On Nov. 12, the Presbytery of West Toronto voted to donate $100,000 toward Presbyterian World Service and Development’s Typhoon Haiyan emergency appeal.
The funds will come mostly from money the presbytery has received over the years when churches within its bounds closed their doors.
“Churches that have closed can see this money going to do good work,” said Tori Smit, clerk of presbytery.
When a church closes, normally up to 70 per cent of the net proceeds are directed to the presbytery for its mission work, and 30 per cent is placed in the national church’s New Church Development Capital Fund to purchase land for new churches.
PWS&D launched its emergency appeal shortly after Typhoon Haiyan ripped through the Philippines on Nov. 8, practically levelling the city of Tacloban and causing widespread devastation.
“PWS&D is deeply grateful for the generous support of West Toronto presbytery,” said Ken Kim, PWS&D’s director. “Even when the immediate images fade from the minds of the general public, the work of PWS&D with partners and the ACT Alliance will continue with rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts. A portion of the gift will be used for immediate assistance to those affected and the rest will be used in our ecumenical efforts to enable people to rebuild their lives.”
The presbytery’s donation will be made over the course of a few months, likely from November to January, as the presbytery withdraws the money from some of its invested funds, treasurer Maurice Mawhinney said in an email.
For more information about PWS&D’s appeal and the work of its partners on the ground in the Philippines, visit presbyterian.ca/pwsd.
