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Hoosier United Methodist News Archives
| Hoosier United Methodists together |
March 2004 |
Mission leader urges nations to address poverty in Haiti
By Elliott Wright
NEW YORK (GBGM) -- The top mission executive of The United Methodist Church recently called upon the United States and other countries to address the poverty and other causes that keep Haiti in a "vicious cycle of poverty."
The Rev. R. Randy Day, general secretary of the General Board of Global Ministries, criticized the slowness of the international community to intercede in armed conflict in the island nation during February. The clash resulted in the resignation and departure of Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide on Feb. 28.
Day described as "morally abhorrent" the policy of the United States in turning back Haitian refugees seeking safety in a time of war.
The mission leader called upon United Methodists in working with the people of Haiti in "establishing a just and lasting peace."
The General Board of Global Ministries and its related United Methodist Committee on Relief have numerous church development and humanitarian programs in Haiti. More than 700 United Methodists from the United States go to Haiti each year as parts of mission volunteer teams or as individual service volunteers.
In the last three weeks, innocent children, youth, and adults have been killed and maimed and democracy in Haiti has been mortally wounded by the clash of government and anti-government forces," Day said. "The tardy response of the United States and other countries has increased the hemorrhaging."
Starting to settle down
On March 2, officials of Action by Churches Together (ACT), an ecumenical relief coalition, reported that Haiti was "starting to settle down." It also said that the full extent of the humanitarian situation was not clear as a result of security factors. A peacekeeping force made up of American, French and Canadian troops was expected in the near future. U.S. Marines were present to protect Americans.
Day said that Haiti seems to be a nation disregarded by the United States and other nations. The mission leader sharply criticized a long-standing U.S. policy of refusing to admit Haitian refugees fleeing from warfare.
"The U.S. action, in effect," he said, "returns to the battleground persons attempting to gain safety. I find this policy a violation of international understandings on the right of protective security; I find it morally abhorrent."
The United Methodist international mission agency works closely with the Methodist Church of Haiti in a wide range of educational, medical, nutritional, and church development programs. Many of the United Methodist Volunteers in Mission teams help to build churches and parsonages as well as schools and clinics.
Hot lunch program
The School Hot Lunch Program, supported by the Advance for Christ and His Church, provides meals at 93 schools, mostly in rural areas. It reaches 16,877 youngsters.
The program is so important to the health and nutrition of children that it is continued in the summer through Vacation Bible Schools.
The hot lunch ministry needs some $480,000 per year but only $223,815 was raised in 2003, meaning that it must be cut back in the months ahead. Among the most generous supporters the Hot Lunch Program is the Haiti Task Force of the East and West Michigan Conferences.
Provides school support
The Advance also provides support to several schools, medical clinics and sanitation efforts in Haiti. Doctors, dentists and nurses are among the United Methodist volunteers to go to Haiti on a regular basis to minister among the poor and in hard to reach highland areas. The Advance is a designated giving channel for mission personnel and projects.
In his most recent statement on Haiti, Day said he was perplexed by conflicting reports on the role of outside interests in fanning the current Haitian crisis and in the departure of President Aristide. He called for an international inquiry into the conflicting reports. He continued:
"International eyes must look keenly at the elite forces and often concealed systems of power that allow 'thugs' to maintain a pyramid of privilege for the rich while the poor are left to survive in conditions among the worst in the world. Jesus turned pyramids of privilege upside down," Day said.
For more information, contact Advance office at: The Advance Office, phone 212-870-3790 or e-mail advance@gbgm-umc.org.
Last updated on 04/19/2004