Ministry Among People Living in Poverty

Roundtables held in 2003

Work Group on Items for Roundtable and Planning Team Discussions

Present:
Rebecca Larson, Division for Church in Society
Richard Magnus, Division for Outreach
Gaylord Thomas, Division for Global Mission
Wyvetta Bullock, Division for Congregation Ministry

Possible themes for discussion across RTs

• Holding together wealth and poverty

• Use of the word poverty/poor; other words like vulnerable, those without access to resources

• Missiology - Evangelism and Service

• Reciprocity - Giving and receiving

• Partnership - mutual ownership and investment

• Advocacy - systemic justice

• Gender and race realities in poverty

Transformation of ourselves

• Items that may be unique to our context and this topic

• Strong advocacy network

• Social Statement

• Relationship of poverty and evangelism ministry

• Implications for our worship life

Possible themes for Outcome Statements

• New definition of a community

• An understanding that poverty is not "out there" but a part of who we are

Possible indicators for measurements

• How many congregations are moved off partnership support or are started in ways appropriate for their local economy?

Some existing strategies

• Women and Children Living in Poverty

• In the City for Good

• Domestic Hunger grants and loans

Items for coordinating across the five strategic directions

• Social Ministry Organizations

• Church-based community organizing

• Asset-based renewal

• Leadership issues

Partners beyond the Churchwide Organization

• Synods

• Lutheran World Federation

• Lutheran World Relief

• State Advocacy Offices

• Lutheran Services in America