Presbyterian leaders from California share impact of devastating wildfires and look to Presbyterian Disaster Assistance for support
‘The stronger we're connected, the stronger our response will be’
LOUISVILLE – Reeling from wildfires that are continuing to devastate California, leaders from various presbyteries in the Los Angeles area gathered online Thursday with Presbyterian Disaster Assistance, sharing the severity and emotional toll of the disaster.
“I’ve lived in the LA area for 54 years and witnessed many fires, but I've never seen so many of our church members being impacted by fire,” said the Rev. Mark Hong, synod executive and stated clerk of the Synod of Southern California and Hawaii. “… Right now, I imagine we’re in kind of a shock stage.”
As a result of a series of wildfires that started on Tuesday that have ravaged densely populated parts of the region, there have been at least 10 deaths and thousands of impacted structures, including perhaps 15,000-plus homes and commercial properties damaged by the two largest fires (Palisades and Eaton), according to FEMA and others.
Pacific Palisades Presbyterian Church is one of the buildings lost, according to the Presbytery of the Pacific, and the status of others is unclear with at least five fires still active as of Friday morning.
PDA is continuing to monitor the situation and has been asked by the American Red Cross to deploy some of its disaster spiritual care providers to support their operations, said the Rev. Jim Kirk, Associate for National Disaster Response for PDA.
During the online gathering, facilitated by Kirk, leaders from the Pacific, San Fernando and San Gabriel presbyteries participated at PDA’s invitation to sharing information, praying together and hearing about PDA services, including initial assistance grants and emergency grants.
“PDA has begun awarding emergency initial assistance grants to assist Presbyteries as they support the impacted communities,” Kirk said. “These grants are typically used in partnership with congregations serving the impacted communities.”
The Rev. Edwin González-Castillo, director of PDA, led opening prayer and remarks, assuring the leaders that the denomination is ready to walk alongside them, both now and in the long-term. He also praised them for being “beacons of hope and resilience” at a time when people need help and reassurance.
“We are grateful for your leadership in this time of crisis and of devastation,” González-Castillo said. “… Smoke may cloud the skies and dim the light of the streets but not the light of compassion and solidarity.”
González-Castillo also quoted from Psalm 46:1 and commended the leaders for doing work that “reflects the love and the care that God calls us to embody in moments of trial.”
The Rev. Heidi Worthen Gamble, mission catalyst for the Presbytery of the Pacific, summed up the disaster, including the loss of Pacific Palisades Presbyterian Church, to the group by saying, “It’s devastating. It’s catastrophic, y’all.”
She has been checking in with pastors in the fire zones and said “many, many people in our churches have lost their homes. Most of the members of Palisades Church left with nothing, at the last minute, and have lost everything. We still don’t know how many churches we might lose or how many more homes will be lost. We are at the mercy of the winds and these winds are like hurricane fire.”
Worthen Gamble, who’s also been staying in touch with Emergency Network of Los Angeles (ENLA), said it will be important to create a sense of community and focus and to be there for “our people” as well as one another. “The stronger we're connected, the stronger our response will be,” she said.
The Rev. Linda Culbertson, general presbyter for the Presbytery of the Pacific, said she’s been taking calls from people previously affiliated with the presbytery who wanted to express their concern. She’s also heard from churches that want to help with things like housing and respite. “I think that's very encouraging, that we can come together as a community.”
The Rev. Juan Sarmiento, executive presbyter of the Presbytery of San Fernando, said there have been many people evacuated, including at least five pastors, and multiple churches are unsure of whether they’ll be able to use their facilities for worship. He said there also are “very heartbreaking reports of committee members in the presbytery that have lost their homes.”
Sarmiento also said they are concerned about the unpredictability of even the smaller fires that have cropped up. “We're Just trying to communicate with one another and hearing the initiative of the churches because they are very creative and responsive.”
Reporting on San Gabriel, the Rev. Wendy Tajima, executive presbyter, said there’s an “astounding” number of people who have lost their homes in Altadena, and churches are still trying to canvas their members. She also noted that the facilities of many faiths were damaged.
Leaders also relayed various struggles, including water contamination, electricity outages, major tree damage, poor air quality and the risks of flying embers.
For some displaced residents, there’s also the added stress of not knowing whether they’ll have a home to go back to, said Wendy Gist, mission advocate for the Presbytery of San Gabriel and San Fernando.
“The stress for people in these general areas is so high,” she said. In addition to those who’ve lost homes, “those who don't know are really struggling.”
Donations can be made to PDA’s U.S. wildfires account, using the code DR000165.
Presbyterian Disaster Assistance is one of the Compassion, Peace and Justice ministries of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)’s Unified Agency.
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