Responding in A Changing Landscape

As the relief, refugee, and development mission fund of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Week of Compassion works with partners to alleviate suffering throughout the world. As the world continues to shift, our deep desire is to continue responding as we have for decades, by making connections, with integrity and faithful stewardship, and accompanying communities to make long-term impact. Serving in the name of the whole church, we want to pursue broader partnerships and deeper engagement with congregations, toward our vision of a world where God’s people transform suffering into hope.

---

Week of Compassion was created out of the church’s desire to respond to human needs and suffering.  The landscape of this work has transformed in many ways over the seven decades since Week of Compassion was literally a single-week offering. The current pandemic, with overlapping realities of climate change, natural disaster, and ongoing human conflict mean preparedness, relief, and response needs are continually increasing.  

Week of Compassion has been evolving since the beginning to meet ongoing needs.  Our ecumenical partners are also evolving in order to implement this mission on our behalf, expanding to address these interrelated disasters. 
  
In this season when needs are increasing, two new staff joining the work at Week of Compassion will increase our capacity for ministry and allow us to respond most faithfully with our partners and communities. 

Rev. Alan Dicken will serve as Associate Director for Refugee and Immigrant Response, working with local congregations and regional ministers to equip and connect congregations in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) to refugee and immigration assistance. These activities include building partnerships and collaborative commitments with a variety of Disciples and ecumenical partners to establish a sustainable, long-term refugee and immigration response.

Raiza Spratt joins us as Disaster Response Organizer, engaging a deep relational understanding of the church and its structures, to work with Disciples communities to build capacities for disaster response, including preparedness, relief, and long-term recovery. 

By investing in focused staff and expanding relationships, Week of Compassion is equipping congregations and communities for relief, resettlement, disaster preparedness and response, now and for years to come.