Why did PDA funds underwrite an awards gala for the secular media?
Commentary by Carmen Fowler LaBerge, The Layman, May 15, 2012
When our fellow human beings are in crisis, from natural disaster or man-made chaos, Presbyterians want to be able to trust their denomination with the funds given to respond. The denominational agency through which those funds are given is Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA). PDA has recently collected funds designated for distribution to assist people suffering the effects of hurricane (Katrina), earthquake (Haiti), tsunami (Japan), tornado, flood, war, famine and terrorism. PDA responds admirably to disaster; the concern here is how disaster is being re-imagined to expand the use of those funds.
On April 14, according to the article posted on the Presbyterian Church (USA)’s own website, PDA funds were used, along with other PCUSA funds, to underwrite an awards party for The Religious Communications Council’s (RCC) Wilbur Awards. The question is how is that a justifiable use of funds that were given sacrificially by Presbyterians to alleviate the pain of their neighbors in need?
The RCC is a U.S. nonprofit organization representing the communications, marketing and public relations personnel from 60 different faith-oriented institutions including the PCUSA. Founded in 1929 to publicize the collective concerns of Christian organizations, the RCC has redefined itself and expanded to include media advocacy and collective lobbying for any self-described religious faith. The RCC is headquartered in New York City and essentially provides a means by which religious organizations can band together to impact the secular media. Thus, the Wilbur Awards.
The Wilbur Awards are the RCC’s annual tribute to the mainstream media. One of this year’s awards was given to The Witches of Lublin for their radio show. The RCC has every right to give awards to whomever it chooses, even witches. But it stretches the imagination to define disaster in such a way that funding the event where the award is given constitutes Presbyterian Disaster Assistance.
Certainly the PCUSA has reason to proactively cultivate positive relationships with secular media outlets. But the denomination has news service personnel, a communications office, an office of public witness in Washington, an office of the United Nations in New York and media relations efforts through the larger ecumenical groups of which it is a part, namely the National and World Council of Churches. The ongoing need to build relationships with reporters and religious news editors across the country is not disputed. What is questioned is the use of funds explicitly designated for the relief of human suffering for the underwriting of an awards event honoring among others, the broadcast efforts of witches.
Many worthy religious reporting efforts were celebrated at the Wilbur’s on April 14 at the Marriott in Philadelphia. You can read the evening’s program here: www.religioncommunicators.org/wilbur-awards. The concern I’m raising is over the use of PDA funds and the wider use of PCUSA funds to underwrite such an event. To answer that by saying it was a budgeted item is insufficient reason but it does highlight the importance of oversight and management. The GAMC oversees PDA and the commissioners to the 220th General Assembly will be asked to pass a budget through the Mission Coordination and Budget committee that will include such funding. It is usually a rubber stamp exercise. I hope that questions about the use of funds is raised as commissioners take seriously their calling because funding an awards night is a gross reimagining of disaster.
Carmen Fowler LaBerge is president of the Presbyterian Lay Committee and executive editor of its publications.
Editor’s note: “The Witches of Lublin” is the title of a holiday radio show chronicling the Passover drama of several castigated Jewish women in Poland in the 18th century. The writers of this radio drama use the term “witches” in the title as a metaphor. Although I still contend that underwriting the awards event was a misuse of PDA funds, thankfully an award was in fact NOT given to a practicing coven. Carmen Fowler LaBerge