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Hoosier United Methodist News Archives
| Hoosier United Methodists together |
October 2005 |
NCC seeks a 'just rebuilding' of devastated Gulf Coast
By Philip E. Jenks
NEW YORK (NCC) - Keenly aware of the spiraling effects of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita on millions of Americans, the National Council of Churches USA Governing Board formed an NCC commission to work for the "just rebuilding of community" on the Gulf Coast.
The board, which met here Sept. 26-27, also approved a resolution calling on the U.S. government to create an independent commission similar to the 9/11 Commission to investigate deficiencies in the response of rescue and relief workers following Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans and in other devastated areas of the Gulf.
NCC President Bishop Thomas L. Hoyt, Jr., Christian Methodist Episcopal bishop of Louisiana and Mississippi, said he would appoint Church World Service representatives and others with special expertise to the NCC commission on Katrina and he asked NCC member communions represented at the meeting to recommend persons who could serve. Church World Service is the humanitarian and relief agency of the communions that are members of the NCC.
Hoyt said he was mindful of the hidden human tragedy of Katrina, including the alarming number of suicides of rescue workers and "people who lost everything." The board received for a second reading a resolution on "Suicide Prevention, Intervention and Support," which will be forwarded to the NCC General Assembly for approval. The General Assembly met Nov. 8-10 in Hunt Valley, Md.
The resolution on suicide prevention urges member communions to "study and address the issues related to suicide prevention, intervention and support for those who attempt suicide and survivors of suicide loss."
The first National Conference for Survivors of Suicide Attempt and Healthcare Professionals was held Oct. 19-21 at the Marriott Downtown hotel in Memphis, Tenn., with singer Judy Collins acting as national honorary chairperson. Collins also hosted a National Council of Churches TV special produced for NBC affiliates and broadcast last May. The special explored Protestant, Catholic, Jewish and Greek Orthodox perspectives and psychologists' and counselors' views.
In other actions, the Governing Board welcomed the publication of the NCC's new curriculum, "For the Peace of the World, A Christian Curriculum on International Relations." Introduced by Dr. Antonios Kireopoulos, associate general secretary of the NCC for International Affairs, the study book will be available through the Council's publishing arm, Friendship Press.
Based on extensive field testing in local church settings, Dr. Peggy L. Shriver developed the curriculum from an original design by Karen and Dieter Hessel. Other contributors include Kireopoulos, Rev. Dr. Clifton Kirkpatrick, the Rev. Dr. William H. Hopper, Jr., and Dr. Janice Love.
The National Council of Churches USA is composed of 35 Protestant, Anglican, Orthodox, historic African American and peace communions, including The United Methodist Church, which total 45 million Christians in 100,000 local congregations across the United States. For more formation, log on to www.ncccusa.org.
Last updated on 25 Apr 2008