CHN's Ministry Rapidly Expanding
Episcopal News Service. December 15, 1983 [83228]
NEW YORK (DPS, Dec.15)- During 1983, the Coalition for Human Needs approved funding in the amount of $987,656 for 123 programs. Of this amount, $346,275 went to Diocesan/Congregation/Ecumenical outreach programs.
Included in these figures are 11 programs funded from the special account for Jubilee Ministry funding. Funding for these programs total $100,588. Monies in this special account were received from an anonymous gift designated for food ($25,000); and from the Diocese of Missouri ($35,000); Massachusetts ($1,334.95); Texas ($500.00); Taiwan ($300.00); Newark ($111.92) ; Rio Grande ($25.00). An additional $75,000 was approved from the 1983 Program Budget/Jubilee Ministry per the June Executive Council meeting.
According to the Rev. Earl A. Neil, staff officer for the Coalition at the Episcopal Church Center, the Coalition received the largest volume of requests in its seven-year history. "Requests numbered 215 which is a 97 percent increase over the last six years and a 41 percent increase over the last three years" he noted. "This huge increase is directly related to the present economic realities of today and to the economic policies of the Reagan Administration. Federal budget cuts in social-service programs have resulted in private sector resources being inundated with requests for financial assistance and training in program development and management.
"It is naive to assume that the private sector can fill the void created by a cutback in federal monies. On the contrary, past and present programs funded by the Coalition have lost millions of dollars in private sector commitments because of cuts in the Comprehensive Employment Training and Volunteers in Service to America programs which had provided workers and volunteers," Neil said.
"Hopefully and prayerfully, Next Step/Jubilee Ministry will stimulate our Episcopal Church family to respond to the daily survival needs of people and to confront those institutions and social arrangements which have placed them in survival situations," he concluded.