European Methodists’ United Effort for Asian Tsunami Relief

In expressing love to the victims in the devastating tsunami in South East Asia, Methodist Churches across Europe are giving every possible effort to provide relief to the affected countries.

The fervent response has come following the call of the President and Vice President of the Conference of the Methodist Church in Great Britain through the United Methodist News Service.

The President Rev Will Morrey and the Vice President Deacon Myrtle Poxon said in a joint statement released on the last day of 2004, "We are called to respond to the tragedy before us with the fullest possible expression of our common humanity."

While acknowledging the unique international leadership Britain will process in 2005, Rev Morrey emphasised that the effort of the British Church is crucial, "It is a great irony that the tsunami has struck many of the poorest people of our world. It is imperative that the churches in Britain do all they can to press for a strategic change in global development in 2005, especially as the British Government will hold the presidency of the European Union and the G8 group of powerful nations."

The UK-based Methodist charity, the Methodist Relief and Development Fund has been overwhelmed by the generosity of many people, said representative Sarah Hagger. As a member of Action by Churches Together International (ACT), the fund provides important aid for India, Indonesia and Sri Lanka. The Methodist Relief Development Fund has now surpassed £155,000.

In all Methodist Churches and ministries across Britain, appeals were launched by both young and elderly congregations to gather as much funds as possible for tsunami relief.

In Belfast, elderly church members asked "Meals on Wheels" volunteers to deliver their donations to the church. Teenagers, benefiting from a United Methodist funded Advance Special project, plan to organise a fund-raising event.

The passion of the Methodists towards tsunami relief has been expanded throughout Europe. Many Methodist churches in West Europe such as Germany and Switzerland have special links to Sri Lanka, therefore, they have given aid directly to Sri Lankan Methodist organisations.

United Methodists throughout Switzerland joined with representatives of other faiths for a Swiss National Collecting Day. A national memorial service was held for disaster victims, and 130 million Swiss francs ($110 million) was collected in donations.

Even in Eastern Europe where Methodists are hard-pressed by economic and political difficulties, people have been keen to join in the relief effort. Lithuanian United Methodists collected a special offering that will go to the United Methodist Committee on Relief's tsunami response. In Slovakia and Czech Republic, United Methodists have organised a national appeal. Despite the pain remaining from the Beslan hostage tragedy last September, Ukrainian Methodist churches have not turned away from the desperate cry from South East Asians.

During a recent sermon at the Styal Methodist Church in Cheshire, England, the Rev Charles New pointed to the unprecedented public response to the disaster as "evidence of the image of God on humankind."

"I cannot be indifferent to what has happened because God is not indifferent," New said. "...This outpouring of love that we are witnessing right round the world is a fundamental human instinct that allows us to see, for a brief moment, just how we have been created to be."

Rev Will Morrey mentioned that he was touched by the joint effort of all faiths - Buddhist, Hindu, Muslim and Christian - to support the aid work in Sri Lanka. He also encouraged Methodists to use grassroots networks in South East Asia, such as women's groups, to offer emotional and spiritual support alongside practical help.