Primate's World Relief and Development Fund
PWRDF is the National organization of the Anglican Church that supports international development and emergency work. The Primate, Fred Hiltz, is currently the President of the board of directors. (Go to the national website of PWRDF www.pwrdf.org).
50th Anniversary
Go to PWRDF 50TH Anniversary for information on events to mark a year of celebrations.
The "Primate’s Fund,” as it is often called, was formed in response to the Springhill Mine disaster of 1959. It will be 50 years old in 2008. In the nearly 50 years of its existence it has gained a world-wide reputation for the expertise of its staff and the efficiency and effectiveness of its work.
Every Anglican is part of the Fund whether they contribute or not. Supporting the work of the Fund is one way in which we can live out our baptismal covenant.
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"Development" is the gift of supporting a community to grow without a “handout”. A community can conceive a project that would help all of its members and ask for funds to support it from PWRDF. The project needs to include all members of the community, women, children, disabled, men, and elderly to be considered. Because the community has identified the need, there is usually a good “buy in” by all members, which is important for a successful outcome. Race, and religion are not important. The development work of PWRDF happens in Canada and in countries around the world.
“Relief”, is the response to emergency situations, in particular, natural disasters such as tsunamis, volcanos, hurricanes, earthquakes or floods.
The other arm of PWRDF is Refugee sponsorship. This is such an important area that, in the Diocese of Rupert’s Land, it is treated separately from the educational and advocacy work of PWRDF. (Go to Refugee Sponsorship.)
In addition to development and relief work, PWRDF tries to nudge our federal government to change its policies — to be proactive, just, and socially aware, to respond to inequity and intolerance. To this end PWRDF was one of the founding members of Kairos. The principle, that “many together” can be more effective than one alone led to the pooling of the interchurch coalitions under the Kairos name. When Kairos presses the government for changes, it does so in the name of the Anglican Church of Canada, and PWRDF, (along with the other member churches and church organizations) both of which are founding members. (Go to Kairos.)
The work of the Primate’s Fund is done by each member of the Anglican Church. In the Diocese of Rupert’s Land each parish has a Parish Partner who joins a network that is the lifeline of the work of PWRDF. These Partners are responsible for keeping PWRDF and Kairos before the Parish.
A diocesan committee supports Parish Partners by providing workshops each year and encouraging the use of the materials provided by the national office. The committee also is available as a resource to parishes.
Committee members are: Stan Burton, Freda Deane, Mary Lobb, Denise Macrae, and Susan Roe-Finlay (Chair).
Contact
Susan Roe-Finlay sroefin
mts.net or (204) 783-3357.
The national website for Primate's Fund will give you more information about specific projects, campaigns, disasters, and refugees. It tells you how to donate, how to order or download materials. It also provides links to organizations that strengthen the work of the Primate’s Fund. Parishes need to know about this work, which is done in their name.
Links
PWRDF resources, news, materials.
Sign up for email news on urgent actions and ongoing work of PWRDF.
Download the latest issue of Under the Sun newsletter.
Visit the Youth Initiative of PWRDF and sign up for emails.
Go to the Just Generation website.
The regional meeting of PWRDF for the Province of Rupert's Land will be held October 31 to November 2 in Saskatoon. The focus will be Asia Pacific with partner Farida Akhter and PWRDF staff Mahjabeen Chowdhury. Contact Yvonne Lane at ylanepwrdf.org for more information or to register.
PWRDF Christmas cards are available in two different designs. Price: $15.00 for twelve cards. Please order early.