wfn.org | LCMS - LCMS World Relief, Human Care merge

[Worldwide Faith News <wfn@igc.org>]

The Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod
Board for Communication Services

LCMSNews -- No. 46
July 23, 2002

LCMS World Relief, Human Care merge

More compassionate, more efficient care in the name of Jesus to people in
need.  That's the goal behind the merger of long-related ministries LCMS
World Relief and LCMS Human Care Ministries as "LCMS World Relief and Human
Care," according to Rev. Matthew Harrison, former executive director of the
Board for Human Care Ministries, now executive director of the newly
christened ministry.

This spring the Synod's Board for Human Care Ministries approved uniting the
two ministries under one name and operating structure to improve the
efficiency of the Synod's human-care outreach.

"Initially, we were forced by issues related to funding trends to take a
hard look at how we operate on behalf of the church," said Harrison.  "This
led to intense analysis of how well we were functioning together as
ministries of the LCMS Board for Human Care."

The November retirement of LCMS World Relief Director Elaine Bryant also
prompted the board to redesign that top position, Harrison said.

Under the new structure, the board designated Harrison the "national public
face" of LCMS World Relief and Human Care, giving him many of the duties of
the former LCMS World Relief director.

LCMS World Relief is the biggest and best known of five major ministries
under the Human Care umbrella, which also includes Chaplaincy, Districts and
Congregations, LCMS Health Ministries and Social Ministry Organizations.

Established in 1914, LCMS World Relief is the Synod's disaster relief and
long-term, self-help arm.

Rev. Jarold Rux, LCMS World Relief interim director and manager of program
support, will assume duties connected with Lutheran Disaster Response, a
cooperative ministry of The Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod and the
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America that assists victims of natural
disasters in the United States.

LCMS Housing Ministry Manager Marie Kienker has been appointed director,
LCMS World Relief and Human Care Management.  Kienker will oversee the
day-to-day operation of the LCMS World Relief-Human Care alliance and will
continue management of LCMS Housing Ministries.  She plans to assume her new
duties Aug. 1.

Today, LCMS human-care outreach includes Lutheran social-ministry
organizations that serve approximately 2 million people in 3,000
communities.  Also, some 380 LCMS chaplains and pastoral counselors provide
ministry in specialized settings, including hospitals, nursing homes and
police and fire departments.

Other human-care efforts include ministry to older adults, at-risk children
and working people who are struggling to find affordable housing.  LCMS
Health Ministries promotes wellness of body, mind and spirit and is
especially concerned with health issues affecting professional church
workers.

To learn more about LCMS World Relief and Human Care, call (800) 248-1930,
Ext. 1382, or visit the ministry's Web sites at http://humancare.lcms.org
and http://worldrelief.lcms.org.

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