PC(USA) leaders send letter to the church about
South Asia disaster[1-4-05]
The Moderator of the 216th General Assembly, the Stated
Clerk and the Executive Director of the General Assembly Council have sent
a brief statement of the church's concern for the millions of people
affected by the earthquake and tsunami in South Asia, with a call for
Presbyterians to offer help through Presbyterian Disaster Assistance -
with the goal of $2,500,000 in gifts.
January 3, 2005
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
http://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
