CHICAGO, Nov. 5 /PRNewswire/ -- Providing emotional and spiritual care
and identifying the needs of communities are some of the continued next
steps for Lutherans in response to the wildfires in Southern California,
reported the Rev. Kevin A. Massey, assistant director, Lutheran Disaster
Response (LDR). Since Oct. 21, wildfires have spread over 500,000 acres
across seven counties there. LDR is a collaborative ministry of the
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and the Lutheran
Church-Missouri Synod (LCMS).
Massey traveled Oct. 31 -- Nov. 2 to Clairemont, Escondido, Ramona, San
Clemente and San Marcos, Calif. "The work of LDR will be coordinated
through Lutheran Social Services of the Southwest, based in Phoenix, with a
disaster response coordinator based in Los Angeles," he said.
"The next steps of assessment and response development will include
meetings with counterparts in other faith-based, community-based and
government response organizations, and further discussions among ELCA, LCMS
and other local faith leaders," said Massey.
"We will continue to build relationships" and "identify communities
with the most needs," reported Massey. There will be "arrangements for an
early round of hardship grants to assist the immediate needs of people who
are most vulnerable and further recruit, train and deploy spiritual care
volunteers," he said.
"Spiritual and emotional care is essential and important for people who
have experienced the danger, fear and evacuation. We will continue to call
upon pastors, diaconal ministers and others trained in caregiving, and
we'll find ways to equip them for the very difficult and important work
that lies ahead. I am humbled by the care and compassion that already has
been shared among congregations and communities," said Massey.
The Rev. Mark S. Hanson, presiding bishop of the ELCA, shared words of
comfort and support on behalf of the church to those affected by the
wildfires in a conference call during a Nov. 1 meeting convened by the Rev.
Murray D. Finck, bishop, ELCA Pacifica Synod, Yorba Linda, Calif. Finck
called together ELCA clergy located in close proximity to the worst of the
wildfires for a time of mutual support and to begin plans for future
ministry in disaster response. The meeting took place at San Marcos
Lutheran Church, San Marcos, Calif., a congregation of the ELCA.
SOURCE Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
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Related links:
http://www.elca.org
CONTACT:
Melissa Ramirez Cooper of Evangelical
Lutheran Church in America, +1-773-380-2956,
melissa.ramirezcooper@elca.org
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