February Special Offering: Week of Compassion

During the early 1940s, as World War II created a series of humanitarian crises around the globe, the General Assembly of the Christian Church (known then as the International Convention) responded with two recommendations regarding multiple aid and relief projects. These recommendations outlined partnerships with a variety of ecumenical ministries and counterparts, and designated a “Day of Compassion” for congregations to hold a special offering in support these mission projects.

In 1943, the “Wartime Service Fund” was approved by the International Convention, with Disciples expanding their fundraising efforts into a “Week of Compassion” with the goal of  raising $250,000 for ongoing support of these relief efforts.
 
Over the next several decades, the work of Week of Compassion and its partners expanded to include not just humanitarian aid but also disaster response and refugee resettlement. The ministry’s leadership evolved as well, from a voluntary office to a full-time executive director. Additional staff helped expand the reach of the ministry and the annual fund grew over time from thousands of dollars to millions.

When the Week of Compassion ministry began, the idea of different denominations partnering together—despite differences in doctrine or practice—was a radical notion. In many ways, it is still countercultural to work together across many kinds of boundaries. And yet, Week of Compassion remains committed to the partnerships that make its mission stronger and allows them to reach those in need with the love of Christ.

In 2022, Washington Avenue Christian Church contributed $10,075 to Week of Compassion ($8,970 from our February special offering and $1,105 from donor-directed gifts for specific areas or disaster occurrences). In addition, WACC created a $10,000+ endowment with the Christian Church Foundation to become a Circle of Compassion congregation with Week of Compassion.