LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2001, Page 73

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SYNODICAL REPORTS 73

cial ministry organizations provide such services as adult day care,
advocacy, alcohol and substance abuse services/addiction counsel-
ing, AIDS ministries, chaplaincy services, child day care, chil-
dren’s residential services, community and congregational care
teams, consultation and development programs for church profes-
sionals/congregations, community groups, counseling/behavioral
health, disaster services, employment services, food/shelter, emer-
gency aid, foster care/adoption, home health care, hospice, hous-
ing, life enrichment programs, ombudsman services, prison min-
istries, refugee resettlement, residential/assisted living/nursing
services for older persons, residential care/service for persons with
disabilities, and shelters.

Past Triennium Accomplishments

* The major accomplishment in enabling the LCMS to be “people
sensitive and people centered” has come about through Lutheran
Services in America (LSA). LSA is the alliance of the LCMS,
the ELCA, and 300 Lutheran social ministry organizations
(SMOs) that are “joined at the heart” to “increase the service and
witness of God’s people in both church and society.” The Non-
Profit Times named LSA the largest national nonprofit in 2000.
The 1999 combined total operating revenue of LSA member or-
ganizations (which includes LCMS Recognized Service Organi-
zations that are SMQs) is about $6.9 billion. Lutheran SMOs are
now in 3,000 communities across the U.S. Annually, more than
3,100,000 persons receive social services, short-term assistance,
and/or 24-hour intensive residential care. 138,395 people are em-
ployed and 130,589 people do volunteer work in our SMOs—te-
sulting in 268,984 persons engaged in Lutheran social ministry.
Volunteers provided 5,241,480 hours of service. Based on cur-
rent minimum wage, the value of this service is nearly $27 mil-
lion. Over 100 new programs were developed.

¢ Since the last convention, ten SMOs have received RSO status
while a number of RSOs have merged with others. Quadrennial
Reviews, which include District participation, are now conducted
with each RSO. Annual reviews between Districts and SMOs are
also conducted.

« Services to SMOs have continued to expand in the areas of board
self-assessment, church relationship consultation, corporate ser-
vices, crisis intervention, and/or interim management, executive
job description/performance review, executive transition issues,
human resources consultation, organizational and management
assessment and training, special organizational projects, strate-
gic planning, board and staff training on roles/responsibilities.

* Networks of SMOs and professionals who serve in specific areas
of social ministry organization services have been developed.

Next Triennium Goals and Challenges

* To work effectively with Lutheran Services in America to in-
crease the service and witness of God’s people in both church
and society.

¢ To give priority to recruitment and leadership/management de-
velopment for SMO personnel.

¢ To increase effective working relationships among SMOs, Dis-

tricts, and congregations.

To identify and encourage SMOs related to LCMS congregations

to apply for RSO status.

¢ To aid SMOs as resources and partners in extending the ministry
outreach of congregations.

V. Specialized Pastoral Care and Clinical Education

“Specialized Pastoral Care” is the well-known and universal
term describing institutional chaplaincies and pastoral counseling
ministries. These include ministries in hospitals, nursing homes, re-
habilitation and counseling centers, prisons, workplaces, and hos-
pices. Unique skills and specific training needs are a part of the
programming for this area of service.

Past Triennium Accomplishments

¢ Strengthening of regional leadership which promotes specialized
ministries.

Establishment of two scholarship funds for training expenses.

¢ The largest attendance ever at an all-Lutheran specialized min-
istry triennial conference.

¢ Higher percentage of specialized caregivers who achieve profes-
sional credentialling.

Intentional efforts at recruitment.

Partnering with the seminaries to create more field work, vic-
arage, and graduate placements involving institutional ministry.
A streamlined Manual for Ecclesiastical Specialized Pastoral
Care Endorsement.

Next Triennium Goals

¢ The establishment of an institutional ministry tract at Concordia
Seminary in St. Louis.

¢ The development of a separate, extensive prison ministry pro-
gram for the LCMS.

¢ A network connecting regional leaders who promote and recruit
for specialized ministries.

¢ An increase in the number of institutional ministries teamed with
congregational ministries.

Next Triennium Challenges

¢ A rapid decline in the number of caregivers because of retire-
ments and a shrinking pool of clergy.

¢ More severe needs of institutionalized persons.
¢ Exploding prison populations.
¢ Ministry interpretation to a congregation-oriented church.

VI. Inter-Lutheran Organizations

Human Care Ministries relates on behalf of the LCMS to sig-
nificant inter-Lutheran organizations and efforts. These include
Lutheran World Relief (LWR), Lutheran Immigration and Refugee
Service (LIRS), Lutheran Services in America (LSA), and
Lutheran Disaster Response (LDR).

LWR and LIRS are internally known and respected Lutheran
organizations whose relief efforts are increasing because of in-
creasing global needs. These two organizations completed a move
to the new Lutheran Center in Baltimore in October 1999.

LSA has been named the largest social ministry organization
system by the NonProfit Times. This designation was based on the
total amount of revenue spent in collective ministries. LSA
launched a major initiative in 2000 to encourage social ministry or-
ganizations to embrace their Lutheran roots and strengthen con-
nectedness with congregations.

Resource List

¢ On-site consultations on Human Care Ministries issues in
urban/multicultural settings designed and tailored to each indi-
vidual congregation or District. Contact Carlos Hernandez, Di-
rector, Districts and Congregations, 1-800-248-1930, ext. 1399.

Human Care Ministry Planning Manual available on the Internet
at http://humancare.lcms.org/de/heman.html.

¢ So Much More Than Bricks and Mortar LCMS Housing Min-
istry video featuring Nehemiah Plan initiatives in Brooklyn, NY,
and Memphis, TN. The video is circulated on request and pro-
vides valuable information for Districts and congregations con-
sidering starting a Nehemiah Project. Call 1-800-248-1930, ext.
1394.

¢ “Listening for Ministry—A Case Study and Congregational
Guide.” How to conduct a Listening Project, an interactive inter-
view process to strengthen relationships in the church and neigh-
boring community and identify needs. The study and guide are

2001 Convention Workbook