# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_1998_S90 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) 90 SYNODICAL REPORTS less and by advocating for dignity and justice for all people. Social Ministry Organizations also promotes, nurtures, and supports strong relationships among LCMS recognized social ministry or- ganizations, congregations, Districts, other involved church bod- ies, and Lutheran Services in America (LSA). Past Triennium Accomplishments * Alliance launched of more than 280 social ministry organizations recognized by the LCMS or affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) through new Lutheran Services in America (LSA). The alliance strengthens Lutheran social service agencies’ relationships with the church and creates one strong voice for greater impact on government policy. ¢ Services expanded to social ministry organizations through LSA, including the following: board self-assessment, church relation- ship consultation, corporate services, crisis intervention and/or interim management, executive job description/performance re- view, executive transition issues, human resources consultation, organizational and management assessment'raining, special or- ganization projects, strategic planning, board training on role/re- sponsibilities. * Two million people served annually through social ministry or- ganizations that provide more than $3 billion in services. Ser- vices include the following: adult and child day care; advocacy; alcohol and substance abuse services/addiction counseling; AIDS ministries; chaplain services; residential care and services for children, older adults and persons with disabilities; community and congregation care teams; consultation and development pro- grams for pastors/congregations/community groups; counsel- ing/behavior health services; disaster services; employment ser- vices; food/shelter/emergency aid; foster care and adoption; home health care; hospice; housing; life enrichment programs; ombudsman services; prison ministries; refugee resettlement, shelters, and more. * Through granting of recognized service organization status, en- vironment promoted in which racial, ethnic, and cultural diver- sity is understood, respected, and observed. * “Why We Do What We Do” video (produced with AAL fund- ing) aimed at helping 95,000 social ministry organization staff people grow in understanding of their work as ministry and in motivation to even greater ministry. Next Triennium Goals and Challenges * Increased service and witness to God’s people in church and so- ciety through working effectively with LSA. * Recruitment and leadership/management development a priority for social ministry organization personnel. Continued services provided to social ministry organizations, in- cluding consultation and board/staff training. Increasingly effective working relationships among social min- istry organizations, Districts and congregations. * Social ministry organizations related to LCMS congregations identified and encouraged to apply for recognized service orga- nization status. ¢ Social ministry organizations assisted as resources in extending congregations’ ministry and outreach. III. Specialized Pastoral Care and Clinical Education (SPCCE) Includes ministries in specialized settings other than the con- gregation, including (but not limited to) chaplains in hospitals, mental health centers, hospices, prisons and long-term care facili- ties, businesses, police and fire departments, and often forgotten areas like seaports. SPCCE also includes pastoral counseling min- istries, both agency and congregation-based. SPCCE ministries serve places that may not otherwise be served by the church and people who are characterized by isolation, bro- ken spirits and lives, and increased vulnerabilities. - Past Triennium Accomplishments ¢ A SPCCE coordinator or executive chaplain identified in each District. More than 100 District SPCCE leaders and their ELCA counter- parts trained at national conference sponsored by Inter-Lutheran Coordinating Committee on Specialized Pastoral Care and Clin- ical Education. “Ecclesiastical Endorsement for Specialized Pastoral Care” re- vised following lengthy review. ¢ Streamlined Ecclesiastical Endorsement manual developed for use with District presidents and SPCCE personnel. * Increased value of vicarage year through “dual” vicarages that combine vicarage year with Clinical Pastoral Education intern- ship, offering both congregational and institutional experience; established with seminary cooperation. * Groundwork laid to increase communications with previously underserved SPCCE ministries, including workplace, police and fire department chaplains, and maritime ministries. * SPCCE database developed to identify issues related to creden- tialing, personnel strengths and weaknesses, and geographic ser- vice areas. ¢ Through Ministry to Prisons, Crime, and Justice Task Force, lending library and compendium of resources developed for con- tact person in each District. Need for justice system that is “restorative” rather than retribu- tive promoted. Next Triennium Goals and Challenges * Credentials of those serving in SPCCE fostered and monitored. « Leadership of Lutherans in SPCCE strengthened to positively impact human service delivery systems. ¢« SPCCE caregivers remain theologically and scripturally grounded in world dominated by secularism. SPCCE skills actively engaged in the daily life of congregations and Districts. ¢ SPCCE caregivers’ spirits strengthened in the face of profound and threatening changes in human care, corrections, and human services delivery. Scholarship funds for those seeking training to enter SPCCE. IV. LCMS Health Ministries Promotes the vision of stewardship of the gift of life and the journey toward the individual Christian’s wholeness in the context of the community of believers, encouraging the whole church to address this vision. Past Triennium Accomplishments * 4] LCMS Health Advocates trained to develop local health and wellness initiatives for professional church workers, their spouses, and their families. Twenty-eight Districts have health advocates, whose role includes networking with health profes- sionals, providing resources and raising awareness of health and wellness issues. Plans call for the training of additional advocates in 1998 and an opportunity for health advocates to convene for networking and continuing education. District health cabinets formed to focus on church worker health and wellness issues. “Healthy Leaders/Healthy Church” workshop manual to help Districts and congregations launch health and wellness initia- tives. « Parish nursing leaders convened to develop a strategic plan for the future of parish nursing, which has developed a strong pres- ence in hundreds of congregations. “Parish Nurse Newsletter” reaches 1,110 people. * Active District ministerial health committees. “Gesundheit” bi- monthly newsletter shares news and resources with more than 300 District ministerial health leaders .