Established in 1977 as the successor body of the U.S.A. National Committee of the Lutheran World Federation (USANC), Lutheran World Ministries (LWM) was a joint agency of the Lutheran Church in America, The American Lutheran Church, and the Association of Evangelical Lutheran Churches. Its programs focused on world mission, theological and social study, volunteer service, publicity and communication, and international scholarship exchange. EDCS was founded in 1974 by the World Council of Churches as a financial channel through which community development projects and programs of the poor, particularly those of marginalized.
Communities of the Third World, were supported. Lutheran World Ministries participated in EDCS activities. LWM General Secretary Paul A. Wee served on the EDCS Board of Directors from 1983-1985. LWM was terminated in 1977 with the establishment of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.
From the description of Ecumenical Development Cooperative Society Files, 1975-1987. (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Library). WorldCat record id: 37505472
