LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1998, Page 92

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92 . SYNODICAL REPORTS ~

Branch, Inc., the U.S. arm of an international network of agen-
cies providing social services primarily to migrating children and
families.

Lutheran Services in America (LSA), founded in 1997, is an al-
liance of the LCMS. the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Amer-
ica, and their 280 social ministry organizations. LSA enhances
partnerships, leadership, and services among these agencies, pro-
viding services to 2 million people annually in 3,000 communi-
ties.

Inter-Lutheran Coordinating Committee on Ministerial Health
and Wellness (ILCCMHW), an alliance to strengthen the health
and wellness of professional church workers, their spouses, and
their families. The ILCCMHW developed a long-term strategic
plan for health initiatives, including the development of a theo-
logical foundations of worker health paper, research, resource
development, communications/networking, health promotion,
and remedial care.

Inter-Lutheran Coordinating Committee on Specialized Pastoral
Care and Clinical Education is an alliance of chaplains, pastoral
counselors, and other spiritual nurturers. More than 100 SPCCE
leaders attended the first national SPCCE training conference in
November. Long-range goals include to increase the presence of
Lutheranism in ministries in specialized settings and to interpret
those ministries to the church as a mainstream mission endeavor.

VII. Operation and Financial Management

Oversees fiscal management of all Human Care programs and
special accounts.

Human Care Ministries administrative programs continue to
grow and stay within budget in spite of limited income. Operation
and Financial Management works with program directors to gain
the best possible use for allocated funds and is committed to en-
suring a fair and improving cost for outcomes achieved. Human
Care Ministries continues to partner with the LCMS Foundation to
promote giving opportunities in support of Human Care Ministries.

Among Operation and Financial Management's major accom-
plishments were helping to provide affordable housing for low to
moderate-income families by negotiating Nehemiah Trust docu-
ments and participation agreement and assisting social ministry or-
ganizations with changes required by the Financial Accounting
Standards Board.

Conclusion

As Human Care Ministries helps the church grow more people-
sensitive and people-centered, this holistic ministry is intensifying
efforts to reach ‘“‘to the ends of the earth” to people in need with
God’s love.

Looking ahead, Human Care Ministries strives for expected out-
comes in the next triennium that include the following:
¢ Districts and congregations growing in awareness of welfare re-

form and responding more to struggling low-income families as
the government provides less.

Increased emphasis on ministries that strengthen families and
reach out to the needs of people of ethnic and cross-cultural
backgrounds.

Districts and congregations sensitized to the increasing need for
ministry to, with, and for the growing older adult population.
Districts and congregations sensitive to and providing for the
health and wellness needs of professional church workers, their
spouses, and their families.

* Social ministry organizations equipped for increased service and
witness to God’s people and strengthened through the Lutheran
Services in America (LSA) alliance.

* More pastors and deaconesses in specialized settings, including
chaplains and pastoral counselors, in response to a critical short-
age.

* Achurch that responds to hunger, poverty, and other human suf-
fering in the United States and abroad as witness to God’s love.

Human Care Resources

Human Care Ministries provides a variety of resources:

Newsletters

¢ Sharing, information on LCMS World Relief programs, projects
and resources; bimonthly; free; circulation: 180,000 donors, con-
gregations, and church-related groups.

* Human Care News, Human Care Ministries information, model
ministries, updates on major human care programs, District and
congregational efforts; three issues annually; free; circulation:
11,000, including a human care ministry contact in every con-
gregation.

« Speak Up, government and human care issues and encourage-

ment for Christian citizens to voice opinions; bimonthly; free;

circulation: 3,250.

Advocate, Lutheran Services in America news, networking, and

resources of interest to social ministry organizations; quarterly;

free.

Housing Information for Ministry, housing ministry news, op-

portunities, and resources; quarterly; free; circulation: 1,800.

¢ Building the Network, older adult ministry news and resources,
quarterly; free; circulation: 300.

¢ Specialized Pastoral Care and Clinical Education Newsletter,
information, networking and resources; free; circulation: 450
caregivers and District SPCCE leaders.

¢ Parish Nurse Newsletter, information, resources and network-
ing about this growing ministry; free; circulation: 1,110.

¢ Gesundheit, ministerial health issues and resources to connect
District ministerial health leaders; bimonthly; circulation: 300.

Cross and Caduceus, now in its 44th year, with news and re-
sources on holistic health issues; circulation: 12,000.

¢ Alert, news, networking, and resources for readers interested in
congregational outreach to people with AIDS/HIV; circulation
about 200.

* Good News for the World, children’s newsletter showing how
children can use their offerings to help others around the world.

Other Print Resources

¢« LCMS World Relief and Board for Human Care Ministries
Resource Packet, catalog of resources to assist variety of min-
istries, including newsletters, videos, and children’s resources;
updated annually.

¢ Taking Steps (alcohol abuse) Reporter insert, information and
resources for people struggling with alcoholism, free.

¢ Taking Steps (domestic violence and child abuse) Reporter in-
sert, information and resources for families struggling with
abuse; free.

¢ Healthy Leaders/Healthy Church workshop manual to help
Districts and congregations launch health and wellness initia-
tives.

* Sexual Ethics for Congregations, a leader’s guide to conduct-
ing workshops for church professionals and congregational lay
leaders.

Brochures

¢ Domestic Violence and Abuse Is Everyone’s Concern, infor-
mation on how to identify and respond to abuse and get re-
sources; free.

¢ Lutheran Support Team Ministry Materials, resource for con-
gregations starting a support team ministry to families affected
by alcohol and substance abuse; free.

* LCMS World Relief Domestic Grants for LCMS Congrega-
tions and Agencies, information on how to apply for funds to
support social ministry activities.