LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1998, Page 91

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SYNODICAL REPORTS 91

* More than 12,000 readers focus on holistic health issues through
' “Cross and Caduceus” newsletter, edited by Rev. Howard
Mueller.

Ministry to the chronically mentally ill through the pioneering
work of Chaplain Thomas Oie and the Michigan District Task
Force on Mental Illness.

Response to AIDS/HIV health crisis through Pastor Gerald Gar-
rett, editor of “Alert,” a newsletter for readers interested in con-
gregational outreach to people with AIDS or who are HIV-posi-
tive. “Alert” reaches some 200 people.

Health promotion emphases led by new staff member, Amy
Dorn, manager, health promotion. Dorn is available to District
offices and Lutheran Services in America member organizations
to help assess health issues and strengths. Health promotion lead-
ership earned the Silver Well Workplace award for the LCMS
International Center from the Wellness Council of America.

Participation in the Inter-Lutheran Coordinating Committee on
Ministerial Health and Wellness and development of long-term
strategic plan for health initiatives for church workers and their
families. (See section VI.)

Partnerships with other LCMS entities, including LCMS World
Mission (providing evaluation and testing of aspiring missionar-
ies and health concerns consultations), Department of Evange-
lism Ministry (through “Friends of the Physician” outreach), the
Commission on Ministerial Growth and Support (continuing ed-
ucation activities), Worker Benefit Plans (information and re-
source development), and Human Resources.

Next Triennium Goals and Challenges

¢ A health advocate trained for every District, Concordia Univer-
sity System school, and both seminaries.

¢ Strategic plans and initiatives developed for ministries involving
parish nursing, chronic mental illness, AIDS/HIV, congregational
health and ministerial health, and wellness.

¢ Church workers who are sensitive and responsive to the health
and wellness needs of professional church workers and their fam-
ilies.

¢ Healthy organizational dynamics in parishes, Districts, and
throughout the Synod.

V. LCMS World Relief

Responds to people in crisis and to those needing to be self-suf-
ficient. Founded in 1914, LCMS World Relief responds to physical
needs in the context of the Gospel, both in the United States and
“to the ends of the earth.”

Past Triennium Accomplishments

* Sustained income, which continues to be consistent and strong,
for disaster response and self-help projects. (See accompanying
chart. Note that the variation in disaster income reflects the se-
lective focus of secular media more than any variation in needs.)
LCMS World Relief is supported entirely by direct donations
from individuals, congregations and groups. Individuals provide
more than half the ministry’s financial support; congregations
and groups faithfully observe World Hunger Sunday with finan-
cial support.

More than $15 million distributed to make ‘“‘a world of differ-
ence” for people in the U.S. and in 130 countries. Activities in-
cluded

- responding to 67 disasters in 21 countries;

- support for 100 projects in 50 countries annually through
Lutheran World Relief;

- funding for 108 projects in 37 countries with LCMS World
Mission partners around the globe;

- support for human care efforts of 60 congregations and 50
LCMS social ministry organizations, totaling nearly $3 mil-
lion. Twenty-six projects addressed prevention of and recov-
ery from crime and violence. A current emphasis is to help
the elderly, children, and immigrants affected by welfare re-
form. ,

* Doors opened or reopened for humanitarian aid and/or mission-
ary presence in China, Croatia, Egypt, Kazakstan, Vietnam, and
Uganda. Other new areas receiving funding include the Czech
Republic, Eritrea, Poland, and North Korea.

More than $304,000 awarded in New Mission Ministry Grants,
which focus on ethnic/cross-cultural ministry, to 19 recipients to
start or restart churches in the United States and intentionally re-
spond to physical and spiritual needs in their communities.

Supported and nurtured partnerships with four cooperative
Lutheran entities, including Lutheran Disaster Response,
Lutheran World Relief, Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Ser-
vices, and Lutheran Services in America. (See section VI.)

¢ Opportunities for individuals and groups to designate financial
gifts for specific projects:

- “Hearts for Jesus around the World: Children of the Philip-
pines,” video and print materials encouraging Sunday school
and day school children to support projects among the Tagao
Kaulo Kalagan people of Mindinao.

- “Good News for the World,” children’s newsletter showing
children how their offerings help other countries.

- “Mission Prayer Bookmarks,” for adult groups to learn about,
pray for, and financially support projects addressing human
needs in four world areas.

¢ Video series for congregations and adult groups launched with
Making a World of Difference ... in the Philippines, showing mis-
sionaries’ work among the Tagoa Kaulo Kalagan people.

¢ LCMS World Relief web site www.lcms.org/bhcem/wr/wr-
front.html to provide up-to-date information on disasters and
self-help projects.

* LCMS World Relief contact person in each District to make pre-
sentations, answer questions, and provide materials.

* “Sharing,” bimonthly newsletter of news, resources, and giving
opportunities distributed to some 180,000 donors, congregations,
and others interested in the ministry.

Next Triennium Goals and Challenges

* Continue response to growing number of people who suffer from

hunger, poor health, inadequate potable water, unemployment,

homelessness, illiteracy, displacement, and other life-threatening

situations.

Intentionally develop and support holistic ministries that respond

to physical and spiritual needs of people around the world, be-

ginning in the United States.

¢ Manage and disburse financial gifts to support expanding efforts
to provide holistic ministries addressing the ever-increasing
needs of those who do not have life to the full.

* Increased income to support self-help and disaster relief projects
in the United States and throughout the world, with fund-raising
efforts in cooperation with the LCMS Foundation.

VI. Inter-Lutheran Human Care Ministries

Includes partnerships of Lutheran human care ministries work-
ing together to strengthen and expand ministries that address vari-
ety of human needs, including the following:

* Lutheran Disaster Response (LDR), formerly Inter-Lutheran Dis-
aster Response, coordinates all Lutheran response to U.S. emer-
gencies, including providing financial support, consultation, and
volunteer recruitment. LDR responded to, among other disaster,
Hurricane Marilyn (Virgin Islands), Oklahoma City Federal
building bombing, and upper Midwest flooding.

¢ Lutheran World Relief (LWR), founded in 1945, aids emergency

relief, including distributing parish projects (quilts, soap, school

and health kits, and other items of greatest need). LWR supports

100 sustainable development projects in 50 countries and new

emphases like conflict resolution in strife-torn countries and ca-

pacity building for grassroots, nongovernment agencies.

Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Services (LIRS) serves up-

rooted people coming to the U.S. from throughout the world.

LIRS administers the International Social Service, American