National Church Announces Hurricane Relief Partnerships

Congregations and institutions seeking to build companion relationships in hurricane relief are asked to work through a new four-phase response system, “We Will Stand With You”, under the direction of the Bishop Suffragan for Chaplaincies, George Packard, who has asked that diocesan bishops serve as principal liaisons in the assessment and development of companion relationships.

Congregations and institutions wishing to partner with congregations in hard-hit disaster areas are asked first to express their interest to their diocesan bishops, Packard said. In The Episcopal Diocese Of New York, contact josgood@dioceseny.org or nrfox@dioceseny.org. Development of the system and resource sharing is supported by new web pages available at www.episcopalchurch.org/help.

Diocesan bishops have begun to work with Packard in the first-phase process of inventory and assessment of both needs and resources. Bishops are responding with completed survey forms distributed by Packard, whose chaplaincy ministries also include support of the U.S. Armed Services.

Under phase two, Packard, staff and bishops in the hardest-hit areas will begin matching needs with resources in a fully coordinated plan. Priorities will begin with dioceses in Louisiana and Mississippi (and potentially other Gulf Coast dioceses, depending upon the impact of Hurricane Rita).

Packard said phase three is the functional process of beginning on-the-ground help, the development of financial programs indented for moderate- to long-term rebuilding, and continuing coordination of congregations and dioceses offering help to affected areas.

Phase four is evaluation and improvement, with ongoing monitoring provided by a working group that meets regularly at the Episcopal Church Center in New York and unites representatives of Packard’s chaplaincies office, Episcopal Relief and Development (ERD), Episcopal Migration Ministries (EMM), the National Association of Episcopal Schools, the churchwide Office of Mission Program, and the Office of Communication.

Diocese responds with Open Hearts and Prayers and Funds

EDNY Volunteers assist in disaster aftermath