CWS speaks to PCUSA Doctor of Ministry candidates

Students gather outside UN Building.
Photo: Alexandra Buck (PCUSA)

January 21, 2008

On Jan. 9, CWS Education and Advocacy Program Associate Director Michael Neuroth coordinated a presentation on human displacement and ecumenical advocacy along with colleagues Chris Herlinger and Matthew Hackworth from CWS’ Emergency Response Program. The session was held as part of the Presbyterian Church (USA) UN Office’s annual Doctorate of Ministry January Term Course, organized in conjunction with Columbia Theological Seminary in Atlanta, Georgia.

The theme for the 2008 course was The Church in a World of Displaced Persons and included sub-categories of homelessness, migration and refugees. Church World Service was asked to present on human displacement and homelessness within the context of natural disasters, both domestically and internationally, and offer links between CWS’ on-the-ground relief and development work and its advocacy work in forums like the United Nations.

Neuroth provided background for the session and shared with the group some of the history of CWS, its programs and partnerships, and how CWS approaches advocacy in policy forums like the UN and Washington, D.C.

“CWS uses the voices of its own program staff and direct partners from around the world,” Neuroth noted, “as well as ecumenical and civil society partners in shaping its voice on advocacy.”

The advocacy focus of CWS in both Washington and at the UN is on the root causes of poverty, hunger and sustainable development, such as climate change and access to safe, clean water.

The presentation also focused on CWS’ domestic and international work directly with displaced people, with a particular focus on situations caused by major emergencies. Hackworth, a communications officer, discussed CWS’ ongoing role in assisting devastated communities along the Gulf Coast following Hurricane Katrina.

Hackworth highlighted the long-term nature of this crisis and emphasized the fact that CWS and several other humanitarian organizations continue to devote staff and resources to this situation.

“Katrina was the largest displacement in U.S. history,” Hackworth said. “It drove 2.6 million from their homes.” More than 500,000 remain uprooted today, which is still causing strain in cities that have been forced to accommodate massive numbers of displaced peoples.

Communications officer Herlinger highlighted CWS’ work in the Darfur region. This crisis, in its fifth year, has uprooted more than 2.2 million people. Herlinger distributed an article that was recently released, which summarized the work of CWS in Darfur along with its partners ACT International and Caritas Internationalis.

Through the efforts of this coalition, Herlinger noted, hundreds of thousands of uprooted people have been provided clean water and sanitation, health care, nutrition, emergency protection, agricultural support and school programs.

CWS’ participation in the Presbyterian (USA) UN Office’s Doctorate of Ministry course is an example of CWS’ ongoing partnership with member denominations and ecumenical offices.