wfn.org | [PCUSANEWS] Big congregations asked to help pay clergy,

[PCUSA NEWS <PCUSA.NEWS@ECUNET.ORG>]

Note #8964 from PCUSA NEWS to PRESBYNEWS:

05552
Oct. 14, 2005

Big PC(USA) congregations asked to help 
support clergy, staff of hurricane-hit churches
 

by Evan Silverstein

LOUISVILLE - Pastors of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)'s largest churches
are being urged to help hurricane-battered congregations pay their clergy and
other staff. 

	The request came in a letter emailed on Friday to pastors of the
PC(USA)'s 250 largest churches by the Rev. Robert H. Bohl, moderator of the
1994 General Assembly and Rick Ufford-Chase, moderator of the 2004 Assembly. 

	The presbyteries along the Gulf coast believe that six churches in
Mississippi and 19 in Louisiana may need salary support for as long as six
months because of damage caused by hurricanes Katrina and Rita. It could take
$1.5 million to cover these salaries, according to the letter.

	The text:

Oct. 14, 2005

      Rick Ufford-Chase, Moderator, 216th General Assembly (2004)

Grace to you and peace! We wish you the very best in your ministry and thank
God for the partnership we share in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).

We are writing to seek your help in an urgent matter. The recent hurricanes
in the Gulf Coast have devastated the lives of hundreds of thousands. You are
likely aware that Presbyterian Disaster Assistance has been on the scene from
day one. News of PDA's work can be found on the Presbyterian Church's Web
site at www.pcusa.org . Hundreds of Presbyterian congregations around the
church are offering help every day. These storms have inflicted severe damage
on many of our Presbyterian churches ¾ approximately 17 in Mississippi, 35 in
the New Orleans area and 10 or 11 in Texas.

One reality of these storms that is different from other recent hurricanes is
that many of our churches will not be meeting for several months. Their
church buildings need to be completely rebuilt, and their members have
scattered all across the nation. This means there are no offerings being
taken, no income stream to pay salaries of pastors and other church
employees.

The presbyteries estimate that as many as six (6) churches in Mississippi and
nineteen (19) in Louisiana may need salary support for as long as six months.
The total dollars needed for this purpose could reach $1.5 million. There are
no funds to meet this need. We are writing to seek your support in raising
money to meet this urgent need. A few churches have stepped forward to
partner with individual churches of need. If your church is interested in
helping in this way, please contact either Mississippi Presbytery or South
Louisiana Presbytery directly. We anticipate that this partnering will meet
the need for some of these churches.

If paying salaries for two (2) churches for several months is too big a step
for your congregation, you may want to join our joint effort. Presbyterian
Disaster Assistance has established a special fund for salary support of
pastors and other church employees (DA000161). Funds from this account will
be channeled to local church treasurers (through the presbytery) to pay
salaries.

The two presbyteries are working with clear fiscal transparency with their
synods and with Presbyterian Disaster Assistance to ensure that gifts are
used according to their purpose.

We realize that your church and its members have many mission opportunities.
This particular disaster presents us with an unprecedented opportunity to
show our Presbyterian sisters and brothers on the Gulf Coast that we are,
indeed, "One in the Spirit, one in the Lord." Please help us meet this need!

May God grant you richest blessings in your ministry.

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