Lutherans Respond to Attacks with Organized Relief, Resources

CHICAGO (ELCA) -- A variety of resources, intended to help members and church leaders respond to the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on the United States, have been posted on the Web site of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). The resources are being made available through Lutheran Disaster Response (LDR), a ministry of the ELCA and Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LCMS).
Most of the resources can be located through the ELCA's home page at http://www.elca.org on the Web. The materials include information on talking with children about disasters; worship resources; a place to share stories, grief and prayer, available through Ecunet, an ecumenical online conferencing system; messages from the Rev. H. George Anderson, ELCA presiding bishop; information about how to contribute financial gifts for disaster relief; and ordering information for disaster response bulletin inserts, brochures and envelopes.
The Rev. Gilbert B. Furst, LDR director, said financial gifts are needed, but not material donations. Financial gifts to LDR will be used to help people directly affected by the attacks. In addition, Furst said LDR has determined that:
+ no volunteers are needed to help with cleanup at any site that was impacted by the terrorist attacks Sept. 11.
+ only "LDR-certified and properly credentialed" counselors will be sent to New York and Washington, D.C. LDR plans to coordinate this effort with Church World Service (CWS), a ministry of the National Council of Churches in Christ in the U.S.A.
+ Lutheran social ministry organizations in New York and Washington, D.C., will coordinate local disaster relief efforts. LDR will work directly with the ELCA synod bishops in those areas.
+ two resources to help in counseling children, developed after the Oklahoma City bombing, will be made available to synods in the areas where the attacks occurred.
In addition, Furst said he is encouraging pastors in the New York and Washington, D.C. areas to give people a chance to discuss their experiences this week during Christian education classes or worship services this Sunday.

WORSHIP, PRAYER RESOURCES AVAILABLE
The ELCA has received numerous requests for worship and prayer resources for congregation members in the wake of terrorist attacks, said the Rev. Michael Burk, director for worship, ELCA Division for Congregational Ministries. Many such resources are available through the ELCA's Web site and are posted on the home page, he said. Links to resources available through the ELCA's full communion partners will also be provided, Burk said.
"The materials will provide some direction to help people shape their response and reflection," he said.
In addition, President Bush asked that Sept. 14 be a national day of prayer and remembrance. Bush plans to attend a prayer service in Washington, D.C., and asked U.S. citizens to attend services at churches, synagogues and mosques "to pray for our nation, to pray for the families of those who were victimized by this act of terrorism," said Ari Fleischer, Bush's spokesperson.

LUTHERAN SOCIAL MINISTRIES AT WORK
Lutheran social ministry organizations are responding with disaster relief efforts in many places, said Jill A. Schumann, president, Lutheran Services in America (LSA), St. Paul, Minn., in a widely circulated e-mail message to colleagues Sept. 13.
LSA is an alliance of the ELCA, LCMS and their nearly 300 social ministry organizations, providing $6.9 billion in services in nearly 3,000 communities each year.
In New York, Lutheran Social Services of Metropolitan New York is coordinating local relief efforts, despite moving from its building which was damaged in the attack, Schumann said. Lutheran pastors are providing support to staff at Lutheran Medical Center where attack victims are being treated.
"Lutheran Social Ministries of New Jersey has staff trained in critical-incident counseling, and that staff is working with the district and synod to offer services to congregations and others, most immediately in Hudson County, N.J.," she said. "Lutheran Social Services of the National Capital Area is coordinating with area leaders to identify needs and to plan for next steps."
In Shanksville, Pa., the site where a hijacked plane crashed while it was apparently headed for a target in the Washington, D.C., area, CWS was to hold a meeting to assess local needs, she said. Schumann encouraged LSA colleagues "to attend to the needs of staff members, those you serve and others in the community." She also encouraged LSA organizations to reach out to synods and congregations to coordinate efforts. "Lutherans are known for walking with those affected by disaster over the long haul," she said. "Continue to pray and to trust in God's presence with all of us in these difficult days."

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