Bishop Hanson's letter on the first anniversary of the 2005 Gulf Coast hurricanes
Bishop Hanson's letter on the first anniversary of
the 2005 Gulf Coast hurricanes
August 16, 2006
Dear sisters and brothers in Christ,
"Every generous act of giving, with every perfect gift, is
from above." James 1:17a
Today, I echo the words of James as I remember the events
related to the Gulf Coast hurricanes and flooding one year ago.
When Hurricane Katrina struck on August 28, 2005, followed first
by flooding and then by Hurricane Rita, the powerful devastating
force that swept through the Gulf Coast shocked and saddened us
all. Yet I have witnessed the resilience of ELCA congregations
in affected communities, which have confronted the losses in
their personal lives while also responding to the outpouring of
offers for assistance. The two synods most affected
(Texas-Louisiana-Gulf Coast and Southeastern) have, in
collaboration with social ministry organizations and Lutheran
Disaster Response, responded immediately and have continued to
minister to the congregations, communities, and rostered people
affected by the hurricanes.
The response from the congregations and members of the
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America to this disaster has been
powerful and overwhelming. For this generosity of spirit, I am
thankful.
Thank you for your financial gifts that total over $25
million to-date to ELCA Domestic Disaster Response and Lutheran
Disaster Response. Your gifts have sufficiently funded a
multi-year response plan in the Gulf Coast which includes
bringing help and hope through grants to families and
individuals, establishing emergency relief centers, supporting
volunteers, and providing spiritual and emotional care for
disaster survivors and caregivers.
Thank you for your willing hands and feet and for the
15,000 volunteers who have contributed 500,000 hours of
volunteer service. Lutheran volunteers, including 1,100 students
from our colleges, universities, and campus ministries, endured
grueling, hot work to help repair the homes and communities of
Gulf Coast neighbors they might never meet. The need is great,
and so I am grateful that many have signed up to volunteer not
in the last year, but for years to come.
Thank you for our disaster partners who ministered to
hurricane survivors in the Gulf Coast and beyond and who
continue to walk with survivors as they rebuild their lives in
the Gulf Coast or in new locations. With ecumenical partners, we
are advocating for affordable housing and justice as communities
rebuild.
Thank you for your prayers, for safety for those
affected, for comfort for those who lost loved ones, and for
gratitude for God's abundant love and compassion.
"But be doers of the word and not merely hearers." James 1:22a
Yet even while rejoicing at the
abundant generosity of this church, many of us struggle with the
painful knowledge that poverty and inequality exacerbated the
storms' impact. In addition to the strong winds and rain, the
hurricanes shocked many with a glimpse of poverty close to home
and underscore the need for a heightened commitment to fighting
the "silent disaster" of chronic hunger and poverty.
As individuals and congregations, remember that your gifts and
voice do make a difference through this church's advocacy
efforts and support for ELCA World Hunger Appeal and ELCA
Disaster Response. Support for ELCA Disaster Response helps
prepare for and respond to the next disaster, wherever and
whenever it is needed most. Find more information on our
response to domestic and international disasters at
www.elca.org/disaster,
including a reproducible insert on our Gulf Coast hurricane
response.
As we commemorate the events of a year ago on the Gulf Coast, we
give thanks for this church's generous response and for God's
compassionate presence among those who continue to struggle.
Your gifts continue to make a difference.
In God's grace,
The Rev. Mark S. Hanson
Presiding Bishop
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
Also available in PDF format and Word format.