Shared Ministry
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Lutheran Social Services (LSS) is the social
ministry arm of over 800 Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA)
congregations in Wisconsin and Upper Michigan. These congregations provide
LSS with the guidance, prayers, volunteers, financial and in-kind support
that enables us to serve over 100,000 people annually. |
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At the heart of
our partnership with ELCA congregations is what we call, "Shared Ministry."
Shared Ministry is a series of opportunities in which the church and LSS
join together to help people improve the quality of their lives. For
example, LSS asks ELCA congregations to consider inviting an LSS
representative to to speak to adult forums, Sunday school classes, or Women
of the ELCA meetings to talk about who we are and what we do. |
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Another possibility might be scheduling a meeting between LSS and the church’s social ministry committee or congregational council to discuss joint efforts. Or, maybe the church would be interested in adopting a nearby LSS program. |
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LSS in turn makes sure that ELCA congregations are aware of opportunities to serve in our ministry from advocacy to governance to volunteerism. In addition, LSS communicates with congregations on a regular basis as to the lives that are being touched by our work together. And of course, LSS offers our full range of services to ELCA church members as needed. |
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Working Together |
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LSS’ recent partnership with Pastor Tim Bernard, Pastor David Van Kley and Messiah Lutheran Church in Marquette, Michigan is a great example of building shared ministry relationships. Messiah Lutheran has helped offer LSS programs a new home in the Upper Peninsula, and has also allowed LSS to build a stronger partnership with the Northern Great Lakes Synod, which also has an office housed within the same building. LSS is excited to build upon this relationship with Messiah Lutheran and the synod. The new LSS office space serves as a base for the Welcome Home Homeless Assistance, U.P. Adoption, Michigan Homelessness/Substance Abuse Case Management, and Voices for Youth programs. Messiah Lutheran also owns and rents the house in which LSS operates its Voices for Youth program out of. This house rooms four homeless youth and also serves as a case management site for dozens of at-risk youth in our Basic Center and Street Outreach programs. By providing exclusive use of the previous parsonage, and offering use of church facilities for trainings and meetings, Messiah Lutheran has further supported LSS’ efforts in the Upper Peninsula. “We welcomed the opportunity to be in much of the same space and share what’s happening in our ministries,” said Bishop Thomas Skrenes of the Northern Great Lakes Synod, regarding the recent move. “Since the move, we have done that and over the next months and years we look forward to have the opportunity to share our ministries even more.” With thousands more in need of love and service, we ask that you consider joining with us in Shared Ministry. Together, we can change the world –one grace-filled life at a time. To learn more, please contact Gary Grindeland at 1-800-488-5181 (Ext. 3012) or ggrindeland52@lsswis.org. We look forward to hearing from you. |
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