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07533 August 29, 2007
Help sought for flooded churches, communities in Midwest
John Knox, Maumee Valley presbyteries bear brunt of storms
by Jerry Van Marter Presbyterian News Service
LOUISVILLE - Reports from the upper Midwest indicate that Presbyterian churches in John Knox and Maumee Valley presbyteries were the hardest hit by last weeks massive flooding.
Dennis Sanders, communications specialist for the Presbytery of the Twin Cities Area said Friday (Aug. 24) that some congregations and church members in the southern Minnesota presbytery "are dealing with flooded basements, but not much more." No requests for assistance have been received by the presbytery from any of its churches.
The situation is worse in John Knox Presbytery, based in Richland Center, WI. Several communities in that presbytery were hit very hard, according to the Rev. Ken Meunier, the presbytery's transition associate executive presbyter.
In a letter dated Aug. 22, Meunier summarized the situation in John Knox:
"The major areas hit by this most recent disaster include the Southeast Minnesota area - affecting the Rushford, Lewiston, Utica, Winona and Chatfield churches (along with the communities of La Crescent, Hokah and Houston); the Richland Center Wisconsin area (including the communities of Viola, Readstown, rural Viroqua, Chaseburg and Desoto where there are not any Presbyterian Churches); and the Soldiers Grove and Gays Mills communities which don't have Presbyterian churches but are communities many of you pass through to get to the Presbytery Center."
John Knox Presbytery is working closely with Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA) to assess the damage and provide relief as needed. At least five churches in John Knox Presbytery - four in Minnesota and one in Wisconsin - have been identified as having suffered extensive damage: Pioneer Presbyterian Church in Chatfield, MN; First Presbyterian Church of Lewiston, MN; United Church of Muscoda, WI; First Presbyterian Church of Rushford, MN; and First Presbyterian Church of Utica, MN.
In northern Ohio, nine counties were declared a disaster area and the downtown areas of Findlay, Ottawa and Shelby were inundated by the rampaging Blanchard River. The offices of Maumee Valley Presbytery, which encompasses the nine counties, are in Findlay.
"The areas along the rivers are devastated," said Maumee Valley executive Hilary Shuford. "The sheer area covered by water was very large," she told the Presbyterian News Service in an Aug. 27 interview, "though the waters have receded now."
Shuford said a headline in the Toledo Blade read that the eyes of the nation are on this area, "but in these days I've become so aware that the eyes and hearts of Presbyterians are on us as well."
Shuford said she was "overwhelmed" by the immediate responsiveness of PDA, which has sent four disaster specialists to northern Ohio. Shuford, the PDA workers and a couple dozen other presbytery leaders began meeting yesterday (Aug. 27) to begin looking at long-term recovery and coordinate their response to the tragedy. The group is also working closely with the Red Cross and United Way.
One immediate need, Shuford said, is school space for children. "School was just getting ready to start and we've got to get our children into school," she said. Public and private schools are working with area churches to find enough usable classroom space to open classes for the fall.
"The immediate needs are being addressed," Shuford said, "but the emotional and spiritual needs will go on and on." Findlay's First Presbyterian Church has a strong Stephen Ministry, she said, which will be employed to meet hurting residents, and the local ministerial associations are also organizing to coordinate pastoral care.
"One of the most important things that we can and are doing is to stand together in prayer - to literally be the body of Christ with people," Shuford said. "The Synod of the Covenant and its presbyteries and congregations are reaching out to partner with us.
"I'm awed by the response," she said. "But that's who we are - we're connectional - and I feel blessed by God even in all this devastation.".
Those wishing to contribute to the relief effort - Account DR#000015 - "Midwest Flooding" - may do so through normal church channels; by going online to the Presbyterian Disaster Assistance Web site (http://www.pcusa.org/pda/response/usa/midwest- flooding-index.htm) or by calling PresbyTel at 800-872-3283; or by mailing a check to Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), Central Receiving Service, 100 Witherspoon Street, Louisville, KY 40202-1396.
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