LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2001, Page 70

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70 SYNODICAL REPORTS

site assistance in identifying human care needs in their vicinity
and in developing community-focused programs that serve both
the human and spiritual needs of the residents living in their im-
mediate neighborhoods.

Conducted on-site consultations with five District human care
committees (Rocky Mountain, North Dakota. Southern, Mis-
souri, California-Nevada-Hawaii) to provide assistance in plan-
ning their work with congregations requesting human care re-
sources.

A grant from Aid Association for Lutherans (AAL) enabled the
unit to plan the Great Lakes Human Care Conference attended
by more than 125 District and congregational human care leaders
in downtown Chicago to share and exchange human care min-
istry resources.

* Human Care Ministries’ Children at Risk Committee visited, re-
viewed, encouraged, and supported two financially struggling
urban Lutheran Schools (St. Matthew, Manhattan, NY, and St.
John, East Angeles/Montebello, CA). Both schools are known as
beacons of academic and spiritual excellence in their communi-
tics.

The Children at Risk Committee urged the church to call a mora-
torium on the closing of our Lutheran schools in urban areas
where the majority of the children are academically and spiritu-
ally “at risk.” “Here’s where we most need our Lutheran
schools!” committee members exclaimed.

In assisting urban/ethnic congregations to identify human care
needs in their communities and to develop the programs and re-
sources to meet those needs, the unit has developed close work-
ing relationships with the statf of the Board for Black Ministry
Services, the Urban Institute, the Counselor for Hispanic Mis-
sions, Lutheran Church Extension Fund’s vice-president for Min-
istry Resources and with District staffs.

In relating to and directing congregations and social ministry or-
ganizations that are developing a wide array of human care ser-
vices, the unit is increasingly working hand-in-hand with Dr.
Carl H. Toelke, the director of Social Ministry Organizations.
In relating to and partnering with LCMS Housing Ministries, the
unit assisted in scheduling visitations and reviews of the Brook-
lyn Nehemiah Project by the Human Care Ministries Board and
other program subcommittees to help continue and expand the
concept of “Mission and Ministry Covenant Agreements” that
commit neighboring congregations to “Tell the Good News about
Jesus” to residents in this renown housing ministry.

Next Triennium Goals and Challenges

Provide on-site assistance to 20 parishes committed to moving
from an “island” (not involved in their community) to an “en-
meshed growing” (involved in serving the human and spiritual
needs of their community) congregation.

* Assist six congregation-based social ministries to link up with
their respective regional Lutheran Social Service agency in order
to increase their effectiveness, efficiency, and capacity as an af-
filiate/partner of a recognized social ministry service organiza-
tion.

In observance of the synodical “year of the child” emphasis, the
unit’s Children at Risk Committee will assist nine congregations
in the nation’s five most populous metropolitan areas to open and
operate model tutoring centers for academically at-risk studcnts.

¢ Plan four Regional Human Care Conferences (in the Rocky
Mountain, western, eastern, and southern regions).

Plan six regional Human Care Executives’ Conferences.

In partnership with Housing Ministries, provide three regional
conferences on the congregation’s role in community organiza-
tion and development.

Design and offer three to four mini-courses on human care issues
on the Internet (for example, on domestic abuse, racism, sub-
stance abuse, etc.).

A. Committee on Housing Ministry—The purpose of Housing
Ministry is to assist congregations, Districts, and social ministry

2001 Convention Workbook

organizations to provide affordable housing with ministry outreach
to low-income families and individuals.

Past Triennium Accomplishments

¢ The remaining building phases of Nehemiah 2 are coming to

completion in New York. As of October 5, 2000, 437 homes

were complete or under construction. Nehemiah 2 will be ap-
proximately 465 homes. Current plans are underway for in-

volvement in Nehemiah 3.

In Memphis, TN, 75 homes have been provided in the Nehemiah

Housing Initiative for low-income families. The project will go

forward with hopes of providing 85 more homes in the future.

* OKSHARE (an outreach housing ministry of Christ the King
Lutheran Church, Chicago) broke ground on development of ten
two-unit homes and started construction for five of the homes.
Occupancy of the five homes is anticipated for summer 2001.

Habitat for Humanity and Redeemer Lutheran Church, Redwood.
CA, completed six new homes in six days.

Lutheran Brotherhood provided a block grant in the amount of
$11,400 to train church leaders for Housing Ministry.

¢ A Lutheran Housing Ministry—Building on Success Conference

was held in Kansas City, MO, in October 1998. Thirty-four

church leaders registered to attend.

Taking Steps, an insert for the Reporter, was published in June

2000, telling the story of housing ministry in communities.

* A long version of the Nehemiah Story was completed in video in
late 2000.

¢ The video will be available for distribution to congregations in
spring 2001.

Next Triennium Goals and Challenges

* Act in an advisory capacity to support the efforts of Districts.
congregations, and socia] ministry agencies secking to alleviate
or relieve the burden on families resulting from the lack of af-
fordable. decent housing.

Provide technical assistance and low-interest Joan support to
LCMS Districts, congregations, and groups developing housing
for homeless and low-income families with incomes below 60
percent of median area income.

Publicize materials, educational resources, and programs to as-
sist congregations and their members to respond to the shelter
and support needs of low-income families.

Promote housing ministries.

* Raise awareness of opportunities for hands-on housing ministry
for local groups involving adults and youth.

Increase capital available for low-income housing loan fund.

B. Older Adult Ministries—Older Adult Ministries’ goal is to
enable congregations to develop their own unique older adult min-
istry, utilizing the unique resources among the members of the con-
gregation and community in response to the expressed needs and
gifts.

Past Triennium Accomplishments

¢ More than 500 people from 170 congregations participated in
workshop/presentations to enhance older adult ministry in their
congregations.

* More than 700 individuals received older adult ministry news

and resources through the “Building the Network” quarterly

newsletter.

Published two inserts (Scptember [999 and October 2000) in the

Reporter highlighting examples of congregations and Districts

with successful older adult ministries.

Provided an article for the July 2000 Lutheran Witness high-

lighting unique activities of congregational older adult ministries.

Developed an Older Adult Ministry video for the Post-Seminary

Applied Learning and Support (PALS) program of the LCMS

Commission on Ministerial Growth and Support.