ELCA NEWS SERVICE
June 2, 2010
ELCA Ministries Benefit from Thrivent Financial Member Vote
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Three ministries of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) will receive financial benefits thanks to members of Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, a not-for-profit financial services membership organization based in Minneapolis.
Thrivent members recently voted how they wanted to distribute $1 million among 10 national charities through a new program called "Thrivent Choice," according to a June 1 Thrivent news release. Funds were distributed to the organizations based on the percentage of votes they received, the release said.
A total of 150,199 members voted in the inaugural "Thrivent Choice Voting Event," between April 19 and May 21, the release said.
Three ministries of the ELCA will receive a combined total of $323,763:
+ $147,242 to Lutheran Disaster Response, a collaborative ministry of the ELCA and The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LCMS)
+ $145, 345 to the ELCA World Hunger Program
+ $31,176 to the Lutheran Malaria Initiative, a collaborative effort of the ELCA, the LCMS and Lutheran World Relief, in partnership with the United Nations Foundation, to mobilize Lutherans to fight malaria.
"We are deeply appreciative of Thrivent members who voted for all of these worthy causes," said the Rev. Kevin A. Massey, director, Lutheran Disaster Response and ELCA Domestic Disaster Response. "Lutheran Disaster Response will put this gift to very good use responding to the needs of individuals, families and communities affected by disaster."
The Rev. Daniel Rift, director, ELCA World Hunger Appeal, said the hunger program is grateful for the "help and hope" brought about as a result of the Thrivent initiative. "We estimate that by their selection over 48,000 members provided almost $7 each for ELCA World Hunger or the complementing work of Lutheran Disaster Response and the Lutheran Malaria Initiative. Even more meaningful than these gifts are the votes of confidence and prayerful support of these members. That commitment and prayer for the work of the church is beyond measure," he said.
"We're very appreciative to Thrivent and Thrivent Choice for these funds," said the Rev. Andrea DeGroot-Nesdahl, coordinator, Lutheran Malaria Initiative, ELCA Office of the Presiding Bishop. "We look forward to greater recognition of the Lutheran Malaria Initiative as we roll out this initiative in the coming months."
The 10 organizations and the total funds they received are:
+ LCMS World Relief and Human Care, $192,122
+ Lutheran Disaster Response, $147,242
+ ELCA World Hunger, $145,345
+ Habitat for Humanity International, $114,212
+ LCMS World Mission, $112,315
+ Feed My Starving Children, $99,465
+ American Heart Association, $67,854
+ Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS) Committee on Relief - $57,281
+ WELS Humanitarian Aid Committee, $32,987
+ Lutheran Malaria Initiative, $31,176
Thrivent Financial said it will launch a second aspect of Thrivent Choice later this summer called "Choice Dollars."
"Eligible benefit members will be able to help direct funds to thousands of Lutheran nonprofit organizations, including Lutheran congregations," the release said.
