Church leaders appeal for tsunami relief funds

Presbyterians have contributed $300,000 through PDA so far

by Jerry L. Van Marter

LOUISVILLE — With Presbyterians already having contributed more than $300,000 to Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA) for southeast Asian tsunami relief, denominational officials yesterday urged members of the 2.5-million member Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) to help PDA reach its aid goal of $2.5 million.

      In a churchwide letter dated Jan. 3, the three leaders — General Assembly Moderator Rick Ufford-Chase, General Assembly Stated Clerk Clifton Kirkpatrick and General Assembly Council Executive Director John Detterick — said they have been “moved and encouraged” by the outpouring of prayer and material support by Presbyterians around the country. They said they hope all Presbyterians will consider contributing to a $2.5 million appeal that PDA is expected to issue in the coming days.

The full text of the letter:

Dear sisters and brothers in Christ,

      Like you, we have been deeply shocked and saddened by the horrific devastation from the earthquake and resulting tsunami in Southeast Asia. It is a disaster of unparalleled proportions, affecting the lives of literally millions of people and thousands of villages and towns. It is difficult for us to imagine how areas of that vast region will ever be the same.

      At the same time, we are deeply moved and encouraged by the many, many ways Presbyterians are responding to this crisis. Yesterday, congregations in worship across the denomination included prayers for the victims and survivors left in the tsunami’s wake. Already, a number of you have donated or pledged nearly $300,000 to the relief effort. In a churchwide appeal that will be issued very soon, Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA) is hoping to achieve a goal of 2.5 million dollars. We hope you will consider making a financial contribution to help meet this goal. You can do so by either logging onto www.pcusa.org/pda/response/asia/tsunami-materialaid  or by mailing your check [payable to Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)] to Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), Remittance Processing, P. O. Box 643700, Pittsburgh, PA 15264-3700. Indicate that your contribution is for #DR000167.

      There are additional ways to be of help in these first few weeks following the disaster. PDA is lifting up the Gift of the Heart health kits, as well as medical boxes that will be provided through InterChurch Medical Assistance (IMA). You can find out more details about these items online at www.pcusa.org/pda.

      While we have no answers for why a tragedy of this magnitude occurs, we believe with solid conviction the reality of God’s grace in the midst of such unspeakable pain and suffering. We affirm the beginning and ending lines of A Brief Statement of Faith: “In life and in death we belong to God,” and “With believers in every time and place, we rejoice that nothing in life or in death can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

      Please continue to pray for all of those affected by this disaster, not only in these first few weeks, but also in the many months and years ahead.

In Christ’s service,

Rick Ufford-Chase
Moderator of the 216th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)

Cliff Kirkpatrick
Stated Clerk of the General Assembly

John Detterick
Executive Director of the General Assembly Council