Diocesan Coordinators of Presiding Bishop's Fund for World Relief Meet in Guatemala
Episcopal News Service. June 12, 1992 [92136]
Betsy Rogers, Communications Officer for the Diocese of Springfield
"What people in Central America can offer us is vision," Bishop Frank Gray of Northern Indiana told 80 diocesan coordinators of the Presiding Bishop's Fund for World Relief at a meeting in Guatemala City. "The Episcopal Church in the United States is dealing with survival, not vision -- and Central America can help sharpen our sense of the purpose, joy, and wonder of God," said Gray, who chairs the fund's board.
Despite earthquakes and volcanoes, terrorism and political violence, as well as grinding poverty, hunger, and homelessness, there is still hope, host Bishop Roman Guerra-Soria told the group. "We are a people who hope. We have a great cultural heritage that makes it possible to have hope," he said.
"We have our problems, but our problems lead us to the light of hope. The important thing is that we are all united in the Church of Christ."
The group visited a church in a remote village built with help from the fund -- and a day-care/nutritional center. "This house of prayer is here for you and for us and binds us together," the local priest said in his greeting. As a reminder that the political turmoil continues, he asked that the village not be identified.
Staff for the fund discussed with the diocesan coordinators plans to expand the annual appeal and seek major donors so that eventually the fund would be able to distribute about $20 million in grants each year.
Coordinators agreed that one of the fund's strengths is its accountability since all grants are made through local bishops.