LWR To Receive Wittenberg Award

Baltimore, October 22, 2002 -- Lutheran World Relief is to receive The Luther Institute's annual Wittenberg Award for "distinguished service to church and society."

"This is an award not to one or two people, but to the hundreds and thousands of people who are Lutheran World Relief," said Dr. Edgar Schick, the Institute's president. "LWR has been such a significant influence for good around the globe because so many have contributed and so many have benefited." The award will be made November 9, 2002, in Washington, D.C.

Honorees this year also include Dr. Arthur Simon, founder of Bread for the World; Dr. Joachim Gauck, a pastor and leader in the reunification of Germany; and General John Vessey, a leader in strengthening the education work of The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod and former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

LWR is only the second organization to receive the Wittenberg Award. Three LWR board members are past recipients: the current chairperson Betty Duda, in 1991; a former chairperson, Dr. Robert Marshall, in 1992; and current member, Rev. April Larson, in 1998. The Luther Institute is an inter-Lutheran center for education and research.