Pastoral Letter on the Flooding in the Diocese; Ways to Assist in Relief Efforts
August 15, 2016

Dear friends,

In the wake of the flooding in the Baton Rouge area, I wanted to touch base with you to let you know where we stand as a diocese.  Over the weekend, I was in regular contact with many of our congregations and clergy.  As you know, the severity and speed of this storm caught all of us by surprise.

On Saturday, we sent out an alert on our new Alert Media network through Episcopal Relief and Development. We are one of the “test dioceses” for this system.  Through this, we were able to quickly ascertain if anyone was in immediate flooding danger.  We also used it as an opportunity to gather all of the clergy in a conference call that was conducted this morning.  We were very pleased with the effectiveness of this system and had almost 100% participation of our clergy/parishes across the diocese.

As far as flooding, this is where we stand: St. Francis, Denham Springs received 2-4 feet of water. Robert Bishop, the senior warden, emailed us this morning to report that they were able to get to the church to assess the damage.  The other affected property is Episcopal High School. This morning I received an email stating that Hugh McIntosh was taking a boat to the property. As of yesterday, there was water in the gym, the Lower School and possibly the Penniman building.  We will have further details after his visit.  We are still unsure of the status of the former Holy Spirit property. Amazingly, neither St. Augustine’s, Baton Rouge or St. Patrick’s, Zachary flooded.  The Senior Warden in Zachary reported that the water rose to within an inch of the front door and then receded. Several of our clergy had to evacuate their homes. The extent of flooding is still being evaluated.  I have assigned a clergy contact to each of them to coordinate and assist with their needs.

Canon Manning and Deacon Elaine Clements are working alongside me to coordinate relief efforts through ERD as well as communicating with the parishes to match need with relief assistance.  We have verbal assurance of immediate short-term funding from ERD for $20,000.  This will be a significant help to meet the needs of some of the most vulnerable victims. I have also asked Fr. Mark Holland to serve as a relief coordinator for the Baton Rouge area.  In the days and weeks to come we will be moving from emergency relief to long term disaster recovery and assistance.  I will be in touch with you as we move through this process. Our friends in other dioceses have already reached out to offer their assistance.

At the bottom of this letter I have included important contact information for donations, relief and assistance. Please contact the diocese if you need any other assistance.

 

I leave you with a prayer from Holy Women, Holy Men (Church Publishing, 2009)

Compassionate God, whose Son Jesus wept at the grave his friend Lazarus:  Draw near to us in this time of sorrow and anguish, comfort those who mourn, strengthen those who are weary, encourage those in despair, and lead us all to fullnesss of life; through the same Jesus Christ, our Savor and Redeemer, who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God for ever and ever. Amen.

Peace,

The Rt. Rev. Morris K. Thompson, Jr.
Bishop of the Diocese of Louisiana

 

Important Information

Disaster Coordinator:  Deacon Elaine Clements, Diocese of Louisiana.  504-236-1133/eclements@edola.org

Canon to the Ordinary:  The Rev. Canon Shannon Manning, Diocese of Louisiana. 504-895-6634 or 504-252-1001/smanning@edola.org

We are in the process of compiling needs/those who can provide assistance.  Please contact Elaine Clements so that we can coordinate efforts.

 

Donations

We have complied a list of ways to donate to help with relief efforts. No donation is too small and all donations will have a positive impact on those will be facing the difficult task of rebuilding their lives.

 

Episcopal Relief and Development US Disaster Relief Fund

We will soon receive an emergency assistance grant from Episcopal Relief and Development so our churches in the flood area can assist the most vulnerable people in their communities. Please consider making a donation to Episcopal Relief and Development to support this important work. (http://www.episcopalrelief.org/what-you-can-do/donate-now/individual-donation)

 

Bishop’s Discretionary Fund

The Bishop’s office is accepting donations (cash only) to assist flood victims. Please make your checks payable to The Bishop’s Professional Fund earmarked 2016 Flood Relief. You can send them to:

Episcopal Diocese of Louisiana
1623 Seventh St.
New Orleans, LA 70115

 

Donation of Relief Supplies

It is reported that over 10,000 people have been evacuated to shelters. A number of churches are volunteering to assist the thousands of people sheltering at Celtic Studios in Baton Rouge. Donations are needed. Please, no clothing, and do not buy in bulk. It easier to distribute items packaged in individual quantities. You can bring donations to Celtic Studios, located at 10000 Celtic Dr, Baton Rouge, LA 70809.

 

  • Gift cards to local stores
  • Unopened toiletries and hygiene products
  • diapers and other baby supplies, individually packaged
  • bedding-new, preferably packaged
  • phone chargers-all types
  • First Aid supplies

 

FEMA Assistance

FEMA is opening recovery centers soon. There is assistance even for those who do not have flood insurance. Governor John Bell Edwards is encouraging everyone to “meticulously track damage” to their home to assist in the compensation process. Here are a few ways to contact FEMA for assistance:

https://www.disasterassistance.gov/

1-225-389-2100

1-337-291-5075

 

 

Another way to assist people in shelters is by making a donation to any of the following:

 

You belong. You are children of God. No exceptions.

Bishop Duckworth’s sermon called us to remember the UpStairs Lounge fire in the French Quarter, a violent act of deadly arson that killed 32 gay men in nineteen minutes. In the aftermath, no church in the city would bury the dead. The exception was St. George’s Episcopal Church. Its rector, the Rev. Bill Richardson, did what he knew Jesus called him to do — he buried those men. He did so not without cost: he faced active condemnation from the larger community, but also from within his own congregation and from within our own diocese.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of two pivotal resolutions from the 1976 General Convention of the Episcopal Church. Resolution 1976-A069 and Resolution 1976-A071 declared that “homosexual persons are children of God who have a full and equal claim with all other persons upon the love, acceptance, and pastoral concern and care of the Church,” and that LGBTQ+ persons “are entitled to equal protection of the laws with all other citizens.” While we can celebrate many clear advancements for the full inclusion of our LGBTQ+ community in church and community life, the work is ongoing.

It has not always been a straight path. The church is human, and humans stumble. But consider how far we have traveled: from a church being rebuked for praying over the dead, to bishops wearing rainbow stoles given as gifts by LGBTQ+ Episcopalians at ordination. From closed communion tables to fully open sacramental life. From whispered exclusion to the joyful, public, Spirit-filled worship we offer tonight.

In our own Diocese of Louisiana, the transformation has been remarkable. Inclusive Louisiana, our network of LGBTQ+ Episcopalians and their allies, has been a light in this region for years — marching in Pride parades, offering pastoral care, and equipping congregations to proclaim God’s all-inclusive love. And here at St. Anna’s, you have led the way: becoming the first congregation in this diocese to celebrate same-sex marriage.

Bishop Duckworth’s conclusion made plain that actively creating a joyfully inclusive church is what we are called to do:

Not someday. Not when things are more comfortable. Not when the political climate improves. Today. The work of liberation is always a present-tense call.”

To speak that truth in this moment is not a partisan act. It is an act of Christian faithfulness. It is what prophets do. It is what the Church, at its best, has always done — even when it cost us something.

We serve a God who said: “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you.” That includes everyone. Everyone is a child of God.

The Rt. Rev. Shannon Rogers Duckworth

Bishop Duckworth offered the Prayer for Travelers from the Book of Common Prayer for Deacon Luigi, who is relocating to Chicago. His contributions to Inclusive Louisiana, St. Anna’s, the Episcopal Diocese of Louisiana, and the broader community have been immeasurable. We are grateful for all he has given us, and we trust that though he leaves us physically, what he has created here will continue to grow.

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