Dear People of Southwest California Synod,

I hope and pray you are all safe and well this day as I write this communiqué on Friday, August 21. Today, sadly, our attention is turned toward the fires that are devastating huge parts of the landscape of the Southwest. We have seen the orange sunrises and sunsets. We have cleaned the ashes from our cars. We have sensed the smoke in the air. The news this morning said nearly 1,000,000 acres are ablaze from Colorado to California. The series of fires in Southern California over the last several weeks came very near our Lutheran camp in Glenoaks. 

But now the most devastating destruction is again happening in the northern part of our state. These all too frequent occurrences over the past years continues to leave hundreds, sometimes thousands of people homeless and without any of the necessities of life as the wind-driven fires rage through wilderness land and into neighborhoods and communities, destroying everything in their path. During Covid-19, retreating from the wildfires to a sheltering school gymnasium opens the possibility of yet another crisis.

Thankfully, there are responses being put into place allowing us in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America to come to the aid of those adversely affected. The Bishops of the five synods of Region 2 that serve the eight states of the Southwest and Hawaii are in communication with each other. We are talking with Lutheran Disaster Response. Early Monday morning a meeting will take place with those of us in the region and the people connected with various response teams of the ELCA.

I have worn the shirt pictured above a number of times in the past years… on the island of Kawai following hurricane Iniki; in San Diego; Fallbrook; Upland and the San Bernardino Mountains following fires in the Pacifica Synod; and in New Orleans following Katrina, just  to name a few. I want to put this shirt on now and go somewhere where I can be helpful, but today I do not believe that is possible. Instead I have gone to elca.org and made a contribution.

If you individually or congregationally are able to help with a gift, I suggest going to elca.org, and click on Lutheran Disaster Response, where you will see several different opportunities allowing you to make a donation. One of those opportunities is U.S. Wildfires. When you click on that link, it gives you the opportunity to fill in the information and to make your donation by credit card. You may also send a check by mail or call by phone to make a contribution as those possibilities are listed toward the bottom of the message page. I invite you and urge you to respond in any way possible with a gift of any size to assist with care and compassion to those in need as all or most of their earthly belongings have been reduced to ashes. Let us also hold in our hearts and prayers the many people so tragically affected these trying days.

Thank you for whatever responses you are able to offer. May God continue to bless and keep you this weekend and in the days to come.

Bishop Murray D. Finck