Luther Institute Honors Lutheran World Relief, Three Leaders

Chicago (ELCA)-FI -- The Luther Institute awarded its 2002 Wittenberg Awards "for outstanding service to church and society" to Lutheran World Relief (LWR) and three individuals -- Dr. Joachim Gauck, the Rev. Arthur Simon and General John Vessey. The awards were presented Nov. 9 during a day of special programs in Washington, D.C.

The Luther Institute is an independent center for laity and clergy fostering education and research on social, educational and ethical issues in the public sphere. Based in Washington, the institute conducts programs to promote its mission and to encourage service to church and society.

The Wittenberg Awards were established in 1990 to recognize Lutherans from around the world for outstanding service to church and society.

Lutheran World Relief is based in Baltimore and works with partners in 50 countries in relief and development on behalf of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LCMS).

Kathryn F. Wolford, LWR president, and Norman E. Barth, former executive director of LWR, accepted the award.

"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 B. Schick, Luther Institute president. "LWR has been such a significant influence for good around the globe because so many have contributed and so many have benefited," he said.

LWR is only the second organization to receive the Wittenberg Award. The St. Olaf Choir, St. Olaf College, Northfield, Minn., received a 1999 Wittenberg Award. St. Olaf is one of 28 colleges and universities of the ELCA.

The other 2002 Wittenberg Award recipients were:

+ Dr. Joachim Gauck, German pastor, theologian, noted human rights activist and leader in the movement to unify Germany;

+ the Rev. Arthur Simon, LCMS pastor, author and founder of Bread for the World, a Christian advocacy network for ending hunger; and

+ General John Vessey, LCMS member, former Chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, involved in Missouri Synod efforts to double the number of students in Lutheran institutions of higher learning.

The Luther Institute sponsored a special public affairs seminar, featuring the award recipients the afternoon of Nov. 9. Participants viewed exhibits before the awards dinner that evening.

The awards are made possible with a grant from Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, a fraternal benefit society based in Minneapolis.