wfn.org | LWF Council 14-2005 Hurricane Katrina: LWF Council Affirms

["Frank Imhoff" <Frank.Imhoff@elca.org>]

Hurricane Katrina: LWF Council Affirms Support, Prayers for Victims and
their Families
Scale of Disaster and Its Impact on the Poor Distressing 

LWF Council Meeting in Jerusalem/Bethlehem, 
31 August * 6 September 2005

PRESS RELEASE N0. 14-2005

JERUSALEM/BETHLEHEM, 7 September 2005 (LWI) * Members of the Council of
the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) expressed shock at the scale of
disaster and devastating impact of Hurricane Katrina on the communities
of the Gulf States of the United States of America.

In a public statement adopted at their August 31-September 6 meeting in
Jerusalem/Bethlehem, the Council members said they had "been deeply
distressed by the extended suffering, predominantly of people living in
poverty, particularly African-Americans, for days without essential care
and aid."

They assured the prayers of the LWF member churches around the world
for the victims and all those affected by the disaster. 

Adopting the public statement presented by the LWF Program Committee
for International Affairs and Human Rights, the Council members also
recognized and encouraged the important diaconic work of the Evangelical
Lutheran Church in America in response to this crisis. The LWF governing
body equally encouraged support "from the LWF member churches and
members of [the Geneva-based churches' emergency response body,]
Action by Churches Together (ACT) in the US as appropriate." (200
words)

*Around 170 participants attended this year's Council meeting,
including representatives from the LWF member churches on the 49-member
governing body. Also attending were officials from LWF partner
organizations, invited guests, stewards, interpreters and translators,
and LWF staff. The Council is the annual governing body meeting between
Assemblies held every six years. The current Council was appointed at
the July 2003 Tenth Assembly in Winnipeg, Canada. It comprises the
President, Treasurer and 48 persons elected by the Assembly. Other
members include advisors, who are ordained and lay persons representing
the different LWF regions. 

*	*	*

(The LWF is a global communion of Christian churches in the Lutheran
tradition. Founded in 1947 in Lund, Sweden, the LWF currently has 140
member churches in 78 countries all over the world, with a total
membership of nearly 66 million. The LWF acts on behalf of its member
churches in areas of common interest such as ecumenical and inter-faith
relations, theology, humanitarian assistance, human rights,
communication, and the various aspects of mission and development work.
Its secretariat is located in Geneva, Switzerland.)

[Lutheran World Information (LWI) is the LWF's information service.
Unless specifically noted, material presented does not represent
positions or opinions of the LWF or of its various units. Where the
dateline of an article contains the notation (LWI), the material may be
freely reproduced with acknowledgment.]

*	*	*

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