About the M&S Fund

World Development and Relief (WDR) is the only area within the Mission and Service Fund to which you can designate funds. In fact, United Church people give close to $500,000 annually in support of WDR. The amount of money the United Church actually budgets for world development and relief spending is close to four times this amount. Additional funds for this work come from Mission and Service Fund contributions. All WDR money is spent on overseas development projects, emergency relief efforts, and rehabilitation.

Background of World Development and Relief or WDR

The United Church has a long tradition of overseas mission. During the 1970s global justice and peace initiatives characterized overseas mission work. Appeals for humanitarian relief efforts in Nigeria, India, and East Pakistan became the precursor to what is now World Development and Relief. Participation in global mission continues to be an important focus for the United Church. WDR money supports both long-term development work and short-term responses to humanitarian crises.

The United Church works in partnership with churches and agencies that have established strong community development programs. These community-based programs focus on agriculture, water access and quality, community health, education, childcare, youth work, and HIV/AIDS prevention. Many of these same partners have community-based networks for distributing emergency supplies in times of crisis: famine in Southern Africa, drought relief in Mozambique, or tsunami relief in Asia. The United Church is committed not only to responding to immediate needs in a crisis situation, but also to doing long-term work as communities rebuild and re-establish.

WDR Resources

Each year the United Church offers WDR resources for congregations. These resources highlight some of the work supported by Mission and Service/WDR funding and consist of several pieces that can be used together or separately. The resources are funded by the M&S Fund and are offered at no additional cost to congregations.

WDR worship services are also available for download, as are video clips of global partners taking risks to help bring about a new heaven on earth.

Ideas for using WDR resources

These resources are suitable for Advent or Lenten study and worship. However, they may be used any time during the year. Use the worship service along with the bulletin cover and offering envelopes. Use the children’s resource in Sunday school, and the video in worship, or to initiate discussion with small groups or youth groups.

This flyer [PDF: 4 pp/207 KB] describes the theme and the resources, along with various ideas for using them.

How to Give to WDR

Gifts to WDR are included in the M&S totals for a congregation.

Gifts are made through local congregations using the WDR envelopes.

Gifts can also be made online.