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At the heart of the discussions is the launch of the fourth edition of “Mapping Migration,” a report that documents how churches across the continent are responding to one of the defining issues of our time.
The meeting of the Churches’ Commission for Migrants in Europe Executive Committee— its highest decision-making body between general assemblies — comes at a critical juncture. Hosted this year by AIDRom, the two-day, in-person gathering reflects the realities faced by churches on Europe’s frontlines.
“AIDRom’s work, in many ways, stands for a lot of our member organizations,” said Dr Torsten Moritz, general secretary of the Churches’ Commission for Migrants in Europe. “It has been deeply shaped by the response to displacement from Ukraine, by ongoing care for refugees from other countries, and by Romania’s position at the external borders of the European Union.”
That position is becoming even more significant as the EU Asylum and Migration Pact is set to take effect in June this year. The new framework is expected to introduce stricter border procedures and screening mechanisms, with countries like Romania likely to see an increasing number of people held at external borders.
“This will mean that through screening and border procedures, Romania will see lots of people being stuck at the external border,” Moritz noted. “It is very important that churches are responding to that.”
The choice of host also highlights another key dimension of migration work: unity. AIDRom, an umbrella organization bringing together Orthodox and Protestant churches, embodies the ecumenical nature of migration ministry. “Migration work brings the churches together in witness,” Moritz said, pointing to the way shared humanitarian challenges can transcend theological differences.
Against this backdrop, the launch of “Mapping Migration, 4th Edition” takes on particular significance. Produced in collaboration with the World Council of Churches, the report provides a comprehensive overview of migration trends and the evolving role of churches across Europe.
More than just a collection of data, the publication captures a complex and changing landscape. Migration is not only reshaping societies but also transforming the churches themselves — from increasingly diverse congregations to the emergence of migrant-led communities that challenge traditional structures.
“Mapping Migration is an important tool,” Moritz explained. “We are documenting and mapping migration and what churches are doing in their witness and their commitment to migrants and refugees in Europe.”
Now in its fourth edition, the report builds on years of research to trace both movement patterns and institutional responses. It examines how different denominations, in varied national contexts, are supporting people on the move — whether through humanitarian aid, advocacy, or community-building initiatives.
Crucially, the report is also intended as a mirror. “We are now symbolically handing back the results of that study to the churches in Europe,” Moritz said. “So they can understand what they are doing, and also show it to people outside the churches — how important this witness is, and that other churches should be coming onboard.”
This dual purpose — internal reflection and external visibility — is especially relevant as public debate around migration intensifies across Europe. The report highlights not only the scale of church engagement but also the challenges: issues of integration, belonging, and racism continue to shape the experiences of migrants and the responses of host communities.
Yet it also points to a quieter transformation. Churches are not merely reacting to migration; they are being reshaped by it. New forms of worship, leadership, and community are emerging, often driven by migrants themselves. In this sense, migration is presented not only as a challenge to be managed but as a force renewing Christian life in Europe.
The timing of the meeting reinforces the urgency of these insights. Taking place just two months before the new EU pact comes into force, the gathering will focus on how the Churches’ Commission for Migrants in Europe can strengthen churches’capacity to respond — both within the European Union and beyond.
“We will need to see how we can best strengthen the churches in their witness for migrants and refugees throughout the EU, but also going beyond,” Moritz said.
