CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA)
provided $25,000 to the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada in support
of its outreach to survivors of severe storms and floods in Alberta,
Canada.
Three people died and more than 100,000 people were displaced from
their homes after heavy rains caused extensive flooding across southern
Alberta in late June. The majority of those forced to leave their homes
were evacuated in and around Calgary, Canada’s third-largest city.
“We thank the members of our sister church for their solidarity with
those who are struggling to restore their homes in southern Alberta,”
said the Rev. Susan Johnson, national bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran
Church in Canada. “This is a strong, living expression of the
relationship between the two churches.”
“We treasure the gifts and benevolence the Evangelical Lutheran
Church in Canada brings to the companion relationship between our two
church bodies,” said Joseph Chu, associate program director for the
ELCA’s Lutheran Disaster Response. “We pray that God’s hope and grace
will be with those impacted by the flood, as we work together to
accompany them on their journey to rebuild their lives.”
The funds, dispersed through ELCA’s Lutheran Disaster Response, will
be distributed in partnership with Canadian Lutheran World Relief and
used primarily to provide emergency shelter and food and to support
congregational programs that provide emergency services.
“Through our partnerships with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in
Canada and experienced front-line agencies, we can be sure that this
donation will focus on those most in need,” said Robert Granke, executive
director of Canadian Lutheran World Relief.
ELCA’s Lutheran Disaster Response provides assistance to survivors
of natural disasters and humanitarian crises throughout the world. This
support is carried out, both domestically and internationally, in
coordination with social ministry organizations, agencies, partners and
international companion churches located in disaster-affected communities.
The ELCA and Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada are members of
The Lutheran World Federation, a global communion of 143 member churches
in 79 countries worldwide. The ELCA is the communion’s only member church
from the United States.
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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
