wfn.org | USD 6.7 Million for LWF Mission and Development Work

["Frank Imhoff" <Frank_Imhoff@elca.org>]

USD 6.7 Million for LWF Mission and Development Work 
Concern for Effective and Timely Implementation of Projects

LWF Council Meeting, Geneva, 1 - 7 September 2004

PRESS RELEASE NO. 24-2004 

GENEVA, 14 September 2004 (LWI) - The Council of the Lutheran World
Federation (LWF) approved 66 programs and projects of the Department for
Mission and Development (DMD) amounting to nearly USD 6.7 million for a
three-year period. 

Receiving the report of the LWF Project Committee through the Program
Committee for Mission and Development, the Council approved expenditure
for an amount of over USD 2.5 million for 2005, USD 2.1 million for 2006
and USD 2 million for 2007. 

These amounts are allocated to 25 projects in Africa, 16 in Asia, 11 in
Europe and 14 in Latin America and the Caribbean. Out of the total
number of projects, 26 with a total financial volume of USD 617,100 were
approved by the Inter-departmental Project Screening Committee. Two
projects on the agenda were deferred for a mail vote action later this
year, plus a third one, not yet included in the agenda. 

LWF/DMD project work relates to pastoral and outreach ministries,
communication and development projects as one of the means to fulfill
the church's holistic and participatory mission. The budget
allocations for next year include USD 991,400 for various related
activities in Africa (39.1 percent of total budget); USD 544,100 for
Asia (21.5 percent) USD 295,700 for Europe (11.7 percent) and USD
699,025 (27.6 percent) for activities in the Latin American and
Caribbean region. The distribution of funds in 2006 includes USD 766,000
for projects in Africa (36.4 percent of annual budget); USD 451,400 in
Asia (21.4 percent); USD 218,400 in Europe (10.4 percent); and USD
670,875 (31.8 percent) in the Latin American and Caribbean region. In
2007 DMD will coordinate USD 735,400 for project work in Africa; USD
364,600 for Asia; USD 255,200 for Europe and USD 671,570 for the Latin
American and Caribbean region.

Presenting his report to the Program Committee for Mission and
Development, the LWF Project Committee chairperson Bishop Anders H.
Wejryd voiced concern for the effectiveness of the project approach,
seen as a micro tool to building just, inclusive, participatory and
self-sustaining communities. It has brought positive change to the lives
of millions, he said. He noted, however, that in recent years, member
churches and other project holders had indicated that the time between
the application for funding and actual implementation of the respective
activities was too long and thus, hampered churches' ability to carry
out projects effectively  and "on time."

The previous Project Committee held a special consultation in May 2003,
of which report and recommendations were shared with all committee
participants at this year's meeting. It was thus agreed to appoint two
task forces, one to work on the long-range processes related to
shortening the project process, looking at all aspects pertaining to it,
and the other to work on criteria for the possible establishment of
three funds namely Strategic Initiative Fund, Rapid Response Fund and
Communion Fund. The final proposals from the task forces will be
presented to the Project Committee next year. 

The Project Committee elected LWF Council adviser Ms Esther C. Musah,
Lutheran Church in Liberia, as vice-chairperson. (522 words)

*	*	*

Around 100 church representatives including the 49-member Council
attended this year's meeting at Chavannes-de-Bogis near Geneva. In
addition there were 70 participants consisting of invited guests, LWF
staff persons, interpreters, stewards and journalists. The Council is
the LWF's governing body between Assemblies, normally held every six
years. The current Council was elected at the July 2003 Tenth Assembly
in Winnipeg, Canada, where it held its first meeting. The Council
comprises the President, the Treasurer and ordained as well as lay
persons drawn from the LWF member churches. The LWF currently has 138
member churches in 77 countries all over the world, with a membership of
nearly 65 million people.

(The LWF is a global communion of Christian churches in the Lutheran
tradition. It was founded in 1947 in Lund, Sweden. The LWF acts on
behalf of its member churches in areas of common interest such as
ecumenical and inter-faith relations, theology, humanitarian assistance,
human rights, communication, and the various aspects of mission and
development work. Its secretariat is located in Geneva, Switzerland.)

[Lutheran World Information (LWI) is the LWF's information service.
Unless specifically noted, material presented does not represent
positions or opinions of the LWF or of its various units. Where the
dateline of an article contains the notation (LWI), the material may be
freely reproduced with acknowledgment.]

*	*	*

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