National Lutheran Council. Division of Lutheran World Federation Affairs. Office of International Exchange.

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. In 1956, the NLC created an administrative assistant position devoted to the management and direction of its exchange programs, including the Lutheran World Federation-Department of World Mission Exchange and the Lutheran World Federation-Department of World Service Church Workers Exchange. Ruth C. Wick officially assumed the position in 1957.