ELCA Bishops Support Clergy, Members, in Wake of Sept. 11 Attacks

CHICAGO (ELCA) -- In a Sept. 14 letter to the 17,697 pastors of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), the Rev. H. George Anderson, presiding bishop of the church, thanked clergy for their ministry "during this time of national anxiety and mourning" following terrorist attacks in the eastern United States on Sept. 11. "I understand the drain of bearing others' burdens and encourage you to share your feelings with colleagues so that we can comfort one another," Anderson said. "As you gather with others, know that you are surrounded by the prayers of our global Lutheran family." As the shock of terrorism in the United States subsides, Anderson said, "there will be a backlash of anger and a thirst for retribution that go far beyond legal procedures for punishment." He told pastors, "Thank you for all you are doing to help this church be a calming influence throughout this nation, contributing to an atmosphere of unity rather than hatred." "There are early reports of harassment of Muslim and Middle Eastern people, families, and organizations -- people who are in no way involved in these acts of terrorism. I hope that we can channel public energy into works of mercy -- for example, giving blood rather than shedding it," he wrote. In his letter, Anderson included information about the disaster response efforts of the ELCA Domestic Disaster Response and Lutheran Disaster Response -- a ministry of the ELCA and Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LCMS). "This church is already helping affected communities and individuals by partnering with [the ELCA's 65] synod offices, [11,000] congregations, and Lutheran social ministry organizations in New York, Pennsylvania, and Washington, D.C. As is our normal practice, we coordinate our efforts with many partners to avoid confusion and duplication," Anderson said. He added that Lutheran Disaster Response (LDR) continues to provide care, counseling and assistance to survivors and their families. "We do not know how long the recovery from this tragedy will take, but this church is committed to walk with survivors for as long as needed," he said.

NEW YORK BISHOP CONSOLES MEMBERS, TELLS OF HEARTBREAKING STORIES
The Rev. Stephen P. Bouman, bishop of the ELCA Metropolitan New
York Synod, said in a personal message to colleagues that he spent the
days immediately after the terrorist attacks meeting with pastors and
synod deans in Manhattan "to share stories and comfort" and put together
the infrastructure for response to the disaster with social ministry
organizations and national church bodies. Bouman also participated in
an interfaith service in Harlem, and met with local religious leaders at
the home of Cardinal Edward Egan, Roman Catholic Archbishop of New York.
Bouman said he has participated "in countless conversations with pastors
and people whose lives are being torn apart."
As of Sept. 17, at least 4,900 people are listed as missing as a
result of the attacks that destroyed the World Trade Center towers.
"Your love and prayers are sure signs of the presence of Jesus,"
Bouman said to colleagues.
"There is a time for everything under heaven," Bouman said in a
letter to the 85,927 baptized members of the ELCA Metropolitan New York
Synod. "Now is a time to mourn and lament. As we continue to deal with
this horrible loss and communal trauma, we must help one another to give
expression to our pain and loss. Agony of the soul is a spiritual
expression."
"I can't stop feeling this pain," Bouman said. "And neither can
you. When it seems we might be able to take a breath, there is another
name, another heartbreaking story."
"But together we can get through it. We can together say with Job
(a biblical figure), "I know that my Redeemer lives.' We can only get
through it together if we can name it and mourn it. This world needs
the Body of Christ more than ever before."
In his message, Bouman made a distinction between good and evil.
The evil, he said, is "the Destroyer."
"The Destroyer who drove those planes to the destruction of human
lives did not care whether those in the plane were White or Black or
Yellow or Brown; Muslim, Jew or Christian," Bouman observed. "The
Destroyer was indifferent to whether those in the building it struck were
White or Black or Yellow or Brown; Muslim, Jew or Christian. The
Destroyer, evil incarnate, is not God and has no ultimate power over us.
God is love."
A few Lutheran ministries in New York reach out specifically to
people of Middle Eastern origin, Bouman said. Those who want to "lash
out" at these people should think of these ministries, whose people are
leaders in "overcoming evil with good," he urged.
Bouman and the Rev. David H. Benke, president of the Atlantic
District of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LCMS), have worked
together to support congregations and Lutheran social ministry
organizations, he said. LDR, a ministry of both the ELCA and LCMS, is
mounting a significant response to the terrorist attacks.
Bishop Anderson and the Rev. Gerald B. Kieschnick, LCMS president,
together will visit New York Wednesday "for a time of conversation,
consolation and prayer" with pastors and members, Bouman said. ELCA
bishops from the region are expected to join them, he added.
This weekend, Daniel A. Nigro, a member of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Bayside (Queens), was named chief of the New York City Fire Department, Bouman reported. Nigro succeeds Peter J. Ganci Jr., who was killed in the collapse of the north tower of the World Trade Center. Nigro was previously the department's chief of operations.

AID ASSOCIATION FOR LUTHERANS AND LUTHERAN BROTHERHOOD RESPOND
In response to the tragedy of Sept. 11, Aid Association for Lutherans (AAL) and Lutheran Brotherhood (LB) have allocated a combined total of $1,362,000 to distribute among individuals and families in need of assistance and people-serving agencies.
AAL is a fraternal benefits society based in Appleton, Wis. LB is a fraternal benefits society based in Minneapolis. The board of directors for AAL and LB approved a plan for both societies to merge later this year.
AAL released $1 million to "mobilize" AAL members and branches to help disaster victims through fund-raising and support AAL volunteer disaster coordinators in New York City and Washington, D.C. The society will urge employees and branch members to donate blood and plasma. Volunteers are also being encouraged to help busy local blood centers handle paperwork and serve refreshments to donors.
LB will distribute $362,000 among individuals and families in need of assistance and to people-serving agencies helping with recovery efforts. The disaster relief funds will be made available through 181 LB branches -- volunteer service units. Each branch can apply for an extra $2,000 in matching funds if a disaster relief project is conducted to help the victims. -- -- --
A variety of resources and statements related to the terrorist attacks -- and specific information on how to give financial gifts for disaster relief -- can be found at http://www.elca.org on the ELCA's Web site.

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