# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_1998_S88 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) 88 SYNODICAL REPORTS And the Point. Again... ... to promote and facilitate the professional growth and personal well-being of LCMS church workers for faithful, competent, and joyful ministry. The CMGS Includes CMGS Chair (and seminary representative) Bruce Schuchard CMGS Vice-Chair (and commissioned minister representative) Loma Meyer CMGS Corresponding Secretary (and college representative) David Zersen, - Parish pastor representative: Roger Gallup Parish pastor representative: Vacant Seminary representative: Dean Wenthe District President representative: Ray Hartwig Commissioned minister representative: William Dunk Lay representative: Robert Rodefeld Advisory Members: Robert King William Meyer Barbara Ryan Bruce Hartung Congregational Services (vacant) CMGS Staff: Bruce Hartung, Executive Director Sheila Soucy, Coordinator Janet Dotterweich, Secretary (part-time) Bruce Schuchard, Chairman Bruce Hartung, Executive Director R6-01 Board for Human Care Ministries The Board for Human Care Ministries responds to God’s love in Christ by expressing and demonstrating His love and compas- sion in meeting human needs. Human Care Ministries reaches throughout the United States and “‘to the ends of the earth,” build- ing its work on the words of our Lord: “I have come, so that they may have life and have it to the full” (John 10:10). Human Care Ministries flows primarily from the second of the Synod’s five vision statements, which calls for a church body that is people-sensitive and people-centered. Expected outcomes of Human Care Ministry for the next triennium are as follows: ¢ Enriched lives for all people, especially those that are dimin- ished, or at risk of being diminished, by physical and/or emo- tional brokenness, poverty, injustices, and other societal prob- lems and issues. ¢ Improved health and weliness for all people, including - professional church workers and their households - laity and their households - community households ¢ Recognized service organizations that extend the church’s mis- sion and ministry. * Christian individuals and groups who care about others and ex- press that care through their actions, including prayer, lifestyle, and gifts. * A caring society that reflects God’s ongoing concern for all peo- ple. ¢ A fair and improving cost for the outcome achieved. Family and ethnic ministry focus. Because all Human Care Ministries work is people-centered, each of Human Care’s five major units reaches out in a variety of ways to families and people of ethnic/cross-cultural backgrounds. Some examples include the following: church, social ministry, and education leaders from throughout the country are scheduled to come together to address the critical needs of at-risk children at a national symposium (March 1998) co-sponsored by Human Care’s Children at Risk Task Force. Nineteen church-related groups were awarded more than $304,000 in New Mission and Ministry Grants from LCMS World Relief to focus on ethnic and cross-cultural ministry and to start or re-start churches in the United States. Social ministry organizations across the country are immersed in ethnic ministry, both in terms of the ministry “doers” and the ministry recipients. Low-income families are another key concern. as Human Care’s new Task Force on the Church and Welfare Re- form encourages congregations to reach out more to struggling families as the government provides less. Many more examples of family and ethnic/cross-cultural ministries are detailed below. Human Care Ministries’ five major programs are as fol- lows: I. Committee on Districts and Congregations (CODAC) Supports and serves Districts and congregations as those entities do human care ministry in their own churches and communities. Past Triennium Accomplishments * 100 church and lay leaders gained insight into human care policy on church and government relations as proposed in the Commis- sion on Theology and Church Relations document, “Render unto Caesar ... and unto God,” at the “Who Speaks for the Church?” conference (March 1996, St. Louis, Mo.). ¢ 50 District Human Care Ministry executives and representatives examined human care relationships in the midst of change at a conference (August 1997, St. Louis, Mo.) in conjunction with the Great Commission Convocation. District Human Care executives/chairpersons participated in quarterly telephone surveys to network ideas and exchange in- formation. * More than 3,250 Christian citizens were informed of government and human care issues and encouraged to voice opinions by “Speak Up” bimonthly newsletter. Next Triennium Goals and Challenges ¢ Enriched lives for those presently diminished by poverty, injus- tices, and other societal problems and issues. ¢ Outreach human care ministries that meet the needs of individu- als and families within their neighborhoods, communities, re- gions, the United States and throughout the world. ¢ Older adult ministries that provide opportunities for effective use of time and gifts within the church and society. ¢ Affordable housing and housing ministries for low-income fam- ilies. * Districts and congregations equipped for human care ministry. a. Committee on Housing Ministry—provides long-term tech- nical support and housing information to congregations, Districts and social ministry organizations that help provide affordable hous- ing for lower income people. Past Triennium Accomplishments * More than 600 LCMS congregations involved in housing min- istry activities. * 170 decent, affordable housing units completed through LCMS Low Income Housing Loans in Memphis, Tenn., and Brooklyn, N.Y. * More than 150 people from 25 states participated in first national Lutheran Housing Ministries convocation (September 1995). ¢ 250 volunteers from LCMS congregations did servant events sponsored by 15 St. Louis congregations at 40 urban work sites as part of 1997 Great Commission Convocation. * More than 1,800 people learn of news and resources from “Hous- ing Information for Ministry” newsletter. People in 10 cities and 1 rural community learned about housing ministry through on-site consultations; others attended 5 work- shops and 6 exhibits on housing ministry.