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NCC Approves $555,700 More in Burned Churches Fund Rebuilding Grants


From PCUSA.NEWS@ecunet.org
Date 08 Nov 1996 12:49:22

22-October-1996 
 
 
96421          NCC Approves $555,700 More in Burned 
                 Churches Fund Rebuilding Grants 
 
                        by Carol J. Fouke 
 
NEW YORK--A predominantly white church with a ministry to Mexican 
immigrants who work in meat packing plants in Ottumwa, Iowa, was one of 12 
burned churches to be approved a total of $555,700 in rebuilding grants 
here Oct. 17 by the Burned Churches Fund Grants Committee. 
 
     The fund, established by the National Council of Churches (NCC), is 
supported by a broad ecumenical and interfaith community. These latest 
grants bring to more than $2.3 million the total allocated from the fund to 
date for restoration of 33 churches, most of them African American. 
 
     Hickory Grove Community Church in Ottumwa, Iowa, destroyed by arson 
Sept. 2, 1996, will receive up to $10,000 to be used in the planning stages 
of reconstruction. It also will receive a modular building from GE Capital 
for temporary use. 
 
     The Burned Churches Fund Grants Committee, meeting at the Interchurch 
Center in New York City, also approved rebuilding grants for two Richmond, 
Va., churches represented at the meeting. The Rev. Wilson E. Shannon, 
pastor of First Baptist Church, and Elder Duane Bell from the Glorious 
Church of God in Christ, invited by the committee, each accepted a $50,000 
check for their congregations' rebuilding efforts. 
 
     Shannon reported that his 800-member congregation is the largest black 
church in a predominantly white county. The church's building had been 
vandalized prior to the April 16 fire, and marked with KKK signs and 
pentagram graffiti. Three white people were arrested for arson and are 
awaiting trial. 
 
     Ten other churches were approved for rebuilding grants from the Burned 
Churches Fund: Greater Gospel Temple Church of God in Christ in Dallas; 
Liberty Baptist Church in Collins, Miss.; Beacon Baptist Church in Yazoo, 
Miss.; St. Mark's Missionary Baptist Church in Tyronza, Ark.; Willis Temple 
Church of God in Christ in Forrest City, Ark.; Greater New Zion Missionary 
Baptist Church in Phoenix; St. James African Methodist Episcopal Church in 
Maysville, N.C.; St. John Baptist Church in Dixianna, S.C.; St. Stephens 
Baptist Church in St. Stephens, S.C.; and Summer Grove Missionary Baptist 
Church in Williston, S.C. 
 
     The awards approved Oct. 17 ranged from $10,000 to $100,000. All 
amounts are specified as "up to" the designated amount because the actual 
cash needed could be less than currently estimated or could be reduced by 
use of in-kind goods and donated labor. Any church needing more than the 
designated amount will be encouraged to submit a further proposal. 
 
     In most cases, grants are disbursed in installments in close 
consultation with the respective congregations as they proceed through the 
various stages of rebuilding. 
 
      
     At the meeting, the committee also received an updated report on 
Burned Churches Fund income and expenditures. 
 
     As of Oct. 16, $4,696,679 in cash had been received from foundations, 
church bodies, congregations and individuals, with an additional $1,412,500 
anticipated from foundations and churches.  In-kind contributions totaled 
$3,400,394, including wood products from International Paper, modular 
building units from GE Capital and a $2 million preconstruction loan fund 
from the Enterprise Foundation. 
 
     Of the $8,097,073 in resources in hand, just under $7 million is 
budgeted for rebuilding and $1.1 million for anti-racism programs and 
program administration. 

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