[Plmconf2] FW: Disaster RElief

Mon Jun 23 17:01:16 EDT 2008

Dear Ministerium Members (et al)

I'm sorry that this got held up ... unfortunately it was diverted into my
spam folder.

Please consider using it...the disaster continues to unfold.

Blessings!
Steve

==========
Steven Rye - steve at plm.org

  _____  

From: Karen Eppert [mailto:keppert at iksynod.org] 
Sent: Thursday, June 19, 2008 11:15 AM
To: 'PETERSON, JOHN'; DENRSTROB at aol.com; krebsps at aol.com; 'Barry Neese';
Bill Novak; 'Charles Strietelmeier'; 'Forrest VanGundy'; 'James Stuck';
'Laura Altman'; 'Mary Poston'; 'Pamela Thiede'; 'Rudy Mueller'; 'Shirley
Ross Jones'; 'Steve Schwier'; 'Will Peugeot'; 'Angela Shannon'; 'Bill
Gafkjen'; Cheryl Walker; 'Danielle Burrus'; 'Emily Hogg'; Emily Hoog's
Mother; 'Harold Erdmann'; 'Janet Manning'; 'Jill Watson'; 'Jim Moore'; 'Joe
Trester'; 'John Malzahn'; 'Joyce Kissell'; 'Judith Follis'; 'judy rehmel';
'Keith Hunsinger'; Ken Gustafson; 'Kevin Bardonner'; 'Marcus Felde'; 'Mark
Radloff'; 'Martin Gehring'; 'Marty Mielke'; 'Mary Chapin'; 'Paul Knoerzer';
'Ted Miller'; 'Tim Kraemer'; 'Vicki Garber'
Cc: knknoerzer at aol.com; 'Steve Rye'; 'Steve Albertin'; t.linstrom at att.net;
bgafkjen at iksynod.org
Subject: Disaster RElief

Deans and Synod Council Members (Current, past and, upcoming),

I am sending this e-mail to you as instructed by Pastor Bill Gafkjen.

Karen Eppert

Admin. Asst. to Bishop Stuck

& Pr. Rudy Mueller

Dear Deans,

Attached to this email you will find a brief memo about Lutheran disaster
response in our synod and a flyer about ELCA Lutheran Disaster Response.
Please distribute this memo and flyer to the congregations and rostered
leaders of your conferences as soon as possible.  The memo contains
information specific to Indiana and our synod.  In addition to the
information found in this memo about how to access assistance and how to
provide assistance, here is a little more information for you to be aware
of, act on and share:

*	If at all possible please provide the LDR Indiana Case Manager
Jennifer Krieg and me with information about congregations and members of
congregations in your conference who have been affected by this recent spate
of storms and floods.  We are interested, of course, in anyone affected, but
LDR relief work begins with Lutherans and relies on Lutherans for accurate
information.  The easiest way to provide us with this information is to
simultaneously email Jennifer (jenkrieg at comcast.net) and me
(bgafkjen at iksynod.org). 

*	Lutherans also provide the core pool of volunteers to provide
immediate and long-term assistance.  As mentioned in the attached memo, in
addition to needing volunteers to assist in relief work, LDR needs
congregations in or near affected areas that can host groups of volunteers.
Essentially, this means providing a floor to sleep on and other basic
hospitality.  Please recommend such congregations to Jennifer and me via
email as suggested above. 

*	In your role as Conference Dean, please also provide pastoral care
for rostered leaders in your conference who may be working hard to minister
to others.  If someone appears to need particular attention or respite of
some sort, please let me know so the bishop's office can assist in providing
that care. 

*	Because LDR is committed to addressing long-term recovery they will
soon be looking to hire a case manager to work for three months in southern
Indiana (in partnership with Jennifer Krieg, who lives in northern Indiana).
LDR needs to raise $3500 to cover this cost.  If you know anyone who might
be qualified for a position like this or you are willing to assist in
raising this money, please contact Jennifer at the email address above. 

I am grateful that just before this year's Synod Assembly a relationship was
established between Lutheran Disaster Response Indiana and the synod.  This
budding relationship has put us in a better position to respond more
effectively to disasters that occur on the territory of our synod.  During a
meeting yesterday with Jennifer Krieg (LDR Indiana Case Manager), Ron Warren
(former bishop of the Southeastern Synod, now LDR USA Liaison to Synods and
Bishops), and Ron Matthews (Trinity Seminary student who has been involved
with LDR OH) we read a scripture passage that I now share with you:

And after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who
has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore,
support, strengthen, and establish you. To him be the power forever and
ever. Amen.  [1 Peter 5:10-11]

Thank you for your partnership in this ministry of restoration, support, and
strengthening!

Grace, mercy and peace be with you,

Bill

Pastor Bill Gafkjen

Assistant to the Bishop

Director of Campus Ministry, Candidacy, Global Mission & Synod Assembly
Planning

Indiana-Kentucky Synod, ELCA

911 E 86th Street, Suite 200

Indianapolis, IN 46240

Phone: 317-253-3522

Fax: 317-254-5666

 <http://www.iksynod.org> www.iksynod.org

Empowering, equipping, and encouraging the people of God to make Christ
known.

Simply in God's Grace,

Karen Eppert

Admin. Asst. to Bishop Stuck

& Rev. Rudy Mueller

Indiana-Kentucky Synod, Elca

911 E 86th Street, Suite 200

Indianapolis IN  46240

317-253-3522

keppert at iksynod.org

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