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P.B. Fund Launches African Refugee Apeal

Episcopal News Service. March 9, 1978 [78058]

New York, N. Y. -- The Great Fifty Days of Easter will be the focal paint of a Presiding Bishop's Fund drive to alleviate the plight of the hundreds of thousands of African refugees who have been wrenched from their homelands.

Responding to a refugee crisis greater than any seen since the Second World War, Presiding Bishop John M. Allin and the Presiding Bishop's Fund for World Relief have asked congregations of the Episcopal Church to engage in study, prayer and giving for a program of pastoral and social welfare support for the African wanderers.

Mare than 800,000 persons -- according to United Nations and United States government figures -- have fled persecution, war and natural disaster throughout Africa. These people have sought shelter in 20 African nations, most of which are economically and politically incapable of responding to the sudden need impressed on them. Few developing countries can fully educate and employ their own people and are stymied at how to help those who -- while often highly-qualified workers -- are not citizens or whose language is alien.

Even basic needs of food, shelter and an avenue through the government regulations are hard to provide because of the size of the problem. In one host country, social workers carry an average backlog of 300 refugees each.

To assist the Church in this forthcoming appeal, the staff for the Presiding Bishop's Fund has prepared study guides, visual aides, a bulletin insert and lists of speakers and audio/visual material available to parishes. Samples of all these materials and an order blank have been mailed to all parishes and diocesan bishops. Diocesan world relief coordinators have also been alerted to help congregations and dioceses map their response.

In a letter accompanying the samples, Presiding Bishop Allin referred to Easter "with its great message of new and abundant life for all of God's people. " He asked: "Please help spread this Good News to the more than 800, 000 African refugees who so desperately need our help. "

The size and nature of the African refugee problem was first brought to the Episcopal Church's attention when -- in the wake of the assassination of Archbishop Janani Luwum last year -- thousands of Christians began to flee the persecution of Uganda dictator Idi Amin. As Church officials sought ways to respond to this movement, they unearthed a problem that was far wider. Meetings at the Church Center in the Spring of 1977 and research conducted throughout the Summer led Bishop Allin to proclaim the All Africa Refugee Appeal to the bishops of the Church at their interim meeting last October.

The Fund's work will have two elements: direct pastoral support for refugee communities and social welfare assistance to provide the necessities of life to the refugees.

The first part of the plan will be carried out on a direct church-to-church basis between the Episcopal Church and sister Anglican dioceses and provinces throughout Africa. It will provide support for the lay and clerical leaders who work with the scattered communities in bringing counseling and the sacramental life to the people, and episcopal oversight to guide and coordinate the work.

The second part includes support for resettlement and job counseling direct relief with food, blankets or shelter as needed. This facet of the work will be carried out through sister Anglican communions and the already established relief agencies that are working with the refugees.