LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2010, Page 109

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SYNOD REPORTS
coness students as they teach the art of integrating our rich Lutheran
theology with effective interpersonal skills.
Past Triennium Major Accomplishments

• Generous grants from the Schwan Foundation and A. E. Finley
Foundation enabled LCMS World Relief and Human Care to form
a task force with representation of chaplains, pastoral counselors, clinical pastoral educators, seminary representatives, and the
Council of Presidents with the goal of developing a plan to increase
interest in specialized pastoral ministry among seminary students
and deaconess students, as well as rostered church workers already
serving in parish ministry.
• The Board for Human Care Ministries approved submitting an
overture to this triennial convention that will amend the Bylaws,
thus enabling the Board for Human Care Ministries to extend calls
to those who serve in specialized pastoral ministry and who have
received ecclesiastical endorsement through the BHCM. Many rostered church workers currently serve in these full-time ministries
without call.
Next Triennium Major Goal

• Continue to develop interest in specialized pastoral ministry
through scholarships and work closely with seminary and deaconess students.
• Extend calls to those who meet criteria.
Task Force on Domestic Violence and Child Abuse
A task force was formed to respond to 2007 convention Res. 6-06,
“To Develop Domestic and Child Abuse Education Materials and
Programs,” which mandated the Board for Human Care Ministries to
appoint a committee to examine the issues of domestic violence and
child abuse; to provide materials and train individuals to assist LCMS
districts, congregations, and schools in addressing abuse and ministering to the spiritual needs of those affected by abuse; to make these
materials and training available to seminary and professional church
worker students; and to consult with the Commission on Theology
and Church Relations in examining these issues and comment specifically on the topics of forgiveness, repentance, and reconciliation
in the context of abuse situations.
Past Triennium Accomplishment

• With gratitude to a generous grant from the Lutheran Community
Foundation’s field of interest fund, the Task Force on Domestic
Violence and Child Abuse was formed, consisting of a diverse
group throughout the LCMS with representatives of parish ministry, school ministry, deaconess ministry, professional pastoral
counseling, psychology, forensic law, parish nursing, domestic violence education, seminary education, university education, LWML,
Recognized Service Organizations that provide direct services to
those affected by abuse, and individuals who have experienced the
effects of domestic violence and child abuse. The task force sifted
through secular and religious information about domestic violence
and child abuse; developed a Web site containing resources (www.
lcms.org/domesticviolence); developed an outline for material that
addresses forgiveness, repentance, and reconciliation; and created
a training module for implementation.
Next Triennium Major Goal

• A working group selected from the task force will continue to work
to finalize materials and training for individuals, and to make these
materials available to seminary and professional church-work students. The Lutheran Community Foundation has expressed strong

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interest in providing financial assistance for the successful completion of this project.
LCMS National Housing Support Corporation
The LCMS Board for Human Care Ministries established the
Housing Support Corporation in 2004 as its housing ministry arm.
As a Synod-controlled entity, that “arm” provides critical funding and
technical assistance to LCMS congregations, districts, social ministry organizations and other partners. A charitable and educational
organization, the corporation builds more than houses. It engages
and trains LCMS members who then put their many vocational gifts
to work in communities. Our members’ faith active in love restores
and revitalizes deteriorated neighborhoods close to LCMS altars.
Building homes and revitalizing communities in proximity to Word
and Sacrament ministry provides opportunities to proclaim Christ
to a chaotic world. The first fiscal year of operation for the Housing
Support Corporation began July 1, 2006.
Past Triennium Major Accomplishments

Nehemiah Project, New York
In 2007–2008, we completed our five-year commitment to the
Atlantic District of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod with a
disbursement of $49,902 of a total $145,298 grant to provide an interest-free LCEF loan of $1,000,000 for the purpose of participating as
an investor in the Spring Creek-Nehemiah III project.
• Two Brooklyn LCMS congregations are veteran EBC members
whose determination to remain in and serve their inner-city parishes helped lead to the Synod’s first Nehemiah investment.
• To date, 2,900 homes have been built in East Brooklyn using the
Nehemiah Project.
• When the first phase of the current Spring Creek project is completed, it will include 365 single family homes, 163 two-family
homes, 19 three-family homes, and 90 eight-family condos.
• When completed, the Spring Creek Nehemiah project will house
1,500 families in affordable homes, made possible, in part, by the
participation of LCMS World Relief and Human Care in partnership with the Atlantic District of the LCMS in paying the interest
on $1 million for five years, which greatly reduces the final costs
of these new homes for working families.
Nehemiah Project, St. Louis
In partnership with the Lutheran Foundation in St Louis, HC-WR
launched a Nehemiah community revitalization effort to bring caring into an abandoned urban neighborhood, training local residents
in community organizing and engaging volunteers from neighboring
suburban churches. The effort has included the following.
• A $485,000 grant funding commitment received from Lutheran
Foundation St. Louis for support of work in the neighborhood
around St. Paul Lutheran Church to build partnerships for a
Nehemiah-type project.
• A $45,000 grant received from Daughters of Charity in St. Louis
for an elderly homeownership rehabilitation project in St. Louis
neighborhood around St. Paul Lutheran Church.
• The formation of a Women’s Giving Circle, which has provided
$135,000 grants for direct projects in the neighborhood around St.
Paul Lutheran church.
• A training video describing work and process for potential investors and other churches interested in the same model—200 free
copies have been requested and provided to date.

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