The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) is working with ecumenical and church partners, including Church World Service and the Episcopal Diocese of Haiti to provide direct relief, Jon Brown of the denomination’s national staff told the General Assembly Mission Council on May 13.
“Presbyterians have been very generous in their response,” Brown said, and the money has been used for such things as supporting food and water distribution sites; providing thousands of tents, tarps and other forms of shelter; and sending more than 35,000 hygiene and baby care kits.
Conversations are continuing, Brown said, to determine the feasibility of sending short-term volunteer mission groups to assist in the relief effort. At least 16 presbyteries have partnerships in Haiti, and Presbyterians are asking whether they can go and help, Brown said.
“We’re trying to listen carefully to our Haitian partners,” to make sure “it’s a safe and secure and meaningful experience” before sending short-term mission groups, he said.
“We are cautiously hopeful” that groups could begin going to Haiti by next fall, Brown said, and that resource materials will be available for congregations to use, called “Walking with Haiti,” to follow along with Haitians in the recovery process.
