wfn.org | Lutherans Consider Ongoing Work in Littleton, Colo.

[NEWS <NEWS@ELCA.ORG>]

ELCA NEWS SERVICE

May 5, 1999

LUTHERANS CONSIDER ONGOING WORK IN LITTLETON, COLO.
99-123-JB

     LITTLETON, COLO. (ELCA)   Lutheran Disaster Response (LDR) has
committed an initial $10,000 to provide trained counselors to listen to
the concerns of  pastors and members of Lutheran churches here in the
aftermath of the Columbine High School shootings that left 15 people
dead, said the Rev. Gilbert B. Furst, director.
     In addition, LDR has provided 640 copies of the Rev. Foster
McCurley's book "Making Sense Out of Sorrow" to Lutheran congregations,
Furst said.  Lutheran schools in the area are currently working with a
crisis intervention team trained to handle post-traumatic stress and to
work with teachers and students, he added.
     Lutheran Disaster Response (LDR) is a ministry of the Evangelical
Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod
(LCMS).  LDR is supported by contributions to the ELCA Domestic Disaster
Response and LCMS World Relief, Furst said.  In this case, LDR is
working in partnership through a local Lutheran-affiliated agency,
Lutheran Family Services of Colorado, to provide relief and recovery to
the community.   Pastors from Littleton met with representatives of Lutheran Family
Services of Colorado May 3 to discuss a variety of human needs and ways
to help the community heal.
  The discussion yielded two immediate concerns.  Pastors said they
could use additional trained people, temporarily, to handle routine
congregational concerns so they can focus their ministry with people
traumatized by the shootings.  They also want to meet with people
experienced in the healing work that must occur in the months following
a tragic occurrence.
  The April 20 shootings left 12 Columbine students and one teacher
dead.  In addition, the two alleged gunmen killed themselves in the
school, investigators said.  The massacre and its aftermath affected
the community and the nation in a variety of ways, the pastors said.
They also expressed thanks for the wider church.
  "How incredible is the pall over the whole city of Denver and in
faraway places," said the Rev. Allan C. Bjornberg, bishop of the ELCA
Rocky Mountain Synod. He said he was thankful for the "wondrous gifts"
of the area's pastors.
  "I am grateful for my fellow pastors, and I am grateful for our
church," said the Rev. Donald G. Marxhausen, St. Philip Lutheran
Church, Littleton.  Marxhausen is pastor to nearly 40 Columbine
students, none of whom were killed or injured.
  "I am overwhelmed by the outpouring of love from throughout the
country,' said the Rev. David Palma-Ruwe, Abiding Hope Lutheran Church,
Littleton, which has several Columbine students.  Area congregations
have received hundreds of e-mails, faxes and letters expressing support
and concern.
  The pastors themselves said the situation has created stress for
them. "For two weeks, I felt overwhelmed to do anything other than
this," said the Rev. Rick Barger, Abiding Hope. "I'm better now."
  Most Littleton-area congregations are offering regular support
groups and counseling to the community.  Lutheran Family Services of
Colorado, in partnership with LDR, is working with congregations to
provide trained counselors, said Chet Evenson, agency president.
 A local certified trauma specialist has been hired by the agency to
assist, said Evenson.
  In addition to the three ELCA congregations represented, pastors
from two LCMS congregations attended, as did the Rev. Roger L. Krause,
president of the LCMS Rocky Mountain District and members of his staff.

=============================================

DOMESTIC DISASTERS:

Editors: When listing organizations receiving funds for aid to
survivors of major disasters inside the United States, Puerto Rico or
the U.S. Virgin Islands, please include:

                 Lutheran Disaster Response
                       P.O. Box 71764
                   Chicago, IL  60694-1764
                        800-638-3522

==============================================

For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or NEWS@ELCA.ORG
http://listserv.elca.org/archives/elcanews.html