LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1998, Page 90

Transcription machine transcription, uncorrected

⤓ Download .txt · copy text

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 .