wfn.org | [UCC NEWS] UCC support for tsunami relief tops $3 million

[guessb@ucc.org]

United Church of Christ
United Church News
The Rev. J. Bennett Guess, News Director
216/736-2177, guessb@ucc.org

For immediate release
April 15, 2005

UCC support for tsunami relief tops $3 million

Congregations and individuals across the UCC have contributed more than $3
million to the denomination's Tsunami Relief and Rehabilitation Fund,
according to new totals announced today (April 15).

The "compassionate and generous outpouring of gifts" are historic and
unprecedented, says one church leader, but most importantly, they will
enable the UCC to support global partners for 5 to ten years "on the long
road to recovery."

"Thank you UCC!" exclaimed Susan M. Sanders, the UCC's minister for the
global sharing of resources, in a statement announcing that donations had
climbed just above the $3 million mark.

In its April print edition, United Church News reported that, as of March
4, UCC contributions stood at $1,526,082. However, as of April 15, that
amount nearly had doubled as congregations, Associations and Conferences
continued to process and pass along members' contributions to the
tsunami-designated fund, which is part of the UCC's One Great Hour of
Sharing special mission offering.

After the Dec. 26 tragedy, the UCC's initial outpouring came largely
through online contributions at <ucc.org>. However, in the past few weeks,
gifts have been arriving through a more-conventional means ? the U.S.
Postal Service. Regardless of how gifts are made, Sanders says, they are
being put to good use.

"We are supporting the relief, recovery and rehabilitation efforts of 15
global partners in six countries in Southern Asia and Africa," Sanders
says. "Most of our partners are beginning to move beyond the relief phase
to long-term rehabilitation."

In Indonesia, Sri Lanka and India ? the most heavily affected countries,
Sanders says, the UCC's partner churches and agencies are using a
comprehensive approach to recovery that includes psycho-social and pastoral
counseling; education for children; establishment of clean water sources;
reconstruction of homes, community centers, schools, churches and
livelihood restoration through vocational training; gifts of boats and
nets; and poultry and goat-rearing projects.

In late January, a delegation of UCC leaders ? the Rev. John H. Thomas,
general minister and president, the Rev. Lydia Veliko, ecumenical officer,
and James Vijayakumar, area executive for Southern Asia ? visited
tsunami-affected communities in India.	Vijayakumar also has visited Sri
Lanka, and Sanders is visiting Indonesia this month.

Within hours of the disaster, the UCC, along with its partner denomination,
the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), responded with immediate
monetary assistance. A detailed accounting of the fund's initial uses can
be read at http://www.ucc.org/ucnews/apr05/relief.htm.
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