Everywhere, natural disasters are on the increase as Earth’s climate warms. UCC Disaster Ministries is looking for churches that will declare themselves “ready and willing” to respond.
How churches can help
Finding churches to help is just one of many actions coordinated by the UCC’s disaster-response network. It marked its 20th anniversary this summer. Among its many components are:
Support from Disaster Ministries, part of the Global H.O.P.E. team of Wider Church Ministries.
Key work by disaster coordinators based in Conferences of the UCC. In the case of the fires described above, that’s Rev. Davena Jones, an associate conference minister of the Northern California Nevada Conference.
Connections with National Volunteers Active in Disaster, a coalition of more than 70 faith-based, community-based and other nonprofit responders. For examle, Ken Moore, a regional VOAD official, worked with Jones to recruit the Redding churches.
And there are things local churches and members anywhere can do to help, said Lesli Remaly, UCC minister for disaster response and recovery.
First, she said, giving helps greatly. Donations to the UCC’s Emergency USA fund will support wildfire recovery (choose that fund in the “designation” field at this page). Gifts to Our Church’s Wider Mission basic support and One Great Hour of Sharing make the disaster-response network possible.
List of the ‘ready and willing’
And, second — in addition to praying for disaster victims and first responders — churches themselves can sign up and prepare:
A new “Ready and Willing” network is forming this fall. It will consist of churches committed to assisting when disaster strikes. Remaly urged congregations to express interest now by contacting their Conference disaster coordinators, listed here.
Disaster Ministries is also building its recently started Emotional and Spiritual Care Team. People interested in offering such disaster-related care — or in need of it — can email Remaly at remalyl@ucc.org.
September is National Disaster Preparedness Month. Every church and Conference should have a plan and update it at least yearly, Remaly said. She recommended A Disaster Preparedness Manual for Churches, from Disaster Ministries and the Insurance Board. It’s a free download.
Each of those, she said, is a way of recognizing that disasters will increase for the foreseeable future. And the church has an important role to play as crises, near and far, intersect.
“This time in our history is a time of great stress,” she said. “The church is here not only to hold people in prayer and listen to the needs of others, but also to serve in important ways in the face of multiple disasters.”