Welcome to the Laboratory of South Louisiana

Construciton coordinator Lanny Pratt shows alternative building methods being explored by the new Disaster Recovery Center in New Orleans.

Presbytery and denomination try new partnerships to help lead ministry of recovery

NEW ORLEANS — Desperation and inspiration abound in South Louisiana Presbytery. Seventeen months after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, this presbytery lives into hope with one intentional step after another. But no guide book exists for this journey.

And that might be good news or at least a valuable opportunity to the larger church. The chaos and flexibility make it easier and even imperative to try a number of models for rebuilding Presbyterian witness in a landscape never before seen.

Cutter and presbytery recovery staff spoke to 10 representatives from several PC(USA) offices on Jan. 30-31. Some of the representatives form an interagency task force for the recovery effort. Task force members marveled at the extraordinary work being done as well as the tremendous burden carried by the whole presbytery and especially the greater New Orleans area.

One element of the laboratory Cutter spoke of is the variety of creative partnerships formed as a result of the connectional nature of the PC(USA) in addition to ecumenical and other local partnerships. During a visit to Lakeview Presbyterian, pastor Neale Miller also used the word laboratory to characterize the nature of their work.

Miller, church staff and elders gave the task force an update on the Lakeview congregation and neighborhood which still hasn’t seen a grocery store or drugstore reopen. Miller is the only pastor of any denomination who has served a Lakeview congregation before and after the storm.

Rev. Jean Marie Peacock, associate presbyter (pro tem.) for congregational development and disaster recovery, said that only seven installed pastors remain in the greater New Orleans area. That means less than half of this region’s churches have installed ministers. Cutter said the presbytery’s total number of vacant pulpits is 23.

Recovery work continues outside the greater New Orleans area of the Gulf Coast. A new grant from Presbyterian Disaster Assistance will allow the Presbytery of South Louisiana (PSL) help on a variety of fronts with the most effort in greater New Orleans. The Presbytery of Mississippi, in Synod of the Living Waters, is also applying for addition PDA funds.

This (recovery) is a problem of such magnitude that we need more prayer and more help, Cutter said. He and Presbyterians across the region have repeatedly expressed their appreciation for the generous support and volunteer labor while reminding people of the massive scope and duration of the ministry that still lay ahead.

Skilled Building Trades Needed

Some additional help will be found in the hands of skilled building tradespeople who can donate some time this year. Lanny Pratt, construction coordinator, said some of the work needed now can only be done by skilled workers with credentials. Extra paperwork must be filed with local government offices. Pratt asks such workers to make sure they contact him ahead of time to work out the details.

There is still plenty of need for volunteers who lack such experience. Keep sending prayers, money and work teams great and small, said presbytery staff.

New Disaster Recovery Center and Staff

In recent months, the disaster recovery team has added staff. The Gentilly Presbyterian Church will host that staff by donating three large rooms which are being transformed into the Disaster Recovery Center scheduled to open in early April.

The congregation which was a leader in the Civil Rights movement now has less than 30 members, said Alan Cutter. Gentilly members were glad to dedicate part of their space towards the recovery work. The presbytery bought an old two-story house and made improvements so that it can serve as additional housing for volunteers. The Gentilly neighborhood is was selected as one of the areas that needed extra help.

Catholic Charities is partnering with the presbytery and PDA by providing three caseworkers. They will help local residents access needs and navigate through the paperwork, processes and confusion that faces all who seek relief funds from a variety of agencies and who need help rebuilding. The presbytery will seek federal funds to to hire caseworkers in the future, Cutter said. While Catholic Charities fills that need, the presbytery will hire two more construction coordinators to join forces with Lanny Pratt to work out of the new center.

Latest staff additions: Jean Marie Peacock is the associate presbyter (pro tem.) for congregational development and disaster recovery. Peacock is the former associate pastor of Lakeview Presbyterian Church. She and her husband lost the contents of their home and are living elsewhere until all paperwork and renovation plans are settled. Vaune Hegmann, disaster recovery coordinator and Deborah Corrao, disaster recovery communicator, will also move into the new offices after having worked out of cars and homes in recent months.

All recovery staff members are considered employees of the presbytery in order to simplify the payment and paperwork responsibilities, Cutter said. Salary and budget funds come from the generous donations given to Presbyterian Disaster Assistance and the presbytery.

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