 2003 Birthday
Offering Recipients
In
1922, the Women's Auxiliary of the Presbyterian Church in the
United States chose to celebrate its 10th anniversary by collecting
and dedicating a special offering. The superintendent of women's
work, Hallie Winsborough, had recently returned from a tour of
overseas mission stations, which included a visit to Miss Dowd's
School for Girls in Kochi, Japan. After learning of the school's
needs, Winsborough challenged every member to contribute one
penny for each year of her life as a "birthday gift"
to the Japanese mission.
This year marks the 81st anniversary
of this tradition, known as the Birthday Offering. More than
25 million dollars has been given by Presbyterian Women to be
used in mission throughout the world. Each year's recipients
are selected by the Creative Ministries Offering Committee, composed
of nine members, six from the Churchwide Coordinating Team of
Presbyterian Women, including the financial secretary, and three
from the General Assembly Council. Grant proposals are received
by the PW associate for mission interpretation from a variety
of sources, such as churches wishing to develop new social justice
or health programs, overseas churches and community organizations.
Each project must meet the criteria established by PW and must
be accompanied by a written endorsement of a Presbyterian Church
(U.S.A.) synod or presbytery. If an applicant is outside the
United States, a written endorsement by the indigenous church
must be provided. The Creative Ministries Offering Committee
meets for four days of prayer, discussion and deliberation, and
the projects are selected by consensus. Recipients are announced
annually in the January/February issue of Horizons magazine.
Child and Family Program
Austin, Texas
Presbyterian Children's Homes and Services
in the Synod of the Sun plans to add three new Child and Family
Program sites in celebration of their centennial. The institution
was established in 1903 by Presbyterian Women of First Presbyterian
Church in Dallas. New locations for these services will be in
Dallas and Kilgore, Texas and Shreveport, Louisiana, for a total
of eight program sites.
Each program uses the offices of a Presbyterian
church in the community and is staffed by a child and family
specialist. The program addresses issues faced by children and
families in crisis, with the goal of family preservation. The
specialist works to maintain the family unit by providing the
family with the necessary resources to address a crisis in a
healthy manner. If a child needs to be temporarily placed outside
the home, that care can be arranged while the specialist works
to reunite the family.
The Child and Family Program also provides
community outreach for congregations, offering ministry, mission
and volunteer opportunities for church members.
The Sleeping Porch
Wimauma, Florida
There is a critical need for day care
for incapacitated migrants and their children. Often there is
no place where a sick or recovering migrant worker can recuperate
and receive the care needed. Families must make tough choices
between leaving an ailing loved one home alone or keeping a child
out of school to provide the essential care.
Serving approximately 450 people each
year, The Sleeping Porch operates with one paid staff member
supplemented by a corps of volunteers from a nearby retirement
community. Thanks to the Birthday Offering, this facility will
feature private patient rooms, a comfortable living room furnished
with rockers, recliners and sofas, and two large screened porches.
This ministry, known as the Beth-El
Farm Worker Ministry, Inc., shares God's love in the midst of
life's difficulties, works for justice and develops innovative
solutions to bring healing and wholeness to countless persons.
Good News Shelter for Survivors
of Domestic Violence
Seoul, Korea
The Good News Shelter provides services
for victims of domestic violence---more than 50 percent of whom
are Christian women---in a culture that struggles to confront
this challenging issue. Operated by the Women Ministers Association
of the Presbyterian Church of Korea, the shelter offers counseling,
crisis intervention, referral services and temporary protective
facilities, with an emphasis placed on learning to overcome problems
and reconcile families. Community education encourages persons
to understand and identify violence in its early stages so that
preventive and corrective measures can be taken.
The Birthday Offering will be used to repair the Good News Shelter
so that it can be updated and accommodate a larger number of
women and children. This compassionate ministry is filling a
great need in the church and society.
Area Residence for Kids, Inc.
Dublin, Georgia
The Area Residence for Kids, Inc. facility
provides a 90-day safe haven for abused or neglected children
under 18 years old. After the state of Georgia created the Office
of Child Advocacy, attempting to bolster child protective services,
an increasing number of children were being taken into protective
custody. Because foster families are difficult to recruit, children
are often moved from one overcrowded foster home to another,
or transported to other areas of the state while assessments
are conducted.
The Area Residence for Kids, Inc. was
established to provide emergency, short-term care in a safe,
protected and nurturing environment for children who are victims
of abuse, neglect or abandonment. The Birthday Offering will
enable an emergency shelter to be constructed, meeting immediate
needs and allowing for future expansion.
Cleveland Campus Mosaic
Cleveland, Ohio
United Protestant Campus Ministries
in Cleveland is in a position to make a positive difference in
the lives of college students attending one of the seven colleges
in this union. In order to successfully engage African American,
Hispanic and Asian students in the Cleveland Campus Mosaic, a
staff person from one of those ethnic backgrounds is urgently
needed. Once hired, this person will serve as both role model
and interpreter of the church's stance and program initiatives.
In cooperation with other staff members,
this person will assist in the spiritual formation and social
awareness of students on the campuses and in churches. The Mosaic
program initiative includes development of networks for urban
students-particularly women of color-to keep them balanced both
spiritually and psychologically.
Birthday Offering
Promotional Materials
Free Items
Birthday Offering Brochure (minimum 25), PWR-03-500
Offering Envelopes (minimum 25), PWR-01-501
Bulletin Cover (minimum 25), 8 1/2" x 11", PWR-03-502
or 8 1/2" x 14", PWR-03-503
Poster (one per church), PWR-03-504
Interpretive Materials (one per church; includes Birthday Offering
interpretation, worship service, creative ideas, poster interpretation,
reflections and update on past Birthday Offering recipients),
PWR-03-505
Cost Items
Placemats, $3/pkg. of 25, PWR-03-506
Book: Messages of Reconciliation and Hope: 75 Years of Birthday
Offerings 1922--1997 by Catherine Stewart Vaughn, $16, PWR-00-507
Postcards, $3/pkg. of 25, PWR-03-507
Order from Presbyterian Distribution Services (PDS), 800/524-2612,
referencing the item number listed with each item; www.pcusa.org
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