# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1962_S201
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

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200 UNPRINTED MEMORIALS

[1122]

Report Regarding Lutheran Senior Citizens’
Foundation and East Ridge Retirement
Village, Miami, Fla.

Within the past triennium a new Lutheran retire-
ment village has risen on a beautifully situated plot of
114 acres just south of Miami, Fla. This is East Ridge,
a Lutheran retirement village comprising various types
of residential accommodations to house a total of 396
retired couples and individuals.

East Ridge was organized in 1957 after a group of
Lutheran pastors and laymen had met at a Lutheran
Laymen’s League Senior Citizens’ workshop in Saint
Petersburg, Fla. East Ridge is sponsored by a federation
of Lutheran congregations holding membership in the
Florida-Georgia District of The Lutheran Church —
Missouri Synod. The Social Welfare Committee of the
Florida-Georgia District and the Department of Social
Welfare of The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod are
advisory bodies. The executive director of the Lutheran
Senior Citizens’ Foundation, Inc., is the Rev. Benjamin
F. Schumacher, formerly pastor of Holy Cross Lutheran
Church, North Miami, Fla.

Ground for the Lutheran retirement village was
broken on April 23, 1961. Construction was begun im-
mediately, and the dedication of various units has taken
place on March 18, 1962. At the same time the first
residents were formally admitted.

Center of the religious and spiritual activity at East
Ridge is the attractive chapel, constituting the focal
point of the entire community. The services of a chap-
lain will also be available to all residents. Lutherans
living at East Ridge will be encouraged to become
affiliated with Mount Olive Lutheran Church, 10875
Quail Roost Drive, Perrine, Fla.

Two plans are available for admittance to East Ridge.
Plan number one calls for the making of an initial pay-
ment of a founder’s fee in a lump sum, which entitles
the individual or couple to a lifelong lease on a living
accommodation. The second calls for a pay-as-you-go
plan, with a small admittance fee and continuing
monthly payments. In addition to the founder’s fee, or
the monthly pay-as-you-go fee, there is a monthly
maintenance cost for all services.

The board of directors of the Lutheran Senior Citi-
zens’ Foundation has also resolved to establish an en-
dowment fund to assist individuals and couples other-
wise unable to enter the East Ridge Retirement Village.
The endowment fund is especially intended to help
make it possible for veterans of the cross: retired pas-
tors, teachers, and their wives, to utilize the beautiful
facilities and services of East Ridge. The endowment
fund of the Lutheran Senior Citizens’ Foundation is
administered by The Lutheran Church — Missouri
Synod Foundation, 210 North Broadway, St. Louis 2, Mo.
Under God’s blessing it is planned to build up a per-
manent endowment, the income of which will be utilized
for the benefit of retired veterans of the cross.

At East Ridge, residents find a variety of accommo-
dations: apartments and individual homes for independ-
ent living, as well as rooms and suites of rooms in the
residence clubs. All have been designed and constructed
to assure maximum enjoyment and well-being for the
retired, as well as to preserve their sense of dignity and
self-worth. At East Ridge retired individuals and cou-
ples find a maximum of security, backed up by a full
range of service, comforts, and conveniences afforded
by the finest medical, clinical, and social-service care.

East Ridge, however, offers even more. It is a
church-operated retirement village, with Christ in the
center of its thinking and doing. It endeavors to grant
more than a simple solution to housing problems; it
offers the Christian love in all areas of need which we,
as recipients of our heavenly Father’s love, should show
to our fellow Christians.

We pray that the rich blessing of God may rest upon
the work of the East Ridge Lutheran Retirement Village
as it seeks to serve the aged within our church.

FEDERATION OF LUTHERAN CHURCHES FOR WELFARE
FLorma-GeorciA District
Tue LuTrHERAN CHURCH — Missourrt SyNnop
Rosert ZEHNDER, President
E. C. Kienincer, Vice-President
E. M. Lenmann, Secretary
Lreonarp G. McNen, Treasurer
ARTHUR WESCHE
JAMES VAUGHN
JAMES GUERNSEY
HERBERT GEYER
OrLYN SCHLIE
Epwarp TERRY
H. H. WrecHMANN
EuGENE HELMS
Wa ter Rota
B. F. Scoumacuer, Executive Director
{1123}

To Ask Lord’s Blessing upon East Ridge
Retirement Village, etc.

Wuereas, The need for services of Christian love to
the aged within our church is constantly growing and
a percentage of the elderly within our nation and church
will constantly rise during the coming decades; and

Whereas, The Federation of Lutheran Churches for
Welfare, Florida-Georgia District, have organized and
established East Ridge, a Lutheran Retirement village,
near Miami, Fla., as a Christian haven for the aged
within our church; therefore be it

Resolved, That The Lutheran Church — Missouri
Synod, in convention assembled at Cleveland, Ohio,
June 20—30, 1962, implore the blessing of the Lord of
the church upon the East Ridge Lutheran Retirement
Village and the activities of the Federation of Lutheran
Churches for Welfare, Florida-Georgia District; and
be it further

Resolved, That the Synod recognize the East Ridge