NEWS
Bishops Launch Churchwide Appeal to Rebuild Lives and Churches in the Philippines
The bishops of The United Methodist Church are launching an appeal to help the people of the Philippines, hard hit by recent typhoon and flooding disasters. The Council of Bishops approved the Churchwide Appeal for Philippines Disasters during its November 2-5 fall meeting in Lake Junaluska, N.C. The appeal will focus on providing humanitarian relief and support of the ministries of The United Methodist Church in the Philippines.
In late September and October, four typhoons—Ketsana, Parma, Lupit and Mirinae—struck the Philippines, leaving more than a thousand dead and an estimated 1.3 million people displaced. Causing drowning, landslides and electrocutions, the storms had a disastrous impact on farmlands, houses and infrastructure. Currently the country is facing a public health emergency and is struggling to fight outbreaks of infection. In addition, the record setting storms and flooding affected more than 200,000 United Methodists in 1,372 local churches.
“The greatest needs facing the Filipino people are rehabilitation programs for their destroyed houses, livelihood, rice and vegetable farms,” said Bishop Lito Cabacungan Tangonan of the Manila Episcopal Area. “For The United Methodist Church, there is also a need for repairs and renovation of the churches affected by the typhoon and floods.”
With support from several Asian-American bishops and the National Association of Filipino American United Methodists (NAFAUM), Bishop Rodolfo A. Juan of the Baguio Area showed a moving presentation to fellow bishops displaying the graphic devastation in the Philippines.
“Everybody was silent,” said Bishop Soriano. “No discussions. No questions. They simply approved it immediately.”
The bishops are developing the appeal with support from the General Council on Finance and Administration, the General Board of Global Ministries and United Methodist Communications, in partnership with the Philippines Central Conference College of Bishops. Bishops are asking annual conferences and local churches to designate a Sunday to give congregations an opportunity to participate in the churchwide appeal. Contributors can give directly through local churches. Conference treasurers will forward contributions to the General Council on Finance and Administration. In addition, givers can donate online at umcappeal.org. One hundred percent of every donation will go to the Churchwide Appeal for Philippines Disasters No. 818-002-PHP.
“This will probably be the bleakest Christmas many in my country will ever experience,” said Bishop Soriano. “My hope is that this Christmas we can be present to one another in tragedy, in joy and in giving just as Christ is one with us.”