PB's Fund Presents Annual Report
Diocesan Press Service. March 8, 1966 [41-10]
People and churches in all parts of the world received assistance from the Presiding Bishop's Fund for World Relief and Interchurch Aid in the amount of $613,622.20. This meant that all the goals set by Presiding Bishop Hines for the Fund in 1965 were met because of voluntary contributions from churchmen.
A total of $130,849.11 went to support relief programs within the Episcopal Church. Token assistance was sent to American bishops whose dioceses were affected by hurricanes, earthquakes, floods, fires, tornadoes or other natural disasters. In addition, substantial help was given for Cuban refugee resettlement, both to the Diocese of South Florida and to those dioceses where resettlement is most readily available.
Through churches of the Anglican Communion and the Wider Episcopal Fellowship, assistance was provided following hurricane damage in the Caribbean and typhoons in the Philippines. Support was also given to the ministry of younger churches and for theological education. Total aid amounted to $148,248.11. This year funds going to the ongoing programs of these churches and budget support for them will be transferred to the Overseas Department, while emergency assistance will continue to be the responsibility of the Presiding Bishop's Fund.
A total of $113,000 supported the program of the World Council of Churches Division of Inter-Church Aid, Refugee and World Service. Together with funds from all member churches of the World Council, this money provided a vast network of services in all parts of the world. The total program of the Division of Inter-Church Aid, Refugee and World Service, in financial terms, amounted to $1,520,500.
Nationally, Church World Service received funds of $170,000 toward a total of $2,471,270 from American Churches and agencies. This money helped to make possible shipments of 5 million pounds of clothing, shoes and bedding; 500,000 pounds of health and medical supplies; the same amount of seeds, farm implements and self-help equipment; and 215 million pounds of food. In addition programs of refugee resettlement, assistance for overseas students, planned parenthood and nutritional education were provided.
Because of long standing relationships with Eastern Orthodox Churches, special aid of $32,000 was, sent through the World Council of Churches to these churches in Greece, Yugoslavia, Germany, France and to St. Vladamir's Orthodox Theological Seminary in New York to assist some of their theological students.
The service programs of Christian Churches are assisted and supplemented by programs of cooperating agencies such as the World Student Christian Federation, The World Alliance Y MCA, International Christian Youth Exchange, Heifer Project and Interchurch Medical Assistance, Inc. The Presiding Bishop's Fund supported these programs in the amount of $19,525. These programs provide education, recreation, renew livestock, supply medicines, provide orphan adoption and student exchanges.
In addition to these grants for program, the gifts of Episcopalians provided a balance of $57,238.88 toward the program in 1966, assuring a continuance of the program in the early months of this year. Much of this balance was received too late to go toward 1965 program.
All grants are authorized by the Presiding Bishop and his committee of members and officers of the Executive Council after careful review.