs, a seeming push toward isolationism and rhetoric that encourages us to distrust our neighbors, this Declaration is an urgent reminder of our values.

“As followers of Jesus Christ, we welcome, we don’t turn away. We cherish inclusivity, we don’t spurn it. And, ultimately, our values lead us to community instead of division.”

Other signatories include the American Baptist Churches, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, and the Presbyterian and Methodist Churches. The declaration is open for new signatories throughout Lent.