Pennsylvania Southeast Conference United Church of Christ’s Disaster Ministries seeks to be the expression of our faith through compassionate witness and service to our neighbors. We are a part of the United Church of Christ Global H.O.P.E. team, as expressed through the UC
C’s Love of Neighbor ministry. The acronym H.O.P.E. makes clear the team’s vision: Humanitarian. Opportunities. Progress. Empowerment. Learn more. All Disaster Recovery activities are coordinated with the UCC National Disaster Ministry which oversees related activities on the national level. To learn more about the National Disaster Ministries, click here.
The PSEC Disaster Response Team is committed to long-term recovery after a community has experienced a natural or human-caused disaster. Our Love of Neighbor runs so deep, that after many organizations have left an area and finished their work, we continue to love and care for our neighbors in these communities.
The Conference Disaster Response Coordinator is the Rev. Karl Jones Jr. His role is to:
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- help churches and associations prepare for and respond to natural and human-caused disaster locally
- create and resource a Conference Disaster Response Team, whose primary goal is to be “eyes, ears, and hands” across the conference to assist congregations to prepare their disaster response and recovery plans and to help with response and recovery to disaster events within the conference and in other conferences across the country.
- Represent the PSEC in the disaster work of the wider church, and other faith-based and community organizations.
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PSEC Disaster Ministries is focused on:
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- Preparedness and Long-Term Recovery
- Providing support, information and resources to Conferences and Congregations (solidarity grants, recovery grants)
- Providing emotional and spiritual care to both survivors and those who are working with survivors. The PSEC lead for this ministry is the Rev. Jenny Smith.
- Utilizing Long-Term Recovery Volunteers in our work. Currently there are 2 Partners in Service working with the Team in Covenant Association, PSEC.
- Encouraging volunteer opportunities for disaster recovery work teams
- Providing Grants to partners throughout the entire Response and Recovery Continuum
- Providing Church World Service buckets and kits
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The strength of the PSEC Disaster Response ministry comes from the dedication of our congregations and volunteers.
Helpful links to learn more about Disaster Ministry in the PSEC and UCC:
PSEC Disaster Response/Volunteer Resources – valuable information on how to help in current emergencies and how to prepare for possible disasters.
National UCC Disaster Ministries website – here you will find
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- Emotional and Spiritual Care
- Disaster News
- Preparedness Resources
- Volunteer Opportunities
- Grant opportunities
- Disaster Recovery
- How to Get Involved and/or give to national UCC Disaster Ministries
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