See also AUG 24/8 Background, LCA 16/5/1/2 Background, LCA 28/2/3/1 Background, and TALC 14/6/7 Background.
In 1988, the first year of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, its Division for Global Mission (DGM) work related to mission activities in Tanzania fell under the responsibility of the area secretary for Africa. Quickly a new work area that included Tanzania was created in 1989 - Middle East and East Africa. Carol J. Birkland was its area secretary from 1988-1991. This work area restructured again in 1992. Middle East work transferred to another area and the Caribbean was added to the East Africa program area. Lynda M. Tidemann was the program director for East Africa and the Caribbean, and eventually Mexico, from 1992-1996. In 1997 this work area was restructured to include East Africa, Papua New Guinea, and the South Pacific. Lynda M. Tidemann remained the program director and Tanzania work remained in this work area. This arrangement lasted until 2002-2003, when there was a restructuring in DGM and responsibility for Tanzania mission work was transferred to the newly created Africa and East Africa Desk where it remains as of 2007. Gaylord M. Thomas became the director of this desk in 2003, a position still held as of 2007.
From the description of Tanzania Records 1975-2005; 1988-2002 (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Library). WorldCat record id: 190811465
