Diakonia

"Diakonia" means service. The ELCA is called to do God’s work in the world – restoring and reconciling communities. We pursue justice and seek peace no matter how long the journey or how wide the chasm.

What we do:

• Help communities escape poverty and improve their quality of life through rights- and asset-based sustainable development.
• Support communities as they work to obtain justice and security in their daily lives, claim their human or legal rights, resolve conflicts, and build peace.
• Assist families and communities to rebuild just and dignified livelihoods following disasters and humanitarian crises.
• Encourage ELCA members to engage in "diakonia" (service) with increased knowledge and competence with a commitment to a culture of mutual learning.

ELCA Global Mission pursues these goals in stewarding gifts to ELCA World Hunger, Lutheran Disaster Response -- International and the ELCA Malaria Campaign.

We start by listening. Our companion churches – such as other members of The Lutheran World Federation  and international ecumenical organizations – identify the needs of their communities in their local context. We provide technical support, planning and project development as necessary, and accountability standards. In this way, our team stewards approximately $18 million of ELCA members’ gifts to ELCA World Hunger and the ELCA Malaria Campaign each year.

We also coordinate the ELCA’s international disaster response through Lutheran Disaster Response. The ELCA is a member of ACT Alliance, a global coalition of churches and affiliated organizations that coordinates work in humanitarian aid, development and advocacy. Lutheran Disaster Response – International contributes to disaster response efforts of ACT Alliance, The Lutheran World Federation and the ELCA’s partners in times of need.

Underpinning all these efforts is our role and expertise in developing and promoting the ELCA’s global planning, monitoring and evaluation systems. A firm foundation in these systems ensures that the church’s international development and disaster response work is in alignment with the priorities of both the ELCA and its companions, is grounded in international standards and best practices and is results-oriented.