wfn.org | Pesticide clean-up to begin

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"UNITED METHODIST DAILY NEWS" by SUSAN PEEK on Aug. 11, 1991 at 13:58 Eastern,
about FULL TEXT RELEASES FROM UNITED METHODIST NEWS SERVICE (3538 notes).

Note 3537 by UMNS on April 3, 1997 at 16:07 Eastern (3700 characters).

Produced by United Methodist News Service, official news agency of
the United Methodist Church, with offices in Nashville, Tenn., New
York, and Washington.

CONTACT: Linda Green                          183(10-65-71B){3537}
         Nashville, Tenn. (615) 742-5470             April 3, 1997

Cleanup of pesticide-contaminated 
United Methodist church to begin soon

by Kathy Kruger Noble*

     HARPER, Kansas (UMNS)--Cleanup of the pesticide spill at
Harper United Methodist Church here is expected to begin later
this month.
     The church, located in southeastern Kansas, was closed Dec.
22 by the church's insurance company and United Methodist
officials in the Kansas West Annual (regional) Conference because
of pesticide contamination. The building was closed for the safety
of the congregation and church staff.
     The Rev. Lee Louderback, pastor of the 262-member
congregation, expects negotiations with Orkin Pest Control to be
completed in the coming weeks. Even after agreements are signed,
cleanup is expected to take several months. He said the
congregation will continue to hold worship services in a loaned
Seventh Day Adventist Church throughout the summer and renting
downtown office space until early fall. 
     The pesticide spill occurred in July 1995 when workers
treating the church for termites accidently drilled into the
heating and air conditioning ducts. The pesticide containing
chloropyrifos was then carried throughout the church through the
air ducts. The spill was not discovered until the summer of 1996
when a worker from another exterminating company entered the
church and smelled the chemical.
      Before the church was closed, the congregation had returned
to its renovated sanctuary last March after being out of it for
nine months while extensive repairs to a water-damaged roof were
made. 
     According to Louderback United Methodists from across the
United States have provided prayer and financial support to the
church since the crisis began.
     The church had received almost $15,000 in gifts by late
March. "The generosity of churches across the Kansas West
Conference has been phenomenal," he continued. Some churches
designated their gifts specifically to help the Harper church pay
its share to support worldwide mission and ministry.
     "Through the generosity of many United Methodists across
Kansas," he said, "we are able to keep up with our bills and pay
double the cost with two churches and the downtown office
building, and, proudfully, we are even keeping up with mission and
ministry.
     "We are very grateful," he said but quickly added, "we just
need to keep it coming." Loans have also been offered, he said,
although the church has not yet had to accept any of them.
     Because of financial crisis the pesticide spill caused the
congregation, Harper United Methodist Church did qualify for
"church disaster" assistance from Cokesbury Bookstore. Received
were 25 United Methodist Hymnals, five pew Bibles, copies of the
Book of Discipline and Book of Resolutions, a set of official
Guidelines, assorted certificates, membership and financial record
forms, Bible teachers' kits complete with maps and charts and
Christian education materials for all classes.
     Gifts are still being accepted to assist Harper with
operating expenses and other bills. Those interested may send
contributions to Harper United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 365,
Harper, Kansas 67058. 
                               # # #
     *Noble is the communications specialist for the Kansas West
Annual Conference and editor of Crossfire, the United Methodist
Review, edition of the Kansas West Annual Conference.

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