wfn.org | Resources available to help Presbyterians deal with aftermath of

[PCUSA NEWS <PCUSA.NEWS@ecunet.org>]

Note #6852 from PCUSA NEWS to PRESBYNEWS:

suicide hijackings
19-September-2001
01334

Resources available to help Presbyterians deal with aftermath of suicide
hijackings

Web site is easiest, fastest way to get help, information
	
by Jerry L. Van Marter

As Presbyterians continue ministering to those in need after the horrifying
events of Sept. 11 in New York City and Washington, DC, denominational
staffers in Louisville are continually adding new resources to the trove of
materials available on the Presbyterian Church (USA) web site.

In the immediate aftermath of the crisis, members of the staff of Internet
and Media Services in the Office of Communication set up a special page, A
Time of National Crisis, on the denomination's Web site. It can be found at
www.pcusa.org/crisis

The site has four sections: 

* How to help 
* Educational resources 
* Worship resources
* News 

Each section includes links to other sites that have additional information
on the crisis.

Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA) has a page - www.pcusa.org/pda -with
information on PC(USA) relief efforts and instructions on how to contribute
money to support pastoral care teams working in the affected areas.

PDA has sent $10,000 each to the Presbytery of New York City and New
York-based Church World Service, the relief agency of the National Council
of Churches.

Three "meetings" have been established on PresbyNet, the computer
communication network of the PC(USA). They are SEPT 11 ATTACKS, where users
can discuss the tragedy; SEPT 11 PRAYER VIGIL, an online prayer service with
the prayers Presbyterians from around the country; and WORSHIP AIDS IN TIME
OF TRAGEDY, which offers a variety of worship resources.

According to Edna Sinnock, associate for church-wide information services in
the Office of Communication, calls to PresbyTel, the denomination's
toll-free telephone information service, have increased by 50 percent since
the tragedy. PresbyTel's telephone consultants are available to answer
questions between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. ET Monday through Friday.

With the General Assembly Council scheduled to meet in Phoenix, AZ, Sept.
26-30, staff leaders are trying to figure out how to engage the council in
the church's coordinated response to the tragedy. Worldwide Ministries
Division officials have identified five areas of concern for the GAC to
address: security measures for staff who are traveling and for missionary
personnel in other countries; communication; interfaith relations and
cooperation; the concrete response of the PC(USA) "on the ground" in New
York and Washington; and church-state issues raised by the crisis and the
U.S. government's response to it.

The Council may also decide to issue a statement on the crisis. GAC leaders
and the Advisory Committee on Social Witness Policy are working on a draft
statement for the Council to consider.

The Presbyterian Peacemaking Program is looking at refocusing the annual
Peacemaking Offering - scheduled for on Oct. 7 - to help with relief and
rebuilding efforts. Peacemaking officials are in conversation with PDA to
coordinate those efforts.

Peacemaking, theology and Christian education staffers are feverishly
working on curriculum resources, particularly for adults, in response to
requests from congregations for assistance in helping church members talk
about the crisis and about some of the theological issues it has raised,
such as forgiveness, love, justice, hate, grace and vengeance.

With U.S. suspicions focused on Afghanistan, Peacemaking staffers are
composing a timeline on the history of religious, social and political
developments in that little-known country.

A key concern for Presbyterians - who long have been committed to ecumenical
and interfaith relations - is the possibility of persecution of Muslims in
the wake of the terrorist attacks. Theology and worship staffers, along with
staff in the ecumenical and interfaith offices, are preparing resources to
foster interfaith dialogues and trialogues (including Jewish partners in
conversations). Resources for adding interfaith perspectives to worship are
being added to the Web site constantly.

Presbyterians throughout the country and the world are being encouraged to
share their stories - of worship, healing, outreach, service - with the rest
of the church. Those stories are being collected on the Web site, as are
messages of condolences from partner churches around the world, and the
insights of PC(USA) mission personnel, who often have a very different
perspective on events than do Americans.

For more information about the PC(USA) response to the crisis, visit the Web
site - www.pcusa.org/crisis - or call PresbyTel at 800-872-3283.

Counseling is available through Board of Pensions

All members of the Benefits Plan of the Presbyterian Church (USA) who are
covered under its medical provisions may use the counseling and referral
services available through Response, an employee assistance plan.

Response can be effective in helping members resolve problems before they
become too serious. Response can provide help to cope with stress, anxiety
and depression, among other problems facing church workers.

Eligible church workers and the members of their families may call Response
at 800-455-5129 for confidential free counseling and referral services 24
hours a day.

To contribute to Presbyterian Disaster Assistance

*  Make a check payable to the Presbyterian Church (USA), mark it "Account
9-2000157: Pastoral Care Work" and give it to your local church or mail it
to Central Receiving Services, Section 300, Louisville, KY 40289.

*  To make a credit card donation, log on to the PDA Web site at
www.pcusa.org/pda or call PresbyTel at 800-872-3283.

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