November 5, 2007

CHICAGO – Providing emotional and spiritual care and identifying the needs of communities are some of the continued next steps for Lutherans in response to the wildfires in Southern California, reported the Rev. Kevin A. Massey, assistant director, Lutheran Disaster Response (LDR). Since Oct. 21, wildfires have spread over 500,000 acres across seven counties there. LDR is a collaborative ministry of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LCMS).

Massey traveled Oct. 31-Nov. 2 to Clairemont, Escondido, Ramona, San Clemente and San Marcos, Calif. "The work of LDR will be coordinated through Lutheran Social Services of the Southwest, based in Phoenix, with a disaster response coordinator based in Los Angeles," he said.

"The next steps of assessment and response development will include meetings with counterparts in other faith-based, community-based and government response organizations, and further discussions among ELCA, LCMS and other local faith leaders," said Massey.

"We will continue to build relationships" and "identify communities with the most needs," reported Massey. There will be "arrangements for an early round of hardship grants to assist the immediate needs of people who are most vulnerable and further recruit, train and deploy spiritual care volunteers," he said.

"Spiritual and emotional care is essential and important for people who have experienced the danger, fear and evacuation. We will continue to call upon pastors, diaconal ministers and others trained in caregiving, and we'll find ways to equip them for the very difficult and important work that lies ahead. I am humbled by the care and compassion that already has been shared among congregations and communities," said Massey.

The Rev. Mark S. Hanson, presiding bishop of the ELCA, shared words of comfort and support on behalf of the church to those affected by the wildfires in a conference call during a Nov. 1 meeting convened by the Rev. Murray D. Finck, bishop, ELCA Pacifica Synod, Yorba Linda, Calif. Finck called together ELCA clergy located in close proximity to the worst of the wildfires for a time of mutual support and to begin plans for future ministry in disaster response. The meeting took place at San Marcos Lutheran Church, San Marcos, Calif., a congregation of the ELCA.

ELCA News Service