ELCA News Blog
March 20, 2007
Lutheran Services in America marks 10th anniversary at April conference
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.
For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or news@elca.org http://www.elca.org/news ELCA News Blog: http://www.elca.org/news/blog