Presiding Bishop's Fund Report for 1967
Diocesan Press Service. April 4, 1968 [64-5]
The Presiding Bishop's Fund for World Relief is one place where your dollar still goes a long way. It may go as far as Vietnam or as near as next door, but it will provide materials and service far in excess of its face value.
One reason that this is so is the fact that the programs supported by the Fund are for the most part ecumenical in nature. This is particularly necessary when a problem is as world- wide as that of refugees. There are over 2 million homeless in Vietnam and over 1 million and a half in the Middle East. African countries in turmoil also provide large refugee populations for their neighbors. In 1967 the Presiding Bishop's Fund contributed $87, 500 to the World Council of Churches refugee programs; $33, 250 to Vietnam relief and rehabilitation through Church World Service and $57, 000 to Middle East Refugee Relief, a joint program of the WCC and CWS. When the world's churches work together administrative costs are considerably reduced and duplication avoided.
The Presiding Bishop's Fund also supports the Episcopal Church's own program among refugees in this country. During 1967 2,228 refugees were aided through these efforts, 1,537 of whom were Cubans. The remaining persons included Egyptians, Chinese, Armenians, Syrians, Greeks, Lebanese and Dutch from Indonesia. Through this program, to which the Fund contributed $77,090.67, and through the efforts of sponsoring parishes and dioceses and various government agencies, these persons were helped to begin a new life in this country.
Through Church World Service, the Presiding Bishop's Fund also participated in a massive program of material aid to Europe and the Middle East, Latin America, Asia and Africa. A total of 273,756,651 pounds of clothing, bedding, textiles, health and medical supplies, food, seed and equipment were shipped overseas, much of it used in self-help programs. The total value of this material was $34,865,933.00.
Through Interchurch Medical Assistance, Inc., for example, $500,000 worth of medical supplies and pharmaceuticals were sent to Episcopal hospitals and agencies overseas. The cost to the church was $14,311.17, as the manufacturers of pharmaceuticals contribute the supplies and only handling and shipping costs had to be covered. These costs were met, largely, through Episcopal churchwomen. The Presiding Bishop's Fund covers the annual membership fee, $4,700.00 and will in 1968 also cover handling and shipping costs.
Disaster aid, too, is a part of the program of the Presiding Bishop's Fund. $5,000 was sent to the Diocese of Newark for relief following summer riots. $1,000 was sent to the Nippon Seikokai (Holy Catholic Church in Japan) for typhoon relief. $4,600 was sent to Mexico for relief efforts in Matamoros following hurricane Beulah and Rio Grande floods, $5,000 was sent to the Dioceses of Utah and New Mexico and to the chairman of the Navajo tribe for relief of snowbound Navajos in three states. Money was also sent to assist in the legal expenses of 37 South West Africans recently tried by the Government of South Africa.
During 1967 contributions of $459,808.61 were received. With an appropriation from the General Church Program of $175,000.00 and a balance of $17,339.32, the Fund's total income for 1967 was $652,147.93. $684,770.30 was expended, including some $33,312.50 actually paid during January 1968, largely from end-of-the year contributions.
The population of the world continues to explode, and world conditions will produce many new refugees during 1968. For these reasons, and many more, the Presiding Bishop's Fund anticipates that contributions from parishes and individuals of $700, 000.00 will be needed if the Episcopal Church is to play its part in the efforts necessary to meet these problems. Contributions can be sent to the Presiding Bishop's Fund for World Relief, 815 Second Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10017.