New executive director for CLWR

CLWR’s new Executive Director Rev. Dr. Karin Achtelstetter and CLWR President Marcus Busch

WINNIPEG — The Board of Directors of Canadian Lutheran World Relief (CLWR) announced the appointment of Rev. Dr. Karin Achtelstetter as CLWR’s incoming Executive Director. She will begin her service February 5, 2018 allowing a six-week overlap with retiring Executive Director Robert Granke.

Outgoing Lutheran Church–Canada President, Dr. Robert Bugbee, noted, “CLWR has had a long history of addressing human need ever since its original work with refugees and displaced persons after the Second World War” and observed that in recent years, the agency has “rededicated itself to a renewed effort in priorities like that.” He said that Lutheran Church–Canada is “deeply grateful for the wise and collegial leadership of Robert Granke, for his dedication to the agency’s mission and his sensitivity to the faith convictions of our church. It is clear that CLWR has found a gifted and experienced leader in Dr. Achtelstetter, and we are very hopeful that the strong ties between the agency and LCC will continue under her guidance.”

Currently the General Secretary of the World Association for Christian Communication (WACC), Rev. Dr. Achtelstetter brings to the position extensive experience working with CLWR partners including The Lutheran World Federation, ACT Alliance and the World Council of Churches. Through her years of executive leadership and serving as a Lutheran pastor she has firsthand experience working with churches, grassroots communities, and project partners around the world. Dr. Achtelstetter also holds various post-graduate degrees and certificates from universities in England, Germany and the U.S.

CLWR’s President Marcus Busch observed that “CLWR has been blessed with outstanding executive leadership during its 70-year history. The recent appointment of the Rev. Dr. Karin Achtelstetter as the agency’s next Executive Director continues that line of blessing.”

Canadian Lutheran World Relief is an agency of Lutheran Church–Canada (LCC) and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada (ELCIC) conducting international development, refugee support and resettlement, and emergency relief work on behalf of both Canadian church bodies.

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