Our Sunday Forum

Tomorrow, a small group of St. Paul’s parishioners will assemble in the Parish Hall directly following the 8AM service to learn more about the US border crisis and the dilemma of how to address the humanitarian needs of the unaccompanied minors fleeing from violence and possible death without becoming embroiled in the politics of Immigration Reform.

My hours of research on this current situation all point to the challenging and, for some, unpalatable fact that this tsunami of unaccompanied hispanic children are indeed refugees. They are refugees fleeing in chaos, not immigrants choosing to leave in an organized and joyful fashion - they are fleeing the tentacles of crime imposed by the MS 13 and MS 18 gangs that have invaded their neighborhoods; raped their mothers, sisters, and aunts; in cold blood killed their families, friends and neighbors; and threatened to do the same to them.

These are children who are handing themselves over to another authority, seeking refuge from the terror of organized crime and almost certain death.

My research also indicates that some of these children, indeed perhaps up to 60% of them, may actually have a legal right to be in this country, and that almost 100% of the children have nowhere to return to if they are deported to their home countries.

I believe that we all understand the need for border security and organized immigration that allows entry into this, or any, country based on a fixed and realistic set of policies and regulations.

I believe that we all agree that our borders need to be secured, and quickly.

I believe that we all know deep within our hearts that ultimately many of these children will be returned to their home countries, hopefully to a safer more peaceful life - but, perhaps not.

Finally, I believe that we, as a nation, must step up to this crisis of unaccompanied children who now reside here, within our borders, in the most humane, compassionate and just manner possible. We must accord to these children the same dignity that God has accorded them. We must see these children with the same compassion that Jesus saw the blind, the unclean, and the poor. We must be sure that we do not perpetuate their refugee status.

There is no simple answer here - no quick fix. But, there is the call, and therefore the mandate, for us to work together to afford these children their basic human rights delivered in ways that meet their developmental and cultural realities and needs.

As for those in our little group at St. Paul’s tomorrow morning — some will walk away a bit more informed; some will want to learn more; some will want to do something to assist. We will work on it. We will discern what we, this little group, might possibly do to ensure that compassion and love make their voices heard - heard above the voices of politics and fear.

If we can provide even a cup of water, that might be enough. Rev. Clelia P. Garrity. LCSW

Best Practices for Haiti Medical Missions Initiative: Update

It has been just one year since my friend and colleague Hilda Alcindor and I agreed that we wanted to coordinate a symposium to discuss best practices standards for US-based medical missions to Haiti. A date and meeting site were determined, emails to over 30 mission team leaders currently active in Haiti were sent out, Presiding Bishop Katherine Jefferts Schori and Bishop Jean Zache Duracin were invited, as were many other key members of the Haiti Partnership Program. Prayers ascended. We were on our way!

On September 6-7, 2013, the first Best Practices for Haiti Medical Missions symposium was held in Miami, FL. There were 45 Haitian and American missionaries in attendance for this two-day event that produced many wonderful ideas and seeds for the development of a formalized ministry that ultimately would be supported by the Domestic and Foreign Mission Society (DFMS) and the National Church.

On May 1, 2013, after many hours of discussion and planning, I was appointed as the Coordinator of the Best Practices for Haiti Medical Missions initiative. A $25,000 grant was issued by DFMS to St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Delray Beach, FL, my home parish, to support my work as coordinator of this initiative.

The ensuing two months have been quite active. A website greydoveinc.org has been developed, a monthly Constant Contact email newsletter is reaching over 850 individuals each month,  review by Haitian and American medical personnel of a standardized formulary of prescription and over the counter medications best suited for medical missions in Haiti is underway and will be published this fall, a protocol for best practices of ophthalmology in Haiti has been adopted and published on the Grey Dove website, new partners with experience and multiple medical and surgical resources for missionaries have surfaced and joined out initiative, a rapid response to the Chikungunya virus outbreak among the Best Practices network partners has resulted in sending 160,000 500 mg Tylenol tablets to the Haiti Partnership Program for distribution, and a Second Annual Best Practices Symposium is in the planning stages. It will be held in Atlanta, Georgia on October 4, 2014.

Needless to say, there is much work left to be done as the Best Practices initiative moves forward in its goal to encourage US-based medical missionaries working in Haiti to adopt agreed upon and published Best Practices standards and to move quickly toward the development of sustainable programs in their mission communities. Programs that will function without ceasing once the mission team is no longer there.

Keep us in your prayers; join us in our work. Peace always, Rev. Clelia P. Garrity