Presiding Bishop's Fund Guidelines Received
Diocesan Press Service. May 3, 1973 [73126]
GREENWICH, Conn. -- The Executive Council of the Episcopal Church received from its Committee on the Presiding Bishop's Fund for World Relief and Interchurch Aid, proposed guidelines prepared by an ad hoc committee to review the Fund.
The ad hoc committee, chaired by the Rt. Rev. Frederick J. Warnecke, retired bishop of Bethlehem (Pa.), suggested guidelines for the reorganizing of some of the Fund's structure and for broadening its concern.
The essential points of the report are:
* that the Presiding Bishop's Fund be viewed as an essential part of the mission of the church and not as a sporadic "offering," and it should be interpreted primarily in terms of mission not of finance;
* that ecumenical ties be strengthened, giving greater visibility to the ecumenical One Great Hour of Sharing and other cooperative aspects of the program;
* that in addition to response to crisis, greater emphasis be given to rehabilitation and development programs, initiating programs as well as responding to situations;
* that major attention be given to interpretation and communication, which service should be transferred to the communication office of the Executive Council, with the Fund as a client of that office;
* that Interchurch Aid and the Good Friday Offering be transferred to the office of the Deputy for Jurisdictions since these belong in the area of ecumenical relations;
* that a new Board of Directors be named to replace a committee, with the Presiding Bishop as chairman, which will report to the Executive Council through the office of the Deputy for Jurisdictions;
* that the name of the Fund be shortened to "The Presiding Bishop's Fund for World Relief."
The committee reported to Council that as of April 19 the Fund had received over $400,000 this year, more than double the amount received by the same date in 1972. About half this amount has been designated for relief and rehabilitation following the earthquake in Managua, Nicaragua, on December 23, 1972.
The committee announced that the following grants have been made from the Fund :
* $1, 000 to the Diocese of the Northern Philippines for medical and nutritional assistance needed as a result of crop failure due to rodent infestation;
* $4,750 for tornado and flood relief in Texas, Tennessee, Missouri and Michigan;
* $5, 000 for additional flood relief where needed;
* $10,000 to the World Council of Churches-Indo-China Fund for reconstruction and reconciliation;
* $10,000 to the World Council of Churches for drought relief in India;
* $2,000 for support of the Family Orientation Center, San Jose, Costa Rica, and
* $5,000 for the Family Planning Program of the University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
The committee also announced that it will sponsor a Feed the Hungry meal during the first week of General Convention this fall in Louisville, Ky., for the support of the Fund and to provide maximum visibility for the new thrust of the Fund.
The Council confirmed the appointment by the Presiding Bishop, the Rt. Rev. John E. Hines, of the following, subject to their acceptance, to the Committee on the Presiding Bishop's Fund for World Relief: The Rev. A. Theodore Eastman, Allentown, Pa.; Mr. George Guernsey, St. Louis, Mo.; the Rt. Rev. Willis R. Henton, Amarillo, Tex.; Mrs. Howard Hoover, Los Angeles, Calif.; the Rev. Gerald N. McAllister, San Antonio, Tex.; the Very Rev. Dillard Robinson, Newark, N.J.; Mr. Curtis Roosevelt, New York City; the Rev. Albert Sears, Boston, Mass.; the Rt. Rev. Furman C. Stough, Birmingham, Ala.; Mr. John Ulinski, Jr., Washington, D.C.; Mr. Fernando Venter, Arizona; Mrs. Robert M. Webb, Cos Cob, Conn.; Mrs. J. Wilmette Wilson, Savannah, Ga., and a youth representative to be announced.