"Times of Change for Lutheran Disaster Response"

     CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Lutheran Disaster Response, a ministry of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LCMS), will move to the ELCA's churchwide offices here the week of July 13.  The ministry began in 1988 in Allentown, Pa.
     "Sometimes it seems that the only constant in life is change," said the Rev. Gilbert B. Furst, associate director for Lutheran Disaster Response.  "These are times of change for Lutheran Disaster Response."
     The Rev. Leon A. Phillips, executive director for Lutheran Disaster Response, will retire June 30.  "This ministry of both churches has responded to 144 disasters since 1998," said Phillips.
     "The total number of disasters in which Lutheran Disaster Response has been active during the first six months of this year is 19.  This response compares to a total of 15 disasters in all of 1997 and a total of 27 in the record-breaking year of 1996," said Phillips in his final report.
     "Lutheran Disaster Response's resources and systems have been tested in both the number and severity of 1998 disasters.  Major response operations today are continuing in North Dakota, Minnesota and South Dakota from the 1997 floods and storms.  Other major operations are taking place in Comfrey and St. Peter, Minn.; Birmingham, Ala., and Kissimmee, Fla.," said Phillips.
     "With current staff, Lutheran Disaster Response is in good hands although quite busy ones at the moment," said Phillips.
     Flooding in southwest Iowa June 13-14 caused the entire town of Griswold to evacuate; 200 houses were affected.  In Coberg, 20 families were evacuated and their houses were flooded.  Other areas heavily affected by flooding include Iowa's Cass and Montgomery Counties.  The Rev. James A. Almquist, rural empowerment director for Lutheran Social Service of Iowa, reports that homeowners, farmers and the business community are "in a real mess."  Through Lutheran Social Services of Iowa, Lutheran Disaster Response is providing for immediate and basic life needs.
     "We have been fortunate in this year of many disasters to have completed recruitment and training for a volunteer crisis team," said Phillips.  "The team is prepared to spend from several weeks to a month at a disaster scene, helping social ministry organizations organize relief efforts.  The willingness of these volunteers to contribute significant amounts of time is a generous and much needed gift to Lutheran Disaster Response."
     "There has been great suffering by many people in these tragedies, and many lives have been scarred.  But the support, care and generosity of individuals and congregations throughout the church has sent a consistent and powerful message of hope.  Again and again I have heard people say, in looking back on their suffering, that the care and support of their Christian sisters and brothers gave them strength to be not victims but survivors," said Phillips.
     Ingrid Christiansen, chair of the ELCA's Division for Church in Society, said, "We on the board are so very grateful for Leon Phillips' years of top-notch service and have so often been moved by the stories the people and communities to whom his work has been so vital.  People refer to him as an angel," she said.
     "Of course this work is done in ministry to the people of God in the name of Jesus," said Christiansen.  "In doing the work, Phillips stands for all Lutherans who contribute to this ministry through prayers, labor and financial contributions."
     Furst will serve as director for Lutheran Disaster Response and the ELCA's Domestic Disaster Response beginning July 1.
     Elaine Richter is the associate director for Lutheran Disaster Response.  She is also director of LCMS World Relief.
     Johanna L. Olson will be the new assistant for the ELCA's Domestic Disaster Response effective July 6.  "She brings a broad-based experience in working with human needs issues, recruiting and training of volunteers, public speaking and writing of materials, as well as office management, administrative skills and computer abilities," said Furst.
     Olson will succeed Laurie Christman, Allentown, Pa.  "Christman has served the entire ten years of Lutheran Disaster Response's life and has worked with me more than fourteen years," said Phillips.  "The whole church has been well served by her competence and professionalism."

For information contact:
Ann Hafften, Director (773) 380-2958 or NEWS@ELCA.ORG
http://www.elca.org/co/news/current.html