GAMC makes cuts to disaster-fund grants
By Jason P. Reagan, The Layman, May 15, 2012
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Citing an increase in domestic catastrophes, the Presbyterian Church (USA)’s General Assembly Mission Council approved a cut in disaster relief grants during its meeting last week.
The council’s Justice Committee recommended a measure on May 10 that reduces the amount given to synods or presbyteries for Initial Response Grants from $10,000 to up to $7,500 as well as slashing Church Assistance Grants from $10,000 to $5,000. The funds are administered by the Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA).
“PDA simply does not have the funds in the current disaster climate to provide $10,000 each time there is a disaster,” the committee stated in its report.
“The increase in the number of disasters and the decrease in funding available for response necessitate a reduction in Initial Funds for the mid-council.”
The measure also authorizes PDA to offer Church Hosting Grants, which the committee said would be made “to congregations to upgrade facilities or provide for temporary facilities (i.e. showers, toilets, kitchen equipment) in order to be able to host volunteer work teams for long term recovery.”
In order to qualify for a hosting grant of up to $5,000, a church must include a plan for recovering the ongoing costs of hosting volunteer teams during a long-term, disaster recovery period and must coordinate with other community-based recovery groups.
According to a report by the Justice Committee, the PDA will “consider a one-time grant of up to $5,000 to assist with building modifications necessary to host volunteer work teams engaged in long term recovery following a disaster.”
“A number of factors have placed a burden on the resources available for national disaster response,” Sara Lisherness, GAMC Director of Compassion, Peace and Justice told the committee, pointing out that the PDA had to dip into reserve funds last year to meet all disaster relief needs.
The committee report cited three reasons for the cuts: increased demand, an increase in the number of damaged churches due to natural disasters and hosting disaster workers at churches – a new function of the PDA.
“The cooperative movement within disaster assistance and the improved coordination of food, water, shelter and aid make it less likely that a mid-council will actually need more than $7,500 in the immediate aftermath of a disaster,” the report stated as a rationale for the $2,500 cut in initial grants.
Funds earmarked to help repair damaged churches come from the denomination’s One Great Hour of Sharing Offering (OGHS), which has been declining over the past several years.
Along with the denomination’s three other special offerings — the Pentecost Offering, the Peacemaking Offering and the Christmas Joy Offering — the OGHS offering has declined 25 percent over the last 10 years.
The report states that, prior to Hurricane Katrina in 2004, only a few churches received Church Assistance Grants. Since Katrina, eight congregations received funding both for repair work and ongoing operational support.
The measure will also allow the PDA to offer Long Term Recovery Grants to presbyteries and synods when nine conditions are met (see this link to review all nine under Recommendation #4).
Conditions include a requirement that mid-councils (presbyteries and synods) be “engaged in long term recovery of the community in collaboration with other faith-based and volunteer organizations” and that such funds must not be used to cover the costs of volunteer hosting operations.
“Funding for Long Term Recovery comes from appeals for support in the wake of a disaster. In recent years, these appeals have not provided adequate support for long term recovery efforts, placing additional burden on One Great Hour of Sharing funds,” the report states.
“Presbyterian Disaster Assistance is suggesting these changes so that resources will be available when they are most needed,” Lisherness added.
The cost-cutting measure was recommended for approval by the Justice Committee on Thursday and approved by the GAMC on Friday. It will go into effect in 2013.
The cuts come just weeks after the PDA helped underwrite an awards party for The Religious Communications Council’s (RCC) Wilbur Awards.