Episcopal Press and News

Search the Episcopal Press and News

Year

All 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 1989 1988 1987 1986 1985 1984 1983 1982 1981 1980 1979 1978 1977 1976 1975 1974 1973 1972 1971 1970 1969 1968 1967 1966 1965 1964 1963 1962

Enter search query

Presiding Bishop's Fund Responds To Massachusetts Snow Emergency

Episcopal News Service. February 17, 1978 [78042]

New Orleans, La. -- The Board of Directors of the Episcopal Church's Presiding Bishop's Fund for World Relief has made an initial emergency grant of $10,000 to the Diocese of Massachusetts for direct relief aid in the greater Boston area following the severe snow storms which have battered Massachusetts and other states in recent weeks.

The Fund's Board, convening here Feb. 13-14, immediately prior to the regular meeting of the Executive Council of the Episcopal Church, made the grant in response to a telephone request from Massachusetts Bishop John B. Coburn. The call came while the Board was in session.

Many homes in eastern Massachusetts have been damaged or destroyed by heavy snow, high winds and flooding. Residents need food, clothing, medical aid and temporary shelter.

Aware that the severities of the winter have brought hardship to many, the Board is encouraging Episcopalians to make contributions to the Fund, marked "winter emergency." Checks may be sent to the Fund at 815 Second Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10017.

Although the primary purpose of this meeting was to evaluate the Fund's work and to make long-range plans for its future, the Board did approve two other grants of an urgent nature:

• $5,000 to be contributed to an emergency shipment of wheat to Vietnam, to help meet a critical food shortage (channeled through Church World Service); and
• $9,000 in personnel support to the Diocese of Guatemala for the continuation of its community housing rehabilitation program in the wake of the 1976 earthquake.
• The Board also ratified emergency grants made since its last meeting and certain grants authorized by its Executive Committee in January, including:
• $2,000 for emergency relief following fires in the Mathare Valley, Kenya (through Church World Service);
• $4,000 to the Diocese of Argentina in the wake of a December earthquake;
• $3,217.70 for Africa refugee emergencies;
• $69,800 to the Church of the Province of Kenya for its refugee response program;
• $15,000 as a contribution to the emergency and rehabilitation program in response to the India cyclone disaster last December (via Church World Service); and
• $10,000 in stipend support for an agriculturalist in the rural development extension program of the Diocese of Ecuador (through International Voluntary Services).

Primary among the Board's planning concerns was the development of a strategy to increase year-round general giving to the Fund. Board members noted the marked reduction in contributions from 1976 to 1977 and anticipate a similar trend in 1978. The decline in giving is attributed to less media attention to the crisis of world hunger and related issues.

The Board also discussed the related problem of long-standing major financial commitments to ecumenical agencies through which the Fund works. The budgetary constraints resulting from the giving decline and ecumenical commitments greatly reduces the Fund's flexibility for crisis response and program initiation.

The Board appointed several of its members to a long-range planning task force to address these problems and to decide which program emphases will require the Fund's attention in the forseeable future.

High on the program list is the need for greater attention to the problem of refugees. Mrs. Isis Brown, the Fund's refugee resettlement and immigration officer, cited the need for a compassionate response by Episcopalians in assisting refugees and displaced persons seeking homes in the U. S. and for continued support for the Fund's ministry to refugees around the world.

Board members reviewed the interpretive materials for the Fund's special All-Africa Refugee Appeal which will be highlighted during the Great Fifty Days from Easter to Pentecost (Mar. 26-May 14). Samples of the poster and other materials are being mailed to all parishes and bishops and to related networks.

Three new members were welcomed to the Board by Presiding Bishop John M. Allin: Ms. Kristen Connor of New York City; Mr. John T. Fisher of Memphis, Tenn.; and the Rev. C. Eugene Jennings of San Antonio, Tex. A fourth new member, the Rt. Rev. Telesforo Isaac, Bishop of the Dominican Republic, was unable to attend because of a conflict in dates with his diocesan convention.

The Presiding Bishop reported on his recent visit to the Dioceses of Haiti, Panama and Guatemala. Bishop Allin had high praise for Guatemala's rehabilitation and rebuilding work following the earthquake. Much of this work is being carried out with grants from the Fund. (Editors: See DPS release # 78017 for more on Bishop Allin's Guatemala visit.)

The Board also paid special tribute to Mrs. Howard O. Bingley, executive director of the Fund since 1974. Mrs. Bingley will retire at the end of February.

The Rev. Samir J. Habiby, executive director designate, was welcomed by the Board and was present throughout the meeting. Fr. Habiby is rector of St. Anselm's Church, Garden Grove, Calif. He will assume his post with the Fund in April.