March 18, 2011

CHICAGO – The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) today committed $240,000 in response to the massive earthquake and tsunami that struck northern Japan March 11.

"It is with our strong, expansive network of global companions that we as the ELCA are responding to Japan's devastating earthquake and tsunami," said the Rev. Mark S. Hanson, ELCA presiding bishop. "Our church's long-established relationships – both Lutheran and ecumenical – are enabling us to engage effectively with communities as they recover from this massive disaster."

"I urge all of our members and congregations to give generously and to pray for the people of Japan and for our companion church there, as they face both dangers relating to the damaged nuclear facilities and the massive humanitarian crisis resulting from the earthquake and tsunami," he added.

Specifically, the ELCA is sending $40,000 to The Lutheran World Federation, Geneva, to support a disaster response expert from India who will assist the Japan Evangelical Lutheran Church and two other Lutheran churches. The ELCA is sending $100,000 to the Japan Evangelical Lutheran Church, the ELCA's companion church, for its disaster response efforts. The ELCA commitment includes another $100,000 for Church World Service, New York, to support an ecumenical disaster response in Japan through the Japan Platform, a consortium of 32 Japanese nonprofit organizations, and the National Council of Churches Japan.

Through March 18, ELCA members have given approximately $250,000 to support the ELCA response in Japan. Hanson said he is pleased with the gifts provided by ELCA members, and said 100 percent of the funds will be given for the local response though the Japan Evangelical Lutheran Church and ecumenical partners.

"Given the historical relationship with the ELCA, the Japan Evangelical Lutheran Church is suggesting to other organizations that assistance from U.S. Lutherans be channeled through the ELCA," the presiding bishop said in a March 18 message to the ELCA Conference of Bishops.

Japan's National Police Agency reported March 18 that nearly 7,000 people have been confirmed dead and more than 10,000 people are missing as a result of the earthquake and tsunami. Church World Service reports more than 460,000 people are being sheltered at evacuation sites.

The ELCA churchwide organization requested that all eight of its missionaries living and serving in the Tokyo area seek alternative housing for the immediate future further west of the city because of the threat from earthquake-damaged nuclear reactors, said Megan Bradfield, program director, ELCA International Disaster Response. She said at least six have already left. The ELCA has 22 missionaries serving in Japan.

In his message to the bishops, Hanson said the ELCA "is blessed with a deep and enduring relationship with the Japan Evangelical Lutheran Church" that goes back more than 100 years. The ELCA South Carolina Synod is a companion synod with the Japan Evangelical Lutheran Church.

The Japan church is already providing food and shelter to people in need, and it is working with other Christian churches plus partner organizations in areas where there are Japan Evangelical Lutheran Church congregations, Hanson said.

Hanson said the disaster expert from India who will help in Japan has had recent experience with the disastrous 2004 tsunami that struck several countries in the Indian Ocean.

The ELCA is a member of Church World Service, an ecumenical development and disaster response organization, which has a longstanding presence in Asia. Church World Service is working with and through its historical companion, the Japan Platform, to provide a coordinated response to meet basic needs of people currently living at evacuation sites, including distribution of blankets received from within the region, Hanson said. The ELCA's gift to Church World Service will help provide an "immediate response to 5,000 families and a broader coordinated effort among the Christian family," he said.

"Thank you for your prayers, and for encouraging the congregations of your synod to join with others throughout The Lutheran World Federation in prayer for the people of Japan and for our companion church there as this crisis continues to unfold," Hanson added.

Financial gifts for the Pacific Earthquake and Tsunami can be contributed at http://www.ELCA.org/japanearthquake/, on the ELCA website. Credit card gifts may be contributed by calling 1-800-638-3522. Gifts designated for the Pacific Earthquake and Tsunami can also be sent to: ELCA Disaster Response, 39330 Treasury Center, Chicago, IL 60694-9300.

Information about response efforts and the Japan Evangelical Lutheran Church can be found at http://www.ELCA.org/disaster/, and at http://www.ELCA.org/japan/, on the ELCA website.

ELCA News Service