(For history of the Lutheran Council in the USA (LCUSA), see OCLC #38889555.) In 1973, the LCUSA's Division of Mission Services and Division of Welfare Services merged to become the Division of Mission and Ministry (DMM). DMM conducted regional mission planning consultations, clinical pastoral education work, social ministry programs, and cooperative work with LCUSA related agencies regarding domestic disasters, housing, ministry with veterans, and social services. The WBE program was established in 1961 as an independent agency founded primarily by The American Lutheran Church pastors and lay persons for the recruitment and placement of volunteers around the world. In 1963, the WBE and NLC-Division of Lutheran World Federation Affairs, Department of World Missions Cooperation integrated much of their volunteer work.
When in 1967, the NLC became the LCUSA, the WBE became an office under the LCUSA Division of Mission Services and in 1973, under the DMM. After the LCMS withdrew from LCUSA mission work, the WBE was transferred in 1976 to the U.S.A. National Committee of the Lutheran World Federation and in 1977 to the USANC's successor body, Lutheran World Ministries. See LWM 9 (OCLC #'s 37511147, 37511100, 377411439), for records regarding WBE after 1977. The LCUSA was terminated in 1987 at the founding of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA).
From the description of Subject Files, 1959-1977. (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Library). WorldCat record id: 38922441
