Title: Lutheran Disaster Response Director Feltman Resigns, Accepts New Role ELCA NEWS SERVICE
October 25, 2007
Lutheran Disaster Response Director Feltman Resigns, Accepts New Role 07-173-MRC
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Heather L. Feltman will resign Nov. 15 as director of Lutheran Disaster Response (LDR) to become president/CEO of Lutheran Social Services of New England (LSS), Wellesley, Mass., starting Jan. 7, 2008. LDR is a collaborative ministry of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LCMS).
Feltman will succeed Edith M. Lohr, who will retire at the end of 2007 after 17 years as LSS president. The Rev. Kevin A. Massey, assistant director, ELCA Domestic Disaster Response, will assume the role of acting director of LDR and ELCA Domestic Disaster Response.
"The arms and legs of Lutheran Disaster Response are Lutheran social ministry organizations working together with congregations, synods and districts to respond to people and communities affected by disaster," said the Rev. Rebecca S. Larson, executive director, ELCA Church in Society.
"Under Heather's leadership Lutheran Disaster Response has greatly built up this network of trained people on the ground and linked them with the outpouring of support in resources and volunteers across this country. LDR has also become one of the major players in the United States for responding to people and communities affected by disasters. It is especially recognized for attending to the needs of the most vulnerable and for staying there for the long haul," Larson said.
During Feltman's tenure, LDR grew from 15 to 38 affiliate organizations that collaborate in disaster response. LDR has placed a special emphasis on developing networks of local congregations prepared to respond to local needs. In the wake of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, among other disasters, its financial oversight for the support of disaster response efforts grew from $10 million to $33 million in donations and federal dollars, according to an Oct. 18 LSS of New England news release.
"Lutheran Social Services of New England has a long history of serving the most vulnerable persons in society. I look forward to serving with the committed staff of LSS to further the mission and mandate of LSS, as well as anticipating how we continue to position the organization to best serve people in need," said Feltman in the release.
Feltman is a diaconal minister. She served as director of Lutheran Family Services of the Carolinas, Columbia, S.C., from 2000 to 2004, and as director for the Lutheran Advocacy and Public Policy Office of South Carolina, Columbia, from 2002 to 2004. From 1996 to 2000 Feltman was director of the South Carolina State Council of Churches, Columbia.
Feltman served as a board member of the former ELCA Division for Church in Society (now ELCA Church in Society), an advocacy consultant for the division from 1997 to 1999, and preschool director of Hephatha Lutheran School, Anaheim Hills, Calif., from 1988 to 1990. Hephatha is a school of the LCMS.
In 1986 Feltman earned a bachelor's degree in social work from Illinois State University, Normal, Ill. She earned a master of arts degree in religion at Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary, Columbia, and a master's degree in nonprofit management at Regis University, Denver.
Feltman and her husband, the Rev. Ronald W. Feltman, a pastor of the ELCA, are the parents of one son. - - -
Information about Lutheran Disaster Response is available at http://www.ldr.org and information about Lutheran Social Services of New England is at http://www.lssne.org on the Web.
For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or news@elca.org http://www.elca.org/news ELCA News Blog: http://www.elca.org/news/blog