A meeting to help launch a new migrationfocused mission network was held in March in El Salvador. The Central America Migration Mission Network (La Red de Misión y Migración en Centroamérica) will include partners from the Northern Triangle of Central America (Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador) and several US-based Presbyterian Church (USA) entities, including six presbyteries, three congregations and seven ministries. In all, more than 50 participants representing US and Latin American partners gathered from March 19-27 to determine how best to build an intercultural solidarity network around migration issues and justice.

The Calvinist Reformed Church of El Salvador (IRCES) has spent the last two years organising stakeholders and leading the discernment process for forming the new network, with the support of PC(USA) mission co-worker Joseph Russ. The network is a creation born from a General Assembly resolution proposed by the Presbytery of the Pacific on behalf of the church in El Salvador, a PC(USA) partner church, and approved by the 223rd General Assembly in 2018.

According to Russ, the genesis of the overture dates back to 2014, when almost 70,000 unaccompanied minors from Central America arrived at the US-Mexican border. Many were deported back to El Salvador. That country was not equipped to deal with the large number of returnees, so the ecumenical community, including IRCES, came together to donate various supplies to support the returnees.

“That was the conversion moment when the churches committed to addressing migration,” said Russ.

Since then, IRCES has worked with Presbyterian Disaster Assistance and the International Red Cross Committee to develop a shelter for returned migrants and internally displaced persons and has worked with ecumenical partners to respond to root causes and advocate for change in El Salvador.

The 2018 proposal came to PC(USA) from a network of organisations in northern Central America and southern Mexico who joined together to do more than humanitarian support and national advocacy, but also address the root causes of migration and the policies that affect migrants in transit and upon arrival to their destination.

“Based on conversations over the past few years and more recently, we’re getting closer to an actual proposal that will identify the key issues this network is going to tackle, what strategies we’re going to use, and who will direct the work,” said Russ. “This meeting marks the first time most of these partners are coming together in person to learn, build community, and develop strategic planning for the future.” (Scott O’Neill, Presbyterian News Service)