ELCA's response to our national tragedy

September 11, 2001

ELCA Expresses Shock, Sorrow At Apparent Terrorist Attacks

CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Rev. H. George Anderson, presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), expressed "shock" at today's apparent acts of terrorism in at least three locations in the eastern United States. ELCA congregations, pastors and members "are praying for the comfort of all people affected by these incredible acts," he said in a statement.

Anderson also urged that people be cautious in their response to the disasters in New York, Washington, D.C., and western Pennsylvania. "As Christians, it is important that we behave responsibly at this time and not act harshly," he said. "We offer prayers for our leaders, who must reassure a shaken nation and investigate today's terrible deeds."

"I join with all of you in mourning these enormous human tragedies," he said. "We pray that those who have been affected most will find comfort and peace in the Lord Jesus Christ. Our first thoughts should be to respond to our fellow human beings with love and compassion. In the Psalms, we find these words: 'God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore, we will not fear.'"

Anderson said many ELCA congregations are open for prayer and many were planning to hold special services. At the ELCA churchwide offices here, staff packed the chapel for a special mid-day prayer service.

METROPOLITAN NEW YORK SYNOD STAFF SAFE
In New York, the Rev. Stephen P. Bouman, bishop of the ELCA Metropolitan New York Synod, who was in his office in upper Manhattan, said he and the staff watched as the World Trade Center buildings were hit by jetliners and collapsed.

"We watched both building disappear in a cloud of smoke," he said. "It was the scariest thing I've ever seen."

Bouman said he wanted to assure ELCA members that the synod staff in New York is safe. Each had made contact with most of their family members who may have been in the World Trade Center area. No ELCA congregations are located in the immediate area where the World Trade Center buildings stood, he said.

"People were calling schools this morning," Bouman said, recounting the morning's events. "People are upset, and kids are crying." The city is "locked down," he said, adding that transportation in Manhattan had been disrupted.

The Metropolitan New York Synod offices are located in an ecumenical center in New York. A prayer vigil there was held, led by Bouman.

PENTAGON ATTACK WILL LIKELY AFFECT ELCA MEMBERS, BISHOP SAID
The Rev. Theodore F. Schneider, bishop of the ELCA Metropolitan Washington, D.C., Synod, began his day in Altoona, Pa., where he was attending a meeting of regional ELCA bishops. Schneider left by car this morning to return to Washington, D.C., to attend an afternoon memorial service for the Rev. James D. Ford, the former U.S. House chaplain who died last month. The service was cancelled.

Schneider said that while no ELCA congregations are located near the Pentagon, many ELCA members work there, Schneider said. "Many parishioners may be involved in what has happened," he said, noting that federal employees live in the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia. There are many rumors circulating in the nation's capital, Schneider said.

At this point, Schneider said he will pray and make contact with pastors who may have members directly affected by the disaster.

LUTHERAN DISASTER RESPONSE ACTS
Lutheran Disaster Response is providing counseling and shelter to people who have been affected by the apparent terrorist attacks. Lutheran Disaster Response is a ministry of the ELCA and the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LCMS).

"We are asking our congregations to be open for shelter and prayer, and asking our pastors and staff members to be available for prayer and counseling," said the Rev. Gilbert B. Furst, director for Lutheran Disaster Response, ELCA Division for Church in Society.

"At the moment communication is next to impossible with our [ELCA] congregations and synods, [LCMS] districts and [Lutheran] social ministry organizations [in the affected areas]. They will all be part of our response. We are preparing copies of materials to help children who have been traumatized by these attacks," Furst said.

NORTHWESTERN OHIO SYNOD RESPONSE
Locally, in the Northwestern Ohio Synod, disaster response coordinator Kathleen Lemmerbrock, Administrator for the Northwestern Ohio Synod has been in contact with the national church Lutheran response office and is coordinating local response efforts on behalf of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America within the Northwestern Ohio Synod area.

Coordination will continue with the Lutheran Church, Missouri Synod and with other ecumenical bodies to ensure that we are doing all that we can do to ease the tragic effects and aftershocks of these events. Response began with a meeting of Bishop Marcus Lohrmann and Synod staff, ELCA pastors and lay leaders, and ecumenical partners Tuesday afternoon at Salem Lutheran Church, Toledo to pray and discuss the immediate needs and response efforts that can be done to help the victims and their families.

CHURCH WORLD SERVICE COORDINATES RESPONSE BY MANY CHURCHES
Members of the Church World Service (CWS) Emergency Response Executive Committee, meeting today in Santa Fe, N.M., moved into "immediate emergency session" in response to news of the attacks. CWS is a ministry of the National Council of Churches of Christ (NCC). The ELCA is a member church of the NCC.

Furst, who is attending the meeting, said the committee issued a statement and is involved in "implementing and coordinating" an immediate response that includes:

Placing on alert CWS regional disaster response consultants for the provision of pastoral care consultation;
Member communions with trained emergency pastoral-care teams have their teams on standby for a coordinated response;
The placement today of a CWS disaster response consultant at the Emergency Operations Center, Albany, N.Y., for purposes of coordination
Placing a CWS disaster response consultant at the Emergency Operations Center, Washington, D.C.;
Opening a satellite emergency response office at the Church of the Brethren Service Center, New Windsor, Md., to serve as the center for communication and response coordination; and,
Meeting regularly to further coordinated response.