The general secretary of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the USA (NCC) on Jan. 18 welcomed a White House decision that will lift travel restrictions between the United States and Cuba to make it easier for religious groups in both countries to engage with one another.

“I was delighted to hear the news,” said the Rev. Michael Kinnamon, the NCC’s general secretary. “We had been asking President Obama to take these steps since the beginning of his administration — most notably in a face-to-face meeting with the president and heads of NCC member communions in the White House last November.”

Kinnamon participated in a White House conference call on Jan. 14 during which the changes were announced. Kinnamon said the call for more open relations with Cuba “has been pressed by a united front of our member communions, our sister agency, Church World Service, as well as by our interfaith partners and other persons of good will.”

The White House move “is an important first step toward more just and open relations between the U.S. and Cuba,” Kinnamon said. “We look forward to the day when the U.S. embargo of Cuba will be lifted completely.”

The White House said that the change in policy is intended to “enhance contact with the Cuban people and support civil society through purposeful travel, including religious, cultural and educational travel.” Under the new policy, religious organizations will be allowed to sponsor religious travel to Cuba under a general license.

In addition, accredited institutions of higher education will be allowed to “sponsor travel to Cuba for course work for academic credit under a general license; allowing students to participate through academic institutions other that their own; and facilitating instructor support from adjunct and part-time staff.”

The order also creates a general license for U.S. individuals and groups to send money to religious institutions in Cuba in support of religious activities.

All U.S. international airports may now apply to provide services to licensed charters to and from Cuba under the conditions of the order.