Presiding Bishop's Fund Faces Hurdles in Fulfilling Its 'Ministry of Hope'
Episcopal News Service. June 26, 1996 [96-1501]
Charlie Rice, Assistant in the Communications Department of the Diocese of Southern Ohio
(ENS) "I was one of the people who lost everything in Hurricane Andrew," said Jackie Rowe, a student at General Theological Seminary from southeast Florida. "We lost everything except God, community and hope. It is hope that the Presiding Bishop's Fund brought to the 250,000 homeless people."
Diocesan representatives of the Presiding Bishop's Fund for World Relief heard many such stories during their annual meeting in Kansas City from May 30 to June 2.
"Rebuilding a fire-bombed church in Alabama, putting a bowl of rice in the hands of a hungry child in Liberia, providing tornado, earthquake and flood relief to dioceses throughout the Anglican Communion; thanks to the Presiding Bishop's Fund, you are there," reported Bishop Charlie McNutt, chief operating officer of the Episcopal Church.
Representatives heard first-hand reports from officials of the Diocese of West Missouri, who reminded them that, although the fund is international in its scope, much of its work is done here at home.
"We tend to forget that over half of all disaster relief provided by the fund stays in the United States," noted the Rev. Gregg Mansfield of St. Andrew's Church in Kansas City. "In Missouri, the fund has made a difference in thousands of lives," he added, recalling the relief provided after the devastation of the 1993 floods. Mansfield, who was serving as West Missouri's canon to the ordinary at the time, reported that "within a matter of hours, the Presiding Bishop's Fund had sent $25,000 to our diocese to help with flood relief."
He also said that, dollar for dollar, the fund provides the most cost-effective assistance possible by having grant distribution administered by local dioceses.
Despite the fund's accomplishments and efficiency of administration, giving still falls far short of the needs. McNutt laid out the numbers: "One year we raise $6 million, another year maybe $4 million. That's not too bad until you consider that we receive about $30 million in emergency requests."
These shortfalls cause fund officials to search for reasons. Some cite tough competition for church dollars with parish and diocesan programs. Others point to the myriad problems facing the church.
Meeting hard on the heels of a call by 10 conservative bishops for Episcopalians to "direct their personal resources to those ministries that proclaim the historic and biblical Christian faith," rather than what the bishops see as liberal and unbiblical policies of the national church, participants expressed concern that giving to the fund is becoming a referendum on the personal popularity of Presiding Bishop Edmond Browning. Others noted that, despite assurances from auditors and church officials that none of the fund's money was involved in the embezzlement by former treasurer Ellen Cooke, some potential givers are anxious about the fund's safety.
"When I mention the Presiding Bishop's Fund in my diocese, people always start talking about the national church," said Mary Weldon, diocesan fund coordinator for Southeast Florida, and a volunteer in mission working with AIDS victims in Miami. "'They're not doing so well,' they say; or they bring up the Ellen Cooke thing and ask, 'Is the PB Fund money still there?' I'm so tired of hearing that."
"It is important that money not be used as a weapon," declared Bishop William Smalley of the Diocese of Kansas, "but rather as a tool for the healing work of Jesus Christ." He added, "People in Kansas who had never heard of the Episcopal Church now have a feeling of oneness with us, thanks to the work of the Presiding Bishop's Fund."
Several representatives expressed concerns about misunderstandings of the purpose of the fund. One diocesan coordinator had even been asked if this was Browning's personal discretionary fund. Despite such challenges, fund officials continued with ambitious plans to improve communications, and to go forward with the annual appeal in January, 1997.
"Gifts to the annual appeal are the most important donations the fund brings in," said Nancy Marvel, director. "These are what we call 'undesignated funds' that can be used for disasters. Planned giving also plays an important role, as those gifts go into our trust fund which pays all of our administrative costs except staff salaries, which are covered through the budget of the national church."
With such support, the fund should continue its 'ministry of hope' for generations to come, participants said. That's good news to disaster victims like Jackie Rowe who noted, "Thanks to the Presiding Bishop's Fund, Christ was there even when FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Administration) and the Red Cross were not."