wfn.org | ELCA Council Hears Update on Disaster Response in New York

[News News <NEWS@ELCA.ORG>]

ELCA NEWS SERVICE

November 13, 2001

ELCA COUNCIL HEARS UPDATE ON DISASTER RESPONSE IN NEW YORK
01-291-JB

     CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
(ELCA) has received about $3 million in financial gifts from its
members in response to the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, said the
Rev. Gilbert B. Furst, director for Lutheran Disaster Response (LDR),
in a report Nov. 9 to the ELCA Church Council.  From Sept. 11 to Nov.
9, $890,000 has been sent to the New York area for distribution
through a variety of disaster response initiatives, he said.
     LDR responds to domestic disasters as a cooperative ministry of
the ELCA and Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod.  The ELCA Church
Council, which met here Nov. 9-11, is the ELCA's board of directors
and serves as the legislative authority of the church between its
churchwide assemblies.  Assemblies are held every other year; the
next is Aug. 11-17, 2003, in Milwaukee.
     The church will likely be involved in disaster response to the
attacks for "at least 10 years," Furst said, adding, "it could be
involved at least for a generation."
     A current concern is providing care for care givers such as
pastors, chaplains, church workers and other church leaders who are
directly involved in responding to many human needs in the aftermath
of the attacks, he said.  LDR and local leaders are organizing
"respite care" for clergy in New York and Washington, D.C.
     Local LDR coordinators have been placed in New York and
Washington, D.C., he said.
     The Rev. Stephen P. Bouman, bishop of the ELCA Metropolitan New
York Synod, told the council that the Sept. 11 attack and its
aftermath was a "heavy blow to our soul."  People in New York are not
yet ready to "move on," he said.  "If you keep praying, you are
reminded that God is not moving on but is sitting with us," he said.
     The synod is setting up a system to respond to people who have
little or no support from relatives or friends, Bouman said.
     New York area chaplains and pastors are "running pretty hard
and some are pretty raw," Bouman said, characterizing the overall
state of area clergy.
     "There is a growing conviction that we have been called and
ordained for this moment," he concluded.
     The church council discussed at length possible formal
responses on behalf of the church to a variety of issues raised by
the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.  After discussing many possibilities,
members were unable to agree on a written response.  The council
asked its executive committee to develop the response.
---
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:

ELCA Domestic 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