Lutheran World Relief

It began in the rubble of Europe after World War II. Korea, India, Palestine, Vietnam, Ethiopia, Sudan, Liberia, the Philippines, Rwanda, the Balkans, have just been a few of the places trending towards despair and misery that have felt the touch of hope brought by Lutheran World Relief since V-E and V-J days.

Lutheran World Relief (LWR) is the relief and development organization supported consis-tently throughout its history by the Lutheran Churches of the United States. In the begin-ning of its service, LWR emphasized relief to the many places in the world where suffering was acute; where victims of war needed assistance; and where natural disasters struck, leav-ing local populations overwhelmed by need.

By the 1960’s and 1970’s, LWR emphasized “development” as an essential element of its mission. Water projects, community development, women’s employment, agricultural proj-ects all became staples of LWR’s work for the world.

As the world’s needs became more complex, LWR had the flexibility of agency and the fore-sight of leadership to move into new fields. Conflict resolution and peace-building were not only the prerogatives of states, but central to building thriving civil societies. Election over-sight, capacity building, governance, sustainable practices, and gender equity have been added to the cadre or skills and experiences that Lutheran World Relief offers when serving the peoples’ needs.

It would be difficult to point at the organization’s finest achievements, for there are so many! Everyone associated with the organization could tell stories of blessing, hope, and grace. That continuity of excellence and care for God’s people makes LWR a corporate person of love—the gospel in action.

Representing LWR are its current President and CEO, Dr. Kathryn Wolford, who has been its leader since 1994, former President and CEO of LWR during the 1980’s, Dr. Norman Barth, and Board Chair, Mrs. Elizabeth Duda, known to her many friends as Betty. President Wolford comes with a lifetime of experience in the field of development assistance. Dr. Barth brought a U.S. State Department career into the world of LWR. Mrs. Duda (a past Wittenberg Awardee, Director on the Board of the combined Fraternal, Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, and an active Lutheran laywoman) chairs the LWR Board of Directors and heads her own Agri-busi-ness corporation in Florida. Previous Board Chairs and Board Members make up a Lutheran “Who’s Who” of committed servant leaders!