wfn.org | ELCA Confronts Humanitarian Crisis in Kosovo

[NEWS <NEWS@ELCA.ORG>]

ELCA NEWS SERVICE

May 12, 1999

ELCA CONFRONTS HUMANITARIAN CRISIS IN KOSOVO
99-125-MR

     CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
(ELCA) has issued an appeal for funds to help confront the increasing
humanitarian crisis with the conflict in and around Kosovo.
     More than $380,000 has been "received from members of the ELCA for
Kosovo relief, and contributions are still increasing," said Lita
Brusick Johnson, director for the ELCA World Hunger and Disaster Appeal.
"It is a wonderful outpouring of support in this extraordinary
situation," she said.
     The appeal, sent to the ELCA's 5.2 million members, includes a
statement by the Rev. H. George Anderson, presiding bishop of the ELCA:
"Like most Americans, I have been distressed by the reports of the
evolving crisis in the Balkans.  The tragic suffering of the Kosovo
Albanians, caused by armed attacks and other forms of violence --
including "ethnic cleansing" -- conducted by Yugoslav security forces,
compels the international community to respond.  I regret that military
action has largely replaced diplomacy."
     ELCA International Disaster Response sent an initial $150,000 to
provide immediate assistance for refugees.  The funds were sent through
Action by Churches Together (ACT) to the Lutheran World Federation
(LWF), Norwegian Church Aid and  [Lutheran] Diakonisches Werk in
Germany.  ACT, a worldwide network of churches and related agencies
meeting human need through coordinated emergency response, is based with
the LWF and the World Council of Churches (WCC) in Switzerland.  The
ELCA is a member of the LWF and WCC.
     A team of representatives from LWF, WCC and the Conference of
European Churches met with church leaders April 16-18 in Novi Sad and
Belgrade, Yugoslavia, to discuss the causes and consequences of the
Kosovo crisis.  The visit was organized in the context of the ecumenical
response to the crisis, especially the humanitarian actions coordinated
through ACT.
     In Novi Sad the team met with leaders of Lutheran, Reformed and
Methodist churches; in Belgrade the team met with leaders of Serbian
Orthodox and Roman Catholic churches.  The team sought to explain their
wish to "manifest solidarity" with the churches in Yugoslavia and
determine possible ecumenical initiatives in the country and region,
including further humanitarian aid.
     Religious leaders will encourage international prayer for peace on
May 16.  They will also support churches in Yugoslavia and encourage
congregations to share their understanding of the present crisis.
     "Churches in Yugoslavia have been adamant in their opposition to
the terrible ethnic-cleansing in Kosovo.  They have publicly called for
the release of three U.S. soldiers and for an end to the bombing that is
hurting civilians," said the Rev. Roy Lloyd, broadcast news director for
the National Council of Churches of Christ in the U.S.A. (NCCC).  He is
a member of St. Andrews Lutheran Church, Ridgefield, Conn., a
congregation of the ELCA.
     Lloyd accompanied a delegation of U.S. Christian, Muslim and
Jewish leaders to Belgrade May 1.  The delegation, led by the Rev. Jesse
Jackson, founder and president of the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition, Chicago,
and the Rev. Dr. Joan B. Campbell, NCCC general secretary, made a
humanitarian and religious appeal to the Milosevic government for the
release of three U.S. soldiers held in captivity.
     "The delegation was not naive about the ethnic-cleansing in
Kosovo.  There are different religious bodies that are deeply involved
in the crisis.  The delegation was clear about the message to stop the
ethnic cleansing," said Lloyd.
     When the delegation was informed that the soldiers would be
released, Lloyd said, "the Rev. Jackson and Dr. Campbell returned to the
hotel ... came in the door and  burst into tears."  He said, "It is one
thing to hear about miracles, but it's another thing to be present for
one.  It was an utterly incredible time."
     About 20,000 Kosovo Albanian refugees will be admitted to the
United States in May.  Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service (LIRS)
is working to help bring the refugees from Macedonia to the United
States, and advocating for hospitality within the international
community on the refugees' behalf.  LIRS is a ministry of the ELCA,
Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod and Latvian Evangelical Lutheran Church
in America.
     Illinois, Michigan, New Jersey, New York and Wisconsin are key
areas for resettlement, said the Rev. Y. Franklin Ishida, director for
international communication, ELCA Division for Global Mission.

EDITORS:  When listing organizations receiving funds for aid
to survivors of major disasters *outside* the United States,
Puerto Rico or the U.S. Virgin Islands, please include:
     Lutheran World Relief
     Church Street Station
     P.O. Box 6186
     New York, NY 10277-1738
     1-800-LWR-LWR-2
     1-800-597-5972

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