Post-Disaster Reconstruction: More Churches Stepping In

Anglican and Presbyterian Churches contributing funds to post-disaster reconstruction work in the region

Saturday, Nov. 7, 2009 Posted: 12:18:06AM HKT

An Indonesian woman weeps outside her house that was destroyed by an earthquake on Sumatra island, Indonesia. (Photo: AP/Dita Alangkara)

Anglican and Presbyterian Churches in Singapore will be playing an important role in rebuilding efforts in five disaster-struck countries in the region.

The Diocese of Singapore has collected some $150,000 in donations from members of its 26 parishes to support relief and reconstruction work in the Philippines, Cambodia, Vietnam and Padang in Indonesia.

Funds will be channeled by the Anglican crisis relief arm through Anglican-related ministries working on the ground in affected countries.

The Anglican Crisis Relief Outreach & Support, Singapore or ACROSS has also provided immediate relief, as in the case of the Philippines where it channeled an initial financial support using standby funds through the Philippines Episcopal Church.

Earlier on, ACROSS had sent out a team to survey the situation there, but finally decided that it would not be able to develop a tangible strategy of sending volunteers, according to its chairman The Revd Michael Teh, who is also the vicar of the Chapel of the Holy Spirit (Anglican).

In Padang, the ministry dispatched a medical team some three weeks back followed by a non-medical team that distributed food to the victims. There are plans for another follow-up trip to explore the possibility of reconstruction.

Set up in 2002, ACROSS has undertaken other projects in Mongolia (severe winter), Egypt (Sudanese refugees), Iran (earthquake in Bam), Pakistan (earthquake), Sri Lanka (tsunami in 2005), India (tsunami), Aceh (tsunami), Northern Thailand (Karen refugees), Yogjakarta (earthquake) and Myanmar (Cyclone Nargis).

Another mainline denomination, the Presbyterian Church in Singapore has set out to collect $200,000 to aid rebuilding efforts in Indonesia, Vietnam and Taiwan.

PCS sent out letters of appeal last month to its 40 churches urging members to contribute to rebuilding houses, churches and livelihoods, according to synod executive secretary Elder Richard Chong.

While the mainline denomination will not be directly engaged in the disaster relief efforts, it will channel funds toward the rebuilding work done by other Presbyterian Churches in the three countries.

The partnership is facilitated by the bilateral ties that PCS has forged with these regional churches.

“[W]e definitely will not be in the first line of relief; the government or Red Cross can do better,” Elder Chong expressed, adding that the PCS sees its role as a secondary, indirect one of funding the reconstruction work done by churches in the region.

“[W]e do our part here and then they will tell us how the [contribution] is used down the lines,” he said.

This is not the first time the denomination, which has about 17,000 members, is funding disaster relief work.

Last year, PCS raised funds for Myanmar after the Cyclone Nargis disaster ($160,000) and for China after Sichuan ($110,000) was devastated by a strong earthquake.

PCS’ regional relief efforts are spearheaded by the Synod Mission Committee.

Other churches here have also contributed toward disaster relief.

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Edmond Chua
edmond@christianpost.com