gbio presidents message
| January, 21 2010 |
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“Weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.” Ps 30:9b
To My GBIO Clergy Colleagues and Fellow Leaders, I know that our hearts, prayers and love - expressed in a multitude of concrete ways - are extended to the people of Haiti, the Haitian community in Greater Boston, and to GBIO leaders deeply impacted and traumatized by this horrific calamity. I especially want our Haitian leaders to know that we stand with your families and you, not only now in the heat of this tragedy, but in the weeks, months and years to come - lending our voices and resources to the rebuilding of a new, stronger and more prosperous Haiti. To that end, I would like to report on our efforts to date to be a source of comfort and help to our Haitian brothers and sisters. On the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Birthday, Pastor Ray Hammond and I co-convened at the Roxbury Presbyterian Church a group of State, City and Haitian Leaders to discuss the answers to two major questions: “How do we effectively stand with our Haitian Brothers and Sisters throughout Greater Boston during this tragic time?” and “How do we use the heat of the present crisis to solidify broad commitment for the rebuilding of Haiti?” Among the attendees were Secretary of Human Services, Dr. JudyAnn Bigby, as well as key leaders coordinating the State and City’s response. We are please with the direction of this work and will keep you informed Secondly, Pastor Hammond and I, along with Faith Leaders from around the Greater Boston area, are putting together a Greater Boston Service of Worship and Prayer in partnership with our Haitian Clergy Colleagues this coming Sunday, January 24th, at 5:00 p.m. at Jubilee Christian Church (1500 Blue Hill Avenue in Mattapan). Faith communities from throughout Greater Boston have responded enthusiastically to the opportunity to stand with the Greater Boston Haitian Community through prayer and worship, while using the occasion to mobilize additional financial resources. Every dollar raised during this service will be matched up to fifty thousand dollars by Mr. Robert Hildreth (Founder and Executive Director of Families United in Educational Leadership [FUEL]), The Trinity Boston Foundation and Combined Jewish Philanthropies. Funds raised at the service will go to the following organizations: • Partners in Health, a non-profit health and development agency working in Haiti for 20 years. • The Boston Mayor’s Haitian Relief Fund, established to focus on the local Haitian community • Haitian-Americans United, a collaborative of local Haitian organizations working to address the needs of Haitians in Boston and in Haiti. Sponsoring Organizations for this service are: The Fellowship of Haitian Evangelical Pastors of New England, Black Ministerial Alliance of Greater Boston, Boston Ten Point Coalition, Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Boston, Combined Jewish Philanthropies, Cooperative Metropolitan Ministries, Emmanuel Gospel Center, Fellowship of Latino Pastors of New England (COPAHNI), Greater Boston Interfaith Organization, Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Boston, Massachusetts Board of Rabbis, Massachusetts Council of Churches, Muslim-American Society of Boston and Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston. In a city that is often fragmented around faith, how powerful for us to stand together, pray together and give in solidarity with our Haitian Brothers and Sisters! To accomplish all of this and more, I am personally appealing to you for the following: 1) Organize your faith communities over the weekend to be in attendance 2) Request that your faith communities bring a financial gift to be added to our Match 3) Clergy come dressed in your official garments. I am personally grateful to all GBIO Leaders, member institutions and staff who have supported the efforts noted above and who have already stepped forward to provide support and assistance in wide variety of ways in this time of crisis. Nevertheless, I am asking you to take one more step by joining with us Sunday Evening. For this and so much more, in the Name of the God who created us and loves us all - thank you! Yes, this crisis is a long night of weeping. But with your support on Sunday and your long-term commitment, we will help this night of weeping to be transformed into a glorious morning of Joy, here in Boston and in the new Haiti that will rise from the rubble of this disaster – stronger and more prosperous. Sincerely, Rev. Hurmon E. Hamilton, Pastor of Roxbury Presbyterian Church President of Greater Boston Interfaith Organization |