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Mission Ministry
The Story of UMCOR
The United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR)
is
the not-for-profit global humanitarian aid organization of the United Methodist
Church. UMCOR is currently working in more than 80 countries worldwide,
including the United States. UMCOR’s mission is to alleviate human suffering —
whether caused by war, conflict or natural disaster — with open hearts and minds
to all people. UMCOR has been faithfully fulfilling Christ’s ministry of
out-reaching love for more than 66 years.
UMCOR’s story began on April 26, 1940, at a meeting of the
General Conference of The Methodist Church, when retired Bishop Herbert Welch,
in view of the horrific violence of World War II, called for the formation of an
agency to respond to the vast needs of human suffering worldwide, and to act as
a “voice of conscience among Methodists.” The result was the Methodist Committee
for Overseas Relief (MCOR), which studied the most urgent needs and pressing
problems around the world, reported these needs to the local churches, and
administered the necessary funds to “the least of these” through partner
agencies and ecumenical networks.
In its first decade of operation, committee members faced
troubling questions concerning the allocation of funds, partnerships with
non-Methodist organizations, the specific nature of their relief work, and
continually generating interest in their cause. Their fears were eased when the
people of the United States, eager to help after their country entered the war,
pulled together to support African, Asian, and European countries devastated by
the conflict.
The first ten years of UMCOR (which adopted United
Methodist Committee for Overseas Relief as its official title in 1968) saw the
organization of several services, endeavors, and initiatives, and saw over nine
million dollars, from donations both large and small, make its way to refugees,
the homeless, and hungry persons all over the world. Though started as a
temporary relief unit, the committee repeatedly received approval from the
General Conference to continue its important work, and eventually, in 1972,
became an institutionalized unit of the church and part of the General Board of
Global Ministries of The United Methodist Church.
An evolution of focus came about in the following decades,
allowing the United Methodist Committee on Relief to reach more people. Whether
the problem was earthquakes in Nicaragua, hurricanes in Haiti, famine in Africa,
or domestic tornadoes and floods, survivors were significantly helped by the
Annual Conference Disaster Response System, where coordinators were trained to
organize recovery programs and work with government agencies to provide relief.
As countries such as Liberia, Rwanda, and Bosnia underwent civil strife,
UMCOR was there to rehabilitate and rebuild affected villages and communities.
While focusing on disaster relief and refugee
resettlements, emphasis was also placed on eradicating the roots of hunger and
poverty, with several programs establishing training schools and giving
individuals the skills to become educationally and economically self-reliant.
UMCOR responds to natural or civil disasters that are interruptions of such
magnitude that a local community’s ability to recover on its own is overwhelmed.
UMCOR works with local partner organizations and survivors to rebuild their
livelihoods, health and homes. In times of acute crisis UMCOR mobilizes
emergency supplies, fresh water, and temporary shelter to stricken areas, and
then stays as long as it takes to implement long-term recovery. UMCOR workers
are known the world over for their compassion, leadership, expertise and
guidance in recovery efforts.
UMCOR’s directors represent United Methodists around the
world and make policy decisions, while staff members keep the flow of various
grants and approvals regulated and orderly. Money is received through the One
Great Hour of Sharing offering and the Advance for Christ & His Church,
the designated giving program of The United Methodist Church. With these gifts (UMCOR
receives no World Service Fund support), UMCOR supports hundreds
of projects around the world. |
The United Methodist Committee on
Relief:
UMCOR |
