National Lutheran Council. Division of Lutheran World Federation Affairs. Dept. of Lutheran World Service.

The National Lutheran Council (NLC) was established on September 6, 1918 as a common agency of participating Lutheran church bodies to administer domestic programs, publicize Lutheran activities and beliefs, and provide overseas emergency relief to areas devastated by World War I. Its Department of Lutheran World Service was established in 1956 as part of the NLC's newly created Division of Lutheran World Federation Affairs. The Department cooperated with and assisted the Lutheran World Federation's Department of World Service. Bernard A. Confer served as secretary of the Department for the entirety of its existence (1956-1966).