15.06.2020

Help for colleagues in Africa and Asia

Employees of the Evangelical Church in the Rhineland and the Evangelical Church of Westphalia are to support colleagues in Asian and African partner churches through donations. By the end of the year, the money is intended to help employees in the churches particularly affected by the Corona pandemic to make ends meet.

"Many salaries can no longer be paid there"

"Many salaries can no longer be paid there because church and school life has (almost) come to a standstill. If there are no more church services, the collections and membership fees of the church members are no longer collected. And where there are no more schoolchildren, there are no more school fees," says the appeal for donations, which was signed by, among others, Rev. Barbara Rudolph and Rev. Dr Ulrich Möller, both members of the Rhineland and Westphalian church boards. The financial system of the churches had almost completely collapsed. Elementary tasks such as salary payments at the beginning of the month were difficult or even impossible. Pastors, teachers and church employees are facing a double challenge: they care for the people they work for and are themselves in need with their own families.

People have become unemployed through Corona protection measures

Many people in Africa and Asia have become unemployed, particularly as a result of the protective measures, and the curfew has prevented them from cultivating their fields and pursuing their own earning opportunities. "The diaconal and pastoral work is in many ways comparable to what our church is currently doing, including online services. But the outreach goes beyond that: When we read that, for example, new water points are being set up for washing hands, or that flour, corn and oil are being distributed to families, we realize how much basic supplies are lacking in many regions," say the initiators of the call.

United Evangelical Mission has set up a relief fund

The United Evangelical Mission (UEM), based in Wuppertal, has already set up a Corona relief fund with financial support from the Evangelical Church of Westphalia and the Evangelical Church in the Rhineland. The UEM is also responsible for the allocation of incoming support for this campaign by church employees, ensures fair and equitable distribution and has high standards to prevent mismanagement and corruption. This is particularly important in times of crisis, he said, and guarantees that good will also becomes good aid.

Keyword: donations

Donations to support church employees in Africa and Asia can be paid into the donations account at the United Evangelical Mission (UEM): IBAN: DE45 3506 0190 0009 0909 08, KD-Bank eG, SWIFT/BIC: GENODED1DKD, keyword "Care and Share