PC(USA) - Presbyterian Disaster Assistance - Interagency Task Force on Gulf Coast Hurricane Response, November 2006

Presbyterian Disaster Assistance - Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)

Inter-Agency Task Force

November 2006

In December 2005, the six entities of the General Assembly (the Office of the General Assembly, Board of Pensions, General Assembly Council, Presbyterian Interest and Loan Program, Presbyterian Publishing Corporation and the Presbyterian Foundation), along with representation from Presbyterian Disaster Assistance and representatives from the Synods of the Sun and Living Waters, came together to form an Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) for Congregational Recovery.

The Inter-Agency Task Force is charged with reviewing and recommending to Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA) approvals of church rebuilding requests that are developed by the affected presbyteries.

Funding will be provided by PDA out of the designated giving for 2005 hurricane response, but only after consultation with each of the presbyteries making a request and endorsement by the Task Force. This includes a percentage of funds given to DR000169; funds given to DR000163 to help repair or rebuild churches that have been damaged; and funds given to DR000161 to help Presbyterian pastors and clergy whose congregations have been impacted or who have personally been impacted. This will particularly help pastors of smaller congregations and may include salary continuation.

A recent meeting of the IATF considered proposals totaling $832,000 from the Presbytery of Mississippi and the Presbytery of Tropical Florida.

In addition to money from PDA funds for presbytery and church staff salary continuation and initial rebuilding funds, contributions have included:

Office of the General Assembly — forgiveness of per capita for certain churches, upon recommendation of the presbyteries.
Board of Pensions — waiver of pension dues for the balance of 2005 and the first quarter of 2006, upon recommendation of the presbyteries; over $300,000 in emergency grants to Pension Plan members; and continuing rewarding of special grants.
The General Assembly Council — consultation services for congregational transformation.
The Presbyterian Investment and Loan Program — low interest loans available for repair of church buildings.
Presbyterian Publishing Corporation — complimentary copies of the Presbyterian Hymnal, certain volumes of Interpretation Bible Studies, Book of Common Worship, and Presbyterian Polity for Church Officers.
The Presbyterian Foundation — identification of certain loan funds accessible to churches in crisis.

Questions or comments about the Task Force’s work can be directed to the Presbyterian Center to the Rev. Gary Torrens, co-chair of the Task Force.



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