London, UK - All asylum seekers should be given the chance to work, the Church of England General Synod has said.
Members of the Church's National Assembly criticised the current system, which left people in poverty and without dignity, they said.
They also voted to appeal for an amnesty for "legacy cases", as well as ending the detention of children in immigration removal centres.
The synod, the Church's governing body, has been meeting this week in London.
Reverend Ruth Worsley, who put forward the case, told the synod of a Pakistani Christian who came to the UK with his wife and child seeking asylum in 2004.
He had been granted leave to stay in April last year, but is still waiting for confirmation from the Home Office in writing and does not have permission to work, she said.
She said: "Today, on behalf of Southwell and Nottingham diocese, I am moving this motion to propose that we as a church call on the government to bring about necessary change within our asylum system.
"Other dioceses will be able to tell similar stories of how the life of their churches has been enriched, and how hard it can be to speak of a gospel of hope in an environment which can seem so unjust."
'Unconscionable'
She complained of the "complexities and anomalies" of the system, and said she did not know of any cases completed within the six months promised under the government's "New Asylum Model".
She said the authorities were struggling to deal with a backlog of 450,000 legacy cases - which pre-date the new system.
"The financial cost to our country as well as the human cost which leaves people in limbo for years, not knowing what their future might hold, seems unconscionable," she said.
The synod voted in favour of the motion by 242 to one, with one abstention.
"Human dignity must be restored, and to enforce destitution shames us as a so-called civilised society," Rev Worsley added.