Presbytery Meeting Offers their Blessing and Support

The Presbytery Disaster Response Committee Work Mission Trips being planned for October, November and December were given the unamous blessing and support of those attending the Presbytery meeing in Athins Sunday.

Here is a copy of the Memo they supported.

MEMO

TO: PRESBYTERY
FROM: Presbytery Disaster Response Committee.
RE: Hurricane Katrina Disaster Response
DATE: 09/18/05

Motion: The Presbytery of East Tennessee votes to bless and support the efforts of the Presbytery Disaster Response Committee to plan and send mission work trips in the Hurricane Katrina affected areas of Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana under the following guidelines:

WHO
Supervision will be provided by the Presbytery of East TN Presbytery Staff and the Disaster Response Committee of Presbytery. (D.R. Committee is currently composed of Fritz Shilling-Chair, Cindy Benz, Charles Montgomery, Rob Mellgard) and the Presbytery Mission Work Planning Team (Coordinated by Rick Kuhlman)
Participants will be all members of any Presbyterian Church in The Presbytery and those who wish to join with a Presbyterian Church for these work trips. The UTK and UTC trips will be specifically for students of these 2 campuses, students of other college campuses and leaders as needed.

WHAT
Mission Work Trips to the areas affected by Hurricane Katrina.
Our Presbytery work parties will focus on assisting with the rehab and repair of Presbytery properties, local mission sites, local Presbyterian affiliated organizations and the people of the area. All work will be coordinated with the Presbyteries on scene representatives.

WHERE
a. Assembling at various points in the Presbytery we will move together to the affected areas. (Bring your UT window flags)
b. The trips will go to South Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana (Exact locations still to be determined and coordinated with the on scene Presbytery contacts)

WHEN
October 13-16, UTK fall break weekend, October 21-25 UTC fall break weekend. College age students and campus leaders work trip.
Date to-be-announced possible last week of Oct or first week of Nov. - All Presbytery Mission Work Trip
December 26- January 1, 2006 - All Presbytery Mission Work Trip. (Get your high school youth groups aimed at this trip!)

WHY
To serve God by loving our neighbor as we love ourselves.
Because we can
Because we should
To connect the Presbytery in a joint, hands on, mission effort.
To focus and be good stewards of our Presbytery wide resources.
To set a precedent and organize for these efforts in the future.

HOW
With the support of all the churches of the Presbytery of East Tennessee and their members through the giving of time, talent and treasure. For the giving of treasure see the accompanying page.

$$$

Presbytery of East Tennessee Disaster Response
Local Giving Opportunities

P.E.T. Disaster Relief within the bounds of the Presbytery of East Tn. Fund# (PET84000)
This fund is specifically set up to receive and administer funds here in East Tennessee to assist with the Katrina Disaster relief efforts of Presbyterian churches and organizations. The funds will be used to help with the sheltering and assistance needs of displaced persons and the work to house and care for those displaced persons wishing to stay in the East Tennessee area

P.E.T. Disaster Mission Work Trips Fund# (PET84500)
This fund is specifically set up to receive and administer funds to assist with the planning and support of work mission trips to the areas of the Gulf Coast hard hit by Katrina. Funds will be used for administration, planning, transportation, food, housing, materials and other support as needed for work parties.

Oversight of the two funds above will be provided directly by the Disaster Response Committee, which will regularly report to the Presbytery Budget and Finance Committee, which will regularly report to the Presbytery.

Funds remaining in these P.E.T. Katrina Disaster accounts will be held by the Presbytery for the Disaster Response Committee to be used for funding future disaster relief and disaster relief preparedness in the Presbytery of East Tennessee or in support of Presbytery disaster relief response outside the Presbytery.

Funds are for Presbytery wide use in responding to disasters. Funds will not be used to support individual churches disaster work trips without the consent of the Budget & Finance Group. Churches are encouraged to join in the Presbytery organized events for disaster response.

The attendees at Presbytery went on to offer over $1,200.00 to back up thier vote.

NOW WHAT?

The Disaster Response Committee will work to get to all churches a Bulletin insert for use Sunday and an application that can be filed online for those willing to go on a work mission trip or provide special services or materials to help plan and send the trips.

Questions can be communicated thorugh e-mail - Katrina@presbyteryeasttn.org

Thanks for the support!Now let's take this to the pews and the people who will make it work!