CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Church Council of the Evangelical
Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) expressed "its deep
appreciation to Kathryn Wolford for her service and leadership as
president of Lutheran World Relief (LWR)." Wolford resigned as
LWR president Oct. 31 to become president of The McKnight
Foundation, Minneapolis, starting Dec. 1.
The Church Council is the ELCA's board of directors and
serves as the legislative authority of the church between
churchwide assemblies. The council met here Nov. 11-13.
Assemblies are held every other year; the next is here Aug. 6-11,
2007.
LWR is a ministry of the ELCA, the Lutheran Church-Missouri
Synod, individuals and parish groups in international relief,
development, advocacy and social responsibility. It's based in
Baltimore.
A council resolution asked the Rev. Mark S. Hanson, ELCA
presiding bishop, to convey a "heartfelt expression of thanks,
along with this church's best wishes, to Kathryn Wolford as she
moves to a new phase of her life."
The resolution noted that, through LWR, the ELCA deepened
and extended "its ministry among the poor and marginalized" and
reached "people in need through community-based organizations and
other sectors of civil society."
"Lutheran World Relief effectively assists the ELCA to
become engaged ever more deeply in both service and justice
ministries through a range of activities, including parish
projects -- from quilts to fairly traded coffee," the resolution
said.
Wolford "provided exemplary leadership since being appointed
LWR's third president in 1993, providing clear direction for
LWR's work in poverty eradication, sustainable development, and
advocacy through global trade, justice, gender equity, and peace-
building," it said.
The LWR board appointed Jeff Whisenant to serve as acting
president of LWR beginning Nov. 1. He is LWR's vice president
for finance and administration.
Hanson told the council that the LWR board had appointed a
presidential search committee and that it welcomed nominations
from council members.
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The home page of Lutheran World Relief is at
http://www.lwr.org/ on the Web.
For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or news@elca.org
http://www.elca.org/news
ELCA News Blog: http://www.elca.org/news/blog
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About the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America:
The ELCA is one of the largest Christian denominations in the United States, with 2.8 million members in more than 8,500 worshiping communities across the 50 states and in the Caribbean region. Known as the church of "God's work. Our hands.," the ELCA emphasizes the saving grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ, unity among Christians and service in the world. The ELCA's roots are in the writings of the German church reformer Martin Luther.
For information contact:
Candice Hill Buchbinder
Public Relations Manager
Candice.HillBuchbinder@ELCA.org
