# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_2010_S108 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) 108 SYNOD REPORTS • With Social Ministry Organizations Manager Dorothy Krans, developed an Older Adult Ministry process to assess congregational and community needs, including opportunities for involving seniors in Christian service. • Provided community assessments and organizing principles services to the National Lutheran Housing Support Corp. • Consulted with districts and congregations seeking to develop outreach to Latinos. • Provided deaconess training in Panama and Argentina on the theology and practice of mercy in congregational settings. • Developed a domestic abuse prevention workshop with Task Force on Domestic Abuse members. International LCMS World Relief and Human Care’s international activities continued to implement the new paradigm that emphasizes the ministry’s core values of mercy, fidelity, integrity, and capacity. LCMS WR-HC recruited and deployed international staff to build the ministry’s capacity—as well as the capacity of LCMS partners—to reach out in mercy to those in need around the world. Through these partnerships, LCMS WR-HC ensures theological fidelity and financial integrity in a process now termed “Lutheran Accompaniment.” Past Triennium Major Accomplishments • Internationally deployed staff directly oversees all international projects. This new capacity has enabled LCMS WR-HC to identify and engage dedicated Lutheran partners around the world with unprecedented accountability. Agreements are signed, projects are visited, and reports are obtained. Viable partners are distinguished from unviable ones as healthy relationships grow based on accountability, Lutheran fidelity, and mutual respect. • As a result of increased capacity, LCMS WR-HC retains and manages more of the resources entrusted to this ministry so that strategic partners such as LCMS World Mission and official LCMS partner churches receive more projects funded by LCMS WR-HC than ever before. • Increased capacity also resulted in concrete benefits for LCMS WR-HC donors. Most important, LCMS WR-HC has elevated the priority and importance of projects clearly associated with Lutheran Word and Sacrament ministry whenever possible. In addition, LCMS WR-HC has achieved a significant increase in efficiency by partnering directly with local Lutheran partners. • Gained access to previously “closed” countries because of LCMS WR-HC’s new paradigm and identity as a distinct, international relief organization with its own operational capacity. Next Triennium Major Goals • Continue to strengthen partnerships with international partners in response to need and the wishes of dedicated donors. • Continue to build international operational capacity to the benefit of the LCMS, other Lutheran churches, and, most importantly, the needy people of the world. Disaster Response As the disaster response arm of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, LCMS World Relief and Human Care works through a broad network of diverse partners to alleviate human suffering and enable people to build or regain self-sufficiency following natural and man-made disasters or emergencies. These key partners include Lutheran World Relief (LWR), Lutheran Disaster Response (LDR), Recognized Service Organizations (RSO), and other faith-based agencies, as well as governmental agencies such as the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and nongovernmental agencies such as the Red Cross and National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster. The mission of the church through LCMS WR-HC is to reach out in mercy and compassion to those in need, motivated by and in the clear name of Christ and His Gospel, and according to the Lutheran confession of faith. The local church has an opportunity to reach out and minister to those in need—whether Lutherans or non-Lutherans—while state and national relief efforts are being mobilized. The church’s response to a disaster is a commitment and witness to the Gospel of Jesus Christ to assist those affected by the disaster. LCMS WR-HC provides funding and direction to districts and congregations as they reach out to their communities with solid spiritual care and timely disaster relief. Past Triennium Major Accomplishments • Working with LCMS districts, formed a network of trained district disaster response coordinators and teams. • Held two District Disaster Response Coordinators conferences in St. Louis to provide training for the coordinators and to develop strong working relationships, which increases LCMS capacity. • Continued to expand LCMS disaster response capacity by developing close partnerships with agencies and entities such as governmental and nongovernmental organizations (such as FEMA and the Red Cross) and other faith-based disaster related entities (such as LDR, LWR, the Salvation Army), and our RSOs throughout the United States (such as Lutheran Social Services of the South, Peace Officer Ministries, Lutheran Services of Florida, Orphan Grain Train, Lutheran Child and Family Services of Missouri). • Developed two separate training courses for congregations entitled “Congregational Preparedness” and “Lutheran Early Response Team Training,” which are currently being taught by the District Disaster Response Coordinators and District Disaster Response Teams network. • Developed “Disaster Kit” program. (This includes a partnership with the LWML, where Disaster Response distributed 3,000 kits at the LWML convention, which were then completed and given to shut-in and elderly congregation members, among others.) • In partnership with Orphan Grain Train, developed a “Flood Bucket” program, which is being expanded to the LCMS WR-HC online store. Specialized Pastoral Ministry LCMS World Relief and Human Care recruits rostered ministers of religion for ministry in institutional chaplaincy, pastoral counseling, and clinical education and facilitates the process of ecclesiastical endorsement for these ministries. Our more than 500 chaplains and pastoral counselors serve as “domestic missionaries,” touching the lives of many at their most stressful and vulnerable moments. Chaplains and pastoral counselors serve in hospitals, nursing home and retirement centers, parishes, counseling agencies, businesses, law enforcement agencies, fire and rescue agencies, hospice centers, jails and prisons, and workplaces. Having received specialized clinical training, chaplains and pastoral counselors listen with the ears of Christ as they hear the cares and burdens of those to whom they minister. They reflect His mercy and compassion as they offer support and care, bringing words of forgiveness, life, and hope through Jesus Christ. Those who teach chaplaincy and pastoral counseling ministry prepare our rostered ministers of religion and our seminary and dea- 2010 Convention Workbook 2010 Convention.indb 108 4/15/10 2:38 PM