Each section includes links to other sites that have
additional information on the crisis.
Presbyterian
Disaster Assistance (PDA) has a page with information on PC(USA)
relief efforts and instructions on how to contribute money to support
pastoral care teams working in the affected areas.
PDA has sent $10,000 each to the Presbytery of New
York City and New York-based Church World Service, the relief agency of
the National Council of Churches.
Three "meetings" have been established on
PresbyNet, the computer communication network of the PC(USA). They
are SEPT 11 ATTACKS, where users can discuss the tragedy; SEPT 11 PRAYER
VIGIL, an online prayer service with the prayers Presbyterians from
around the country; and WORSHIP AIDS IN TIME OF TRAGEDY, which offers a
variety of worship resources.
According to Edna Sinnock, associate for church-wide
information services in the Office of Communication, calls to PresbyTel,
the denomination's toll-free telephone information service, have
increased by 50 percent since the tragedy. PresbyTel's telephone
consultants are available to answer questions between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m.
ET Monday through Friday.
With the General Assembly Council scheduled to meet in
Phoenix, AZ, Sept. 26-30, staff leaders are trying to figure out how to
engage the council in the church's coordinated response to the tragedy.
Worldwide Ministries Division officials have identified five areas of
concern for the GAC to address: security measures for staff who are
traveling and for missionary personnel in other countries;
communication; interfaith relations and cooperation; the concrete
response of the PC(USA) "on the ground" in New York and
Washington; and church-state issues raised by the crisis and the U.S.
government's response to it.
The Council may also decide to issue a statement on
the crisis. GAC leaders and the Advisory Committee on Social Witness
Policy are working on a draft statement for the Council to consider.
The Presbyterian Peacemaking Program is looking at
refocusing the annual Peacemaking Offering - scheduled for on Oct. 7 -
to help with relief and rebuilding efforts. Peacemaking officials are in
conversation with PDA to coordinate those efforts.
Peacemaking, theology and Christian education staffers
are feverishly working on curriculum resources, particularly for adults,
in response to requests from congregations for assistance in helping
church members talk about the crisis and about some of the theological
issues it has raised, such as forgiveness, love, justice, hate, grace
and vengeance.
With U.S. suspicions focused on Afghanistan, Peacemaking
staffers are composing a timeline on the history of religious, social
and political developments in that little-known country.
A key concern for Presbyterians - who long have been
committed to ecumenical and interfaith relations - is the possibility of
persecution of Muslims in the wake of the terrorist attacks. Theology
and worship staffers, along with staff in the ecumenical and interfaith
offices, are preparing resources to foster interfaith dialogues and
trialogues (including Jewish partners in conversations). Resources for
adding interfaith perspectives to worship are being added to the Web
site constantly.
Presbyterians throughout the country and the world are
being encouraged to share their stories - of worship, healing, outreach,
service - with the rest of the church. Those stories are being collected
on the Web site, as are messages of condolences from partner churches
around the world, and the insights of PC(USA) mission personnel, who
often have a very different perspective on events than do Americans.
For more information about the PC(USA) response to the
crisis, visit the Web site or
call PresbyTel at 800-872-3283.
Counseling is available through Board of Pensions
All members of the Benefits Plan of the Presbyterian
Church (USA) who are covered under its medical provisions may use the
counseling and referral services available through Response, an employee
assistance plan.
Response can be effective in helping members resolve
problems before they become too serious. Response can provide help to
cope with stress, anxiety and depression, among other problems facing
church workers.
Eligible church workers and the members of their
families may call Response at 800-455-5129 for confidential free
counseling and referral services 24 hours a day.
To contribute to Presbyterian Disaster Assistance
