ELCA NEWS SERVICE January 21, 2005 ELCA Members Contribute $1 Million Toward Tsunami Relief 05-009-MRC CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Through the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) International Disaster Response, members of the ELCA have contributed more than $1 million to support relief efforts in southern Asia, after a tsunami claimed thousands of lives in several coastal countries of the Indian Ocean last month. Contributions to the ELCA International Disaster Response for tsunami relief efforts continue to arrive, said the Rev. Y. Franklin Ishida, spokesperson, ELCA Division for Global Mission. Coordinated by the ELCA Division for Global Mission, International Disaster Response often channels its funds through international church organizations and relief agencies. Funds purchase food, medicine, drinking water, emergency shelter and other materials for survivors of disasters. "We know that relief and rebuilding will be a long-term matter. The ELCA is committed to accompanying its companions across the region. Ongoing support will be necessary," said Ishida. To date ELCA International Disaster Response provided a total of $415,000 for immediate relief efforts. On Dec. 29 the ELCA International Disaster Response released $150,000 to Action by Churches Together (ACT) in support of its relief efforts in south Asia; the church sent $30,000 to support the work of the United Evangelical Lutheran Church in India (UELCI); and $20,000 for other regional recovery work, particularly in Indonesia. ACT is a worldwide network of churches and related agencies that meets human need through organized emergency response. It is based with the World Council of Churches (WCC) and Lutheran World Federation (LWF), both in Geneva, Switzerland. The ELCA is a member of WCC and LWF. ELCA International Disaster Response released $100,000 to Lutheran World Relief (LWR) for its "Wave of Giving" tsunami relief efforts Jan. 5. LWR works overseas in relief and development on behalf of the ELCA and Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. "The ELCA is committed to providing up to 50 percent of its International Disaster Response income designated for tsunami disaster relief to LWR," said Belletech Deressa, director for international development and disaster response, ELCA Division for Global Mission. The other 50 percent of the church's income designated for tsunami relief will be sent to "our Lutheran companion churches in south and southeast Asia, and other ecumenical organizations, to support their relief efforts," Deressa said. ELCA International Disaster Response released another $15,000 on Jan. 7 to the UELCI in support of its relief efforts in southern coastal areas of India. It provided $100,000 to Church World Service for its tsunami disaster response on Jan. 12. "Church World Service has been operational with relief and development programs in Indonesia since 1964," said Deressa. It "works through and with both faith-based and secular organizations in the areas of disaster response, capacity building and social development, enhancing the access of impoverished basis needs," she said. The ELCA participates in the work of Church World Service. "After the tsunami hit, Church World Service urgently sent staff to monitor the situation, especially in Indonesia, and it has been engaged in providing clean water, tents, health kits, food and medical assistance. Church World Service is leading church-based organizations in implementing both short-term relief and rehabilitation and long-term development assistance in Indonesia," Deressa said. According to Deressa, the ELCA's "partnership with Church World Service is crucial" in reaching "out to people in Indonesia and southeast Asia," assisting affected communities there. Funds from ELCA International Disaster Response continue to be allocated to support recovery efforts in southern Asia. ELCA synods, universities seminaries organize fundraising efforts, prayer service Individuals and congregations of the ELCA Indiana-Kentucky Synod, based in Indianapolis, have raised more than $45,000 to date in special offerings to support tsunami relief efforts in Indonesia. Funds are being sent directly to the Huria Kristen Batak Protestant (HKBP) -- the (Lutheran) Protestant Christian Batak Church, Sumatra, Indonesia. The HKBP organized a special relief account, "HKBP Caring Love," to support its tsunami relief operations in Indonesia. For the past three years, the synod and the HKBP have actively shared a "companion relationship," said the Rev. William O. Gafkjen, assistant to the bishop, ELCA Indiana-Kentucky Synod. "There's a strong foundation in the relationship" between the synod and HKBP, said Gafkjen. "We know one another personally." Gafkjen and other members of the synod traveled to Indonesia two years ago and met with HKBP staff. "This is what a companion synod relationship is all about. It is a prime example of the accompaniment model followed by [the ELCA] in its global mission efforts," Gafkjen said. "We are with them for the long haul." California Lutheran University, Thousand Oaks, Calif., organized a voluntary fundraising campaign, "CLU Tsunami Relief Fund." Funds garnered from the campaign will be sent to LWR for tsunami disaster relief. Students at Luther Seminary, St. Paul, Minn., have mobilized the seminary community to raise funds for Lutheran World Relief's Wave of Giving campaign. Wartburg Seminary, Dubuque, Iowa, will host a musical, "No Greater." Written by Dr. Ralph Quere, the musical sets the Gospel of John into 21st century rock music and language. Profits of the musical will go to LWR for tsunami relief. The Rev. Stephen P. Bouman, bishop of the ELCA Metropolitan New York Synod, New York, led a "Service of Prayer" on Jan. 19 for Asians killed by the tsunami. The service took place at St. Paul International Lutheran Church, New York. _ _ _ INTERNATIONAL DISASTERS: Editors: When listing organizations receiving funds for aid to survivors of major disasters outside the United States, Puerto Rico or the U.S. Virgin Islands, please include: ELCA International Disaster Response, PO Box 71764 Chicago, IL 60694-1764, 1-800-638-3522, or at http://www.elca.org/disaster/idrgive on the Internet. For information contact: John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or [log in to unmask] http://www.elca.org/news