by Frank Imhoff, ELCA News Service
Lutheran Services in America (LSA) celebrates a decade of service
to millions of people during its 2007 conference April 18-20 in
Baltimore. It expects 500 leaders in health and human service
organizations "to recognize the milestones of the Lutheran
contribution to social services over the last 10 years and to
define stepping stones to the future," according to an LSA news
release. Baltimore-based LSA is an alliance of nearly 300 social
ministry organizations, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in
America (ELCA) and the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LCMS).
The conference, "Milestones and Stepping Stones," will feature
sermons by the Rev. Mark S. Hanson, ELCA presiding bishop, and
the Rev. William R. Diekelman, LCMS first vice president. Before
the conference begins, a day of advocacy in Washington, D.C.,
will include a luncheon address by a congressional leader.
During the conference 35 educational workshops will deal with
leadership, fund development, management, congregational
relations and advocacy. A site visit to Diakon Place will take
participants to learn about that community development project in
East Baltimore.
In 2006 the social ministry organizations of LSA served more than
6 million people -- one of every 50 people in the United States
and Caribbean. With a combined budget of billions of dollars and
a quarter of a million staff and volunteers, the organizations
provide such services as health care and disaster response,
services for children, care for the elderly, adoption services
and advocacy.
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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
