This letter is to bring your attention to the Refugee Sponsorship Initiative that we are undertaking as an Association and to answer some of the many questions you may have. It will provide you with the background information of how we got to now, clarify what a Sponsorship Agreement Holder is, and bring you up-to-date with where the AGC is at in this process today.
Background: How We Got to Now
In early 2015, the AGC (represented by then president Bill Fietje) was invited to a meeting hosted by the EFC with the Minister of Immigration, Chris Alexander, to discuss details of the government’s plan for Syrian Refugees and the role the church in Canada was requested to fill. The Minister hoped that churches in Canada would play a major role in that resettlement plan. Out of that meeting, the EFC drafted a Statement of Intent outlining the tremendous need facing us today, and the clarity of scriptures that speak of God’s compassion for the vulnerable, the needy and the oppressed. The final paragraph of that Statement reads as follows:
At our National Board meeting in February, 2015 our president reported, “We need to identify someone in our Association who would have a passion for this ministry and will oversee it on our behalf. This is too large a task for our current staff. The Executive has agreed to sign the Statement of Intent from the EFC.”
At the AGC West Conference 2015, Tim and Susan felt God calling them into this new ministry. By God’s grace and with His enabling, they chose to serve.
In September 2015, the AGC signed a renewable one-year Denominational Partnership Agreement between:
- the Christian & Missionary Alliance in Canada,
- the AGC
- the FEBC (Fellowship of Evangelical Baptist Churches), and
- the EMCC (Evangelical Missionary Church of Canada
Working with C&MA between 2015 and early 2019, 11 of our churches brought 46 individuals to Canada, and there are another 9 waiting for their applications to be processed overseas.
In February of 2019, the AGC was granted their own SAH status with IRCC. We can now sponsor refugees through Canada's PSR program ourselves, and have increased Canada's capacity to resettle the forcibly displaced in our communities today.
What is a Sponsorship Agreement Holder (SAH)?
A sponsorship agreement holder (SAH) is an organization that has signed a sponsorship agreement with the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship which allows them to participate in the resettlement of refugees through the Private Sponsorship of Refugees (PSR) Program. A sponsorship agreement is a legal agreement between a corporation and the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship. After signing the agreement, the corporation becomes a Sponsorship Agreement Holder (SAH).
Currently, there are 116 SAHs across Canada. SAHs differ in composition, type and organizational structure. In general, they have the following traits:
• They are incorporated organizations.
• They can be religious, ethno-cultural or humanitarian organizations.
• They have signed a sponsorship agreement with the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship (or delegate) to facilitate the sponsorship process.
• They are responsible for managing sponsorships submitted under their agreement.
• They have the prerogative to identify refugees whom they would like to sponsor.
• They can initiate sponsor-referred cases (e.g., specific refugees or refugee families in need of resettlement are brought to the attention of the SAH through overseas contacts or through friends or relatives in Canada).
• They can authorize Constituent Groups (CG) to sponsor under their agreement. SAHs have the right to set their own criteria to recognize a CG and manage their agreement. They may have many CGs across Canada or only a few in a specific region or area.
• They are responsible for training and information sharing with their Constituent Groups.
• They may undertake sponsorships on an ongoing basis.
• Some have national agreements while others are regional.
• They or their authorized CG is located in the community where the refugee is expected to settle.
What are the responsibilities of a SAH?
When an organization signs a sponsorship agreement, it becomes fully accountable for the responsibilities that are detailed in the sponsorship agreement. These include:
1. Providing basic financial support (e.g., for housing and food) and care for the sponsored refugee during the sponsorship period (generally a period of one year), or until the sponsored refugee no longer requires assistance, whichever comes first;
2. Pre-screening of sponsorship applications to determine whether they meet Canada’s sponsorship eligibility and admissibility criteria;
3. Being responsible for the selection and authorization of CGs;
4. Ensuring it has sufficient resources and expertise to carry out its responsibilities;
5. Remaining jointly or solely liable when the SAH or CG has signed a sponsorship undertaking;
6. Providing organizational assistance, advice, information and support to its CGs;
7. Being responsible for the monitoring of its CGs;
8. Advising IRCC of any changes in the signing authority of the organization; and
9. Submitting an annual report to IRCC.
What settlement assistance is required from a SAH?
At the outset of the sponsorship process, a SAH has an obligation to provide a settlement plan that outlines the settlement assistance it will offer to the sponsored refugee(s). During the sponsorship period, a SAH through the efforts of their Constituent Groups (for us, this will be our local churches) undertakes to:
1. Welcome the refugees at the airport, and provide an orientation to life in Canada;
2. Provide suitable accommodation, basic furniture and other household essentials;
3. Provide food, clothing, local transportation costs and other basic necessities of life; and
4. Help the refugees:
• Complete any required forms, including health insurance, social insurance and child tax benefits;
• Learn English or French (e.g., help with getting into an English-as-a-second-language or French-as-a-second-language class, provide tutoring);
• Understand the rights and responsibilities of permanent residents;
• Find a job and make friends;
• Learn about and access services that are available in the community;
• Register children in school and guide them in dealings with the school system;
• Locate a family physician and dentist; and
• Become independent.
A SAH is expected to prepare a settlement plan that outlines, in as much detail as possible, how it will divide the responsibilities of settling the newcomers; who will provide money; which in-kind support is available; and what the back-up plan is in case the original settlement plan does not work out.
Where we are at today (July 10, 2019)
Our National Board has seen the need for a broader Compassion & Justice ministry, hence our new name AGC Compassion & Justice. Refugee sponsorship continues to be our main focus, but we will broaden our Compassion & Justice ministry and time goes along.
As a new SAH, we are in the process of submitting our first sponsorship undertakings. We would love to have a conversation with you about the refugee crisis and ways God's people can stand in the gap. There is no reason that every single AGC church today not be aware of and an advocate for the forcibly displaced today. We realize that not every church is in a position to sponsor a family to their community, but every church can be informed, praying, being a friend to a brother or sister in Christ who has left everything through no fault of their own, and many may be surprised to find they too can #bringhope through a sponsorship undertaking.
A Final Word
We find ourselves living in a time of unparalleled upheaval, displacement and movement of people groups. Unfortunately, the violence, conflict and persecution at the root of this mobility is also unparalleled.
As God’s people, scattered throughout the world, we are perfectly situated to provide relief for hurting people made vulnerable by circumstances of injustice & violence. It may seem that larger cities and centers of population have more to offer new families to Canada. In fact, our small towns are rich in the most important ingredients: caring relationships, strong community, healthy living, and many opportunities for a good life in a new country.
We pray for God’s blessing on you as you serve Him where you are. We pray your hands and heart will be strengthened as you equip God’s people for works of service, we pray your mind will be renewed by God’s Spirit and stayed on His promises, and we pray that God’s splendor will be displayed in you as you live a life of freedom in Christ!
Tim and Susan Davis
AGC Compassion & Justice