wfn.org | NCCCUSA Fund Grants $464,200 to Burned

[CAROL_FOUKE.parti@ecunet.org]

Churches

National Council of the Churches of Christ in the 
U.S.A.
Contact: Carol J. Fouke, NCC, 212-870-2252
Internet: carol_fouke.parti@ecunet.org

NCC5/23/97       FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NCC-ESTABLISHED BURNED CHURCHES FUND
APPROVES $464,200 IN NEW GRANTS TO 17 CHURCHES

 NEW YORK, May 23 ---- Seventeen burned churches 
have been voted a total of $464,200 in new grants by 
the Grants Committee of the Burned Churches Fund, 
established by the National Council of Churches and 
supported by a broad ecumenical and interfaith 
community, the NCC announced today.

These latest grants bring to $4,654,323 the 
funds that the Grants Committee has earmarked 
through the National Rebuilding Initiative in 98 
awards to 82 churches, most of them African American 
churches in the U.S. Southeast.  

The purpose of the Burned Churches Fund is to 
help rebuild houses of worship burned for reasons of 
hate, and to address the racism that underlies many 
attacks.  

Assistance is based on a careful assessment of 
the circumstances of the fire, the congregation's 
profile and plans, and other resources available for 
rebuilding, including fire insurance payouts and 
other donations.

 With the grants announced today, the Burned 
Churches Fund completes the assessment and 
assistance for its 124 "Phase One" burned churches, 
and prepares to move into "Phase Two," to be 
launched at a national convocation June 8-10 in 
Washington, D.C. (see related story).

 Grants this round range from $1,000 to $50,000.  
In most cases, grants are disbursed in installments 
in close consultation with the respective 
congregations as they proceed through the various 
stages of rebuilding.

All grants are specified as "up to" the 
designated amount and as such, serve as a "line of 
credit" from the Burned Churches Fund.  This is 
because actual cash need could be less than 
currently estimated, or could be reduced by use of 
in-kind goods, other contributions and donated 
labor.  

In fact, the Burned Churches Fund has 
recommended that several of these churches also 
receive materials (in-kind) and/or volunteer work 
camps.

 Churches voted funds by the Burned Churches 
Grants Committee in this latest round are:

 ARKANSAS:  Harmony Baptist Church, Pollard; 
Willis Temple Church of God in Christ, Forrest City; 
Anthonyville Missionary Baptist Church, Proctor.

 FLORIDA: St. Jude United Holiness Church, St. 
Petersburg.

 LOUISIANA: Greater Ebeneezer Baptist Church, 
New Orleans; New Birth Temple Church of God in 
Christ, Shreveport.

 MISSISSIPPI: Living Manna Church of God in 
Christ, West Point.

 NORTH CAROLINA:  New Outreach Christian Center, 
Charlotte; Pleasant Ridge United Church of Christ, 
Greensboro.

 SOUTH CAROLINA: St. John Baptist Church, 
Dixiana; Life Christian Assembly, North Charleston; 
Springhill African Methodist Episcopal Church, 
Floydale; First Thankful Baptist Church, Estill.

 TENNESSEE: God's Chapel, Niota.

 TEXAS: Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church, 
Ladonia; Holy Cross Church of God in Christ, Dallas.

 WASHINGTON: Full Gospel Pentecostal Community 
Temple, Seattle.

Of the 124 "Phase One" congregations, those not 
receiving grants either did not need or declined 
assistance (15 and 2, respectively) or were judged 
not to qualify for assistance from the Burned 
Churches Fund (8).  Seven congregations were 
referred to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban 
Development for low-interest loan guarantees.

Fifteen of the 124 churches were deferred into 
"Phase Two"  The latter are among the more than 60 
burned churches already on the "Phase Two" list 
awaiting assistance.

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