CHICAGO (ELCA) -- A three-year study of 400 congregations of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) revealed that up to one third devote a significant amount of their time and budget to local social ministry activities but are restrained from doing more by limited budgets and volunteer staff. The study report is titled "Lutheran Congregational Social Ministries in the Era of Welfare Reform."
ELCA congregations spend an estimated $30 million annually in local social ministry activity, according to the study. The vast majority of these congregations are engaged in collecting and distributing food and clothing.
Other findings are that: + ELCA congregations with various hunger ministry programs fed 4.3 million people in 1998 and probably in each year since the survey year. + about 16 percent of ELCA congregations provide blood pressure screening out of concern for members' health. + 11 percent of ELCA congregations make beds and shelter available for homeless people and 40 percent financially support community organizations that help the homeless. + 22 percent of congregations participate in a preschool program.
The study found evidence that a growing number of families are coming to ELCA congregations for food assistance. It also noted an increased need for food during the summer, when school breakfast and lunch programs were not available for children.
The Lutheran Office for Governmental Affairs (LOGA) confirmed the report's findings with a 2001 survey of congregations and social ministry organizations. LOGA is the ELCA's federal public policy advocacy in Washington, D.C.
Kay A. Bengston reported the results of the 2001 survey in "Assessing Welfare Reform: A Guide for the Re-authorization of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)."
"Of those surveyed, 94 percent said they had seen an increase in emergency need (food, utilities, rent) since the enactment of TANF in 1996. Lutheran Social Services has seen a similar increase," wrote Bengston, LOGA's assistant director for public policy advocacy.
President Bush "has made an effort to involve the religious sector in doing more social outreach to the people in their communities," said the Rev. Leslie F. Weber Jr., associate executive director, ELCA Division for Church in Society. In an effort to assist all its citizens, the government is trying to help smaller faith-based organizations gain access to federal funds, he said.
The welfare reform study indicated that more must be done to educate congregations about these opportunities to use federal funds. "Only 11 percent of ELCA congregations take advantage of government funding, including but not limited to 'Charitable Choice,' for all social ministry related programs," said Weber.
Weber said the study is especially significant this year, because the U.S. Congress is making such key decisions as re-authorization of TANF and re-authorization of the food stamp program.
"The government is looking to the churches and faith-based community to do more," he said. "We found only about 7 percent of our congregations have staff to do this."
Among the study's conclusions is that it is "unlikely that ELCA congregations, on their own, could provide a significant increase in services for persons in need."
A project team composed of staff from the ELCA Divisions for Church in Society and Congregational Ministries and the Department for Research and Evaluation conducted the study. Susan Kosche Vallem, chair, Social Work Department, Wartburg College, Waverly, Iowa, was the project director.
The study was supported by a grant from Aid Association for Lutherans (AAL), a fraternal benefit society based in Appleton, Wis. AAL has merged with Lutheran Brotherhood, a fraternal benefit society based in Minneapolis. -- -- --
Copies of the "Lutheran Congregational Social Ministries in the Era of Welfare Reform" are available by calling the ELCA Division for Church in Society at 1-800-638-3522.
"Assessing Welfare Reform: A Guide for the Re-authorization of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families" is available at http://www.loga.org/ -- the Web site of the Lutheran Office for Governmental Affairs.
For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or NEWS@ELCA.ORG
http://listserv.elca.org/archives/elcanews.html
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About the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America:
The ELCA is one of the largest Christian denominations in the United States, with 2.8 million members in more than 8,500 worshiping communities across the 50 states and in the Caribbean region. Known as the church of "God's work. Our hands.," the ELCA emphasizes the saving grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ, unity among Christians and service in the world. The ELCA's roots are in the writings of the German church reformer Martin Luther.
For information contact:
Candice Hill Buchbinder
Public Relations Manager
Candice.HillBuchbinder@ELCA.org
