No Help From Diocese in Time of Trouble

It has been a week since tropical storm  Irene barged through Upstate New York, leaving flooding, property damage and ruined crops in its wake.  Various churches and denomination have offered prayers and relief efforts for those effected.  The brunt of the local storm was felt in New York counties that fall within the Diocese of Albany.  What has been the response of the diocese?  Not a word.

Other Episcopal dioceses in the Northeast provided their parishioners with resources to prepare for the storm and recovery support after Irene passed.  The Diocese of Newark posted continuous updates on its website and Bishop Beckwith issued a pastoral letter following the storm.  Likewise, the Diocese of Connecticut, the Diocese of New Jersey, the Diocese of Massachusetts and the Diocese of Central Pennsylvania, among others, used their websites to keep their people apprised of the progress of the storm and efforts to clean up afterward.    

Among other Christian communities, the Roman Catholic Church seems to have been the most prepared, canceling services and opening churches and schools as shelters, from Staten Island and Manhattan to upstate.  Other denominations that led preparations for the storm include the United Methodists and the Evangelical Lutherans.  Following the storm many church groups, among them the Baptists, the Christian Reformed denomination, and our Presbyterian neighbors offered material help and prayers.  These links are just a sample of the outpouring of Christian concern from other branches of the Church.

Within the borders of the Diocese of Albany, from the Catskils to the Canadian border, "the amount of damage is devastating," in the words of Gov. Cuomo. In Upstate New York, the town of Windham was literally wiped out and local emergency services were completely overwhelmed.  In Greene County the Schoharie River overlowed, causing major damage, while Schenectady County was flooded by the rising Mohawk.

This disaster is not in some remote country, it has happened right on our doorstep, within our own diocese, and to our own people.  Where are the words of comfort, Bishop Love?

In the absence of any material support or spiritual guidance from our own diocese, let us pray with our Lutheran brothers and sisters this prayer offered by their bishop:

Oh God, who in Jesus stills the storm and soothes the troubled heart, bring hope and courage to all who are afflicted by this flood as we await in uncertainty.  You are God and we need you.  We pray in the name of Jesus Christ, our Saviour and Lord.  Amen

 

 

Comments

[Richard Angelo]

Rev. Shank,
I am glad that Bishop Love contacted you and I read from his newly released Pastoral Letter that he was doing that with several other clergy in affected areas. While I applaud that, the point here is that he did not make an effort to inform the vast majority of the Diocese of what was happening and how we could help those who are in need, whether they be Episcopalain or not-- which is not important here. True, there are many avenues for people to step in and give support but it is critical that we as
the followers of Jesus do it even more so and the encouragement and lead from our Bishop is critical.
Richard Angelo
Albany

[Stephen McFadden]

Very sad but also it makes me angry...

[Ellen Tillotson]

Too often, those who say nothing have nothing to say. And that's a sad commentary from a leader.

[Peggy Blanchard]

"Whatever you do for the least of these, my brothers and sister, you do for me." And I'm guessing that whatever you don't do is likewise.

[John White]

Rev. Shank, I am glad that the Bishop reached out to you. I wonder if he contacted every parish in every county and community affected by the flood? His communication with clergy has always been selective. But that is not the point. Open communication with all the clergy under his care is the minimum to be expected of a bishop. The Church does not exist just to care for its own members, but to be a healing presence in the world. The bishop of a diocese should be the face of the Church to a hurting world. Those churches and denominations that stepped up and offered both material and spiritual solace in a time of trial were the true bearers of the Gospel. When the opportunity to preach the Gospel by both word and action presented itself, our bishop and diocese were missing in action.

[Kathy Keenan]

Could there be a more inappropriate reaction? What on earth are they doing in the diocesean offices? What is more important than helping flood-ravaged people? Is this what parishes are sending money to the diocese for...nothing? Misuse of office surely includes doing nothing when something clearly ought to be done.

[Father Mike Waverly-Shank]

Just wanted you all to know that Bishop Bill called me to ask how my churches are over in Downsville and Margaretville - I don't feel neglected! - Have you asked any clergy about the Bishop calling them??

[Kathy Rooney]

I usually support Bishop Love in most areas. I readily admit I am uncomfortable with some of the stands taken by AVM in certain areas, but I also admit I am uncomfortable with my uncomfortableness (if that is even a word!) at times. I too,though, am disappointed with the lack of response from the diocese. More than that, I am ashamed and saddened there has been no official statement. Still, I think, sarcasm gets no one anywhere - it can often just harden the lines.

[Mary Lawthers]

It's not about sex, so the dark forces in Albany do not care!

[Robert T Dodd]

At the risk of sounding like a broken record, I am so very disappointed in our Bishop. I -- we -- hoped for better from him.

Robert T. Dodd, President
Albany Via Media

[Grandmère Mimi]

Not a word about the disaster on the diocesan website! That is astounding! Words about meetings and speeches and nothing about the hurting people of the diocese. Where is the love from Bp. Love? Where is the compassion from the leadership? I have no more words.

[Carolyn D'Agostino]

Wow. The silence is deafening. Not even a prayer or word of comfort to the neighbors in VT. Very unfortunate.

[Judy Duncan]

Nicely said!!!

[Joseph M. Liotta]

I also was wondering about this issue.

The floods that effected the Mohawk Valley several years ago got some attention from then Bishop Herzog. The Diocese set up a program to supply book bags to children from some of the towns effected through the local churches.

I remember that my home Church, Zion Episcopal Church in Colton sent moneys from our tithe program to one of the churches under this program. I believe it was Margartsville. I may be wrong about the particulars but that was the gist of it.

I called around and found the Episcopal Churches in Ausable Forks and Essex were in the middle of the crisis. I will recommend to our vestry at our meeting next week to divide 3 months of our tithe between these two churches and ask these churches to use this money in their discretionary funds to help alleviate some problems for at least some of the families.

The Diocese of Albany, at the very least, should take a survey of its churches where these floods took place to see what is needed and make those needs known to everybody in the Diocese.

A "good" letter from the Bishop to be read in all churches would then help. It may also tone down the "bad Vibes' his last letter generated. People are still fuming about that letter and the unhealthy consequences it had for this Diocese.