The Wall Street Journal report on Haiti's Episcopal Bishop.
The Rector’s Letter to the Parish.
January 14, 2010
Dear Friends,
As the horror in Haiti unfolds, each of us wonders what we can possibly do. Just this morning as Shelley and I watched a Haitian family desperately try to rescue a thirteen year old girl from a collapsed building while listening to the fading pleas from others they loved dying within the same devastated structure, Shelley in overwhelming anguish cried out, “We have to do something!” I write this letter to encourage you to act and provide a means for you to do so.
As most of you know, Haiti is a place very dear to my heart. My priesthood and personhood were impacted inalterably by my experiences in Haiti. In fact, it is no exaggeration to say my ministry makes no sense apart from the time I spent amongst these beloved people. The breadth of their spirit, the depth of their faith, their demonstration of hope in circumstances beyond my imaginings and their miraculous joy in the Good News of Jesus Christ incarnated the gospel before my eyes. Thus, the pain of this tragedy is profound for me. I know the television images to be not mere abstractions but people, indeed friends for whom I am greatly concerned. They are people like my good friend and fellow Episcopal priest, Pere Fanfan, who works amongst the poorest of the poor in Port au Prince and from whom we have yet to hear since the earthquake.
Jesus said, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” Elsewhere he said, “You must love your neighbor as you love yourself.” His words are so familiar that we risk not recognizing the radical call to action they demand. What would I do if it were my daughter trapped in that building crying out in agony for help hour after hour? What would I give in assistance for her rescue? Exactly that, Jesus said, is what I am to do for others. The same ferocity of love for me and mine must be given for them and theirs. This is the high cost of discipleship, of following Jesus. To carry the name Christian is to act this way.
In order to fulfill the mandate of Jesus, this weekend at St. Christopher’s we are going to have a great ingathering of money to help our neighbors in Haiti.
I will designate the loose offering from every service to go toward disaster relief. As well, I ask you to write generous checks to the church marked “Haiti relief” that will immediately be put toward relief efforts. By far the best organization I know to partner with is Episcopal Relief and Development (ERD, http://www.er-d.org). ERD is hands down that which I take most pride in as an Episcopalian. They have consistently been rated amongst the best in disaster relief, coupling extremely low administrative overhead with the experts who know how to quickly put money to work saving lives. Moreover, ERD is not coming in cold but is able to work with the vast existing Episcopal network already in place as the Episcopal Diocese of Haiti is the largest diocese in the Episcopal Church. While I know many may want to give other items, money is the best thing you can provide right now. Although the need of supplies is vast, the almost non-existent infrastructure necessary to get supplies to people has been further undermined. So the way to act now is to give financially. And I will be blunt, it is my belief that as followers of Jesus we are called to give sacrificially.
Please pray for the people of Haiti and ask God what He is asking you to give in love.
Blessings,
The Reverend Eric Long, Rector
