November 26, 2008

CHICAGO – The Committee on Lutheran Cooperation (CLC), consisting of leaders of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LCMS), engaged in a discussion Nov. 4 about their collaborative work in responding to domestic disasters through Lutheran Disaster Response (LDR). The discussion was part of a regular meeting of the CLC held here at the Lutheran Center.

The Rev. Kevin A. Massey, LDR director, told the Lutheran leaders that 2008 is LDR's 20th anniversary year. There have been a record number of tornadoes, and 2008 is the second worst year for hurricane-related damage behind 2005, Massey said.

In 2008 LDR concluded its work as part of a federally funded grant to provide case-management services to people affected by Hurricane Katrina, which struck the U.S. Gulf Coast in 2005. A consortium of disaster response agencies provided services and resources valued at $121 million, Massey reported. LDR's share was valued at $29 million, he said.

LDR concluded work in response to massive flooding in Rushford, Minn., in 2007, Massey said. Rushford Lutheran Church, an ELCA congregation, and St. Mark Lutheran Church, an LCMS congregation, "joined hearts and hands together to save their community," he said.

A continuing challenge for LDR is adequate funding, Massey said. Noting an overall drop in financial gifts to the ministry, he said, "this is a reality we work in and may have for years to come."

In recent years different understandings of LDR have emerged in both churches. The Rev. Rebecca S. Larson, executive director, ELCA Church in Society, and the Rev. Matthew C. Harrison, executive director, LCMS World Relief and Human Care, agreed in 2007 to continue discussions about the ministry and report progress to the CLC.

Representatives of the ELCA and LCMS have met twice since last year, Larson told the CLC. To build stronger relationships, the group has focused on improving communication, decision-making processes and financial commitment to LDR, she said.

"We are operating with the assumption that the shared work of both churches is very important, and we want to continue," she said. "We've had tough times in recent years. We are working on good communication and good intentions. We have good possibilities for what we can imagine." CLC leaders encouraged including other parties, such as social ministry organizations, in the LDR meetings.

The Rev. Mark S. Hanson, ELCA presiding bishop, and the Rev. Gerald B. Kieschnick, LCMS president, both said their respective churches have challenges to resolve as a three-way "Lutheran Malaria Initiative (LMI)" partnership evolves. The churches and Lutheran World Relief, Baltimore, are planning efforts to raise significant funds to engage Lutherans through mobilization, education and advocacy in the containment of malaria and other diseases of poverty. The ELCA is expected to include HIV and AIDS in its effort. Based in Baltimore, LWR is a ministry of the ELCA, LCMS, individuals and parishes involved in international relief, development, advocacy and social responsibility.

In addition to Bjornberg, Bullock and Hanson, ELCA representatives were the Rev. Donald J. McCoid, executive, ELCA Ecumenical and Inter-Religious Relations; the Rev. Paul A. Schreck, Ecumenical and Inter-Religious Relations; and David D. Swartling, ELCA secretary.

In addition to Diekelman, Kieschnick and Schultz, LCMS participants were the Rev. Raymond L. Hartwig, LCMS secretary; the Rev. C. William Hoesman, president, LCMS Michigan District, and chair, Council of Presidents; the Rev. Joel Lehenbauer, executive director, Commission on Theology and Church Relations; and the Rev. Samuel H. Nafzger, director of church relations and assistant to the president.

CLC members agreed to meet again March 24, 2009, in St. Louis, and Sept. 29, 2009, in Baltimore.

ELCA News Service