ELCA NEWS SERVICE August 3, 2005 ELCA, LCMS Agree To Work Together On Disaster Response 05-139-MRC CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Leaders of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LCMS) signed a "Statement of Collaboration" that makes official the working relationship of both churches in ministering to people in emergency and disaster situations. In the context of each denomination's call to minister to people in disasters, the ELCA Division for Church in Society and LCMS World Relief and Human Care agreed to "cooperate in a portion of their domestic disaster relief efforts," according to the statement, which became official June 30. "Despite our theological differences, the agreement allows us to serve our neighbors in need," said Heather L. Feltman, director, Lutheran Disaster Response, a ministry of the ELCA and LCMS. Disaster response "is one area where there is agreement on how we can work together strongly. It's a time for celebration." Feltman also serves as director for ELCA Domestic Disaster Response. The offices of Lutheran Disaster Response and ELCA Domestic Disaster Response are housed here in the ELCA Division for Church in Society. The mission of Lutheran Disaster Response, as reflected in the statement, is "to demonstrate Christ's compassion for people by promoting hope, healing and wholeness for disaster survivors, underscored by Scripture." The document cites specific verses in the Gospel of St. Matthew. The Statement also identifies six "general principles" of cooperation and coordination between the ELCA and LCMS via Lutheran Disaster Response. The principles include open communication and the sharing of information regarding disaster recourses; identifying the "best method" to develop, support and use resources; encouraging individual Lutherans, congregations, synods of the ELCA and districts of the LCMS, Lutheran social ministry organizations and others to provide resources needed for disaster response preparation and response to specific disasters when they occur; and staff of Lutheran Disaster Response discussing expenditures and maintaining Lutheran Disaster Response's "Manual of Standing Policies and Procedures," designed to supplement the Statement of Collaboration. Since the formation of the ELCA in 1987, the ministry of the ELCA and LCMS to meet the needs of people affected by disaster in the United States and Caribbean has been carried out through Lutheran Disaster Response. Although Lutherans have been working together on disaster response since 1987, and in some form prior to that year, no signed agreement existed to make the working relationship official, Feltman said. "We had worked through conversation and verbal agreements," she said. Lutheran Disaster Response provides emotional and spiritual care to people affected by disaster; allocates funds to support disaster response case management; processes "hardship grants" to congregations; and purchases building supplies to help rebuild homes. Lutheran Disaster Response and its partner organizations also provide training opportunities to help people prepare for when disaster may strike next. - - - Information about Lutheran Disaster Response is maintained at http://www.ELCA.org/dcs/disaster on the Internet. For information contact: John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or [log in to unmask] http://www.elca.org/news