Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Division for Global Mission

Mission efforts in Mozambique involving the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) began in 1988 when the Lutheran Church Working Committee for Mozambique invited the ELCA and other churches and agencies to participate in the Joint Mission Board for Mozambique. The ELCA was a founding member of the board and it signed a "declaration of partnership in mission." In 1989 the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Mozambique (ELCM) formed and the support provided by the ELCA was primarily financial. It sent funds to the mission board through the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) and this continued after the ELCM formed. During the early 1990s, the ELCA did not pursue an active relationship with the ELCM and it was not until 1993 when a relationship of support was established through a "south-south" relationship between the ELCM and the Evangelical Church of the Lutheran Confession in Brazil. A south-south mission relationship is a partnership that takes place between two churches that were once mission starts themselves.

In 1988, the first year of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, its Division for Global Mission (DGM) work related to the provision of financial assistance for ELCM transmitted through the LWF fell under the responsibility of the area secretaries for Africa. The Rev. James L. Knutson was responsible for coordinating ELCA mission support for Mozambique. Quickly a new work area that included Mozambique was created in 1989 -- French-speaking and Southern Africa. Pastor James L. Knutson remained the area secretary in charge of this work until 1990 when the Rev. Daniel W. Olson assumed responsibility when the work was transferred to the Area Secretary for Africa (English-speaking Africa). This program restructured again in 1992 and was renamed English-speaking West Africa and Southern Africa. Pastor Olson remained in charge of Mozambique support until 1998 when the Rev. Benyam A. Kassahun assumed responsibility. In 2002-2003, there was a restructuring in DGM and responsibility for Mozambique mission support was located in the Southern Africa program area. Pastor Kassahun remained the program director, a position still held as of 2008.

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