Church World Service reps visit Chancery, discuss ways parishes can aid refugees, needy
The Right Rev. Bishop Johncy Itty of the Episcopal Church, Past Chairman of Church World Service [CWS], and the Rev. Dr. John McCullough of the United Methodist Church, CWS Executive Director, met with His Beatitude, Metropolitan Tikhon; Archpriest John Jillions, Chancellor; Archpriest Eric G. Tosi, Secretary; Melanie Ringa, Treasurer; and Arlene Kallaur long-time representative to CWS at the Chancery of the Orthodox Church in America on Tuesday, October 13, 2015.
Rev. Dr. McCullough related the history of CWS, which was founded in 1946 in response to the dire need to resettle displaced persons after World War II. Tens of thousands of Orthodox Christians from Eastern and Central Europe had been resettled in the US during the post-war years through the efforts of CWS and similar efforts. As CWS approaches its 70th Anniversary in 2016, it continues to minister to refugees and the displaced, especially those affected by the crisis in the Middle East. Other CWS priorities include hunger relief, poverty reduction and emergency response efforts in Haiti and elsewhere in the recent past. CWS directly aims to enable families and individuals to become self-sustaining in some 35 countries and partners with local agencies in an additional 40.
CWS is especially well known for sponsoring community CROP Walks for the relief of hunger abroad and in the US, with 25 percent of CROP walk collections earmarked for local efforts. Mrs. Kallaur shared her experience as key organizer of the annual East Meadow, NY community CROP Walk, in which the city’s Holy Trinity Church has participated for many years. Ms. Ringa, who has served as treasurer for walks in the past, added that her parish, Christ the Savior Church, Southbury, CT, also has been a leader in community CROP walks.
The Orthodox Church in America—- one of 37 faith communities that cooperates with the agency—has been a CWS partner since 1950. CWS also cooperates with International Orthodox Christian Charities and the Orthodox Christian Mission Center.
“CWS is the lead agency for resettlement to the US, especially from Syria,” said Rev. Dr. McCullough when asked how parishes might become involved in assisting the displaced. “One hundred thousand refugees are expected in the next few years, and our aim for resettlement is to help individuals and families become self-sufficient as soon as possible.”
Once government provided housing becomes available, there is much parishes can do to assist refugee families, including setting up and furnishing apartments, offering a warm welcome into the community, providing meals, assisting with transportation needs, providing cultural orientation and conversational English classes, translating and tutoring, and assisting with visits to physicians, job interviews, and community programs designed to acclimate them to their new surroundings.
CWS offers numerous on-line resources for parishes, groups and individuals interested in helping in resettlement efforts in their communities.