You’ve probably heard this recipe: “To be Presbyterian is to be ecumenical.” Presbyterians throughout our history have provided visionary leadership to ecumenical work and witness. We have always recognized that we do not serve alone and that it is the body of Christ knit together, with all its differing gifts, that reflects the fullness of the incarnation.

CWS – Church World Service

CWS is the humanitarian emergency relief, refugee, and development agency that grew out of the National Council of Churches. CWS is a membership organization with the board and program committees drawn from its membership. Some thirty denominations are members of CWS, spanning the denominational spectrum of historic and Orthodox churches. Around seven of the thirty denominations are active in coordinating their disaster and refugee work; they also share the use of the One Great Hour of Sharing as a mechanism of support to these ministries.

CWS has twelve regional offices around the world that relate to church councils and activities in their areas. On behalf of the worldwide ecumenical network, CWS has provided leadership to the Emergency Management Training that we have been engaged in worldwide for the past three years. All PDA program staff serve on various CWS committees, providing a linkage and advisory role to the ministry. We seek in those meetings to coordinate our own work as denominations. Sometimes in a disaster response CWS is in the lead through one of their regional offices, at other times a particular denomination in a country may be in a leadership role on the emergency response, as is happening in Malawi and Angola where Presbyterian and Reformed Churches are the lead responder. We share information, staff, visits, and monitoring and evaluation tasks as we cooperate in service in Christ’s name.

PDA – Presbyterian Disaster Assistance

PDA is a vital partner providing support to and working alongside both CWS and ACT. Within this worldwide network various partners have developed particular expertise. CWS is strong in Southern Asia, with a long history of ministry and presence that, for example, enabled them to take leadership in Afghanistan and Indonesia. The Danish have developed a very strong program to eliminate land mines and is working in Eritrea, Kosovo, and now northern Albania. The Norwegians bring strong water and sanitation skills, and the Lutherans have a particular gift for refugee camp management. PDA is at work collaboratively now with the Swedish Church and the Norwegians in the continued development and refinement of pastoral care giving.