LCMS World Relief/Human Care wants to make 2007 the year of mercy.
The ministry will host the first LCMS Conference on Mercy April 30-May 2 in St. Louis as a national platform to equip and energize caring Christians for what Executive Director Rev. Matthew Harrison calls “the key to the church’s doctrinal, mission, and stewardship challenges.”
“Our goal is to engage, equip, and energize our fellow Lutherans for mercy — caring for people in need in the clear name of Jesus, which we see as the h
eart of our church’s mission,” said Harrison, a conference keynote speaker who will discuss the theological foundations for the church’s role of mercy.
Highlighting the theme “Christ’s love and mercy in action,” the two-day event will bring Lutherans with ministry ideas or needs together with experts and organizations with experience, resources, and opportunities.
Those invited include congregations’ human care and social ministry leaders, pastors, deaconesses, parish nurses, agency executives, social ministry volunteers, and students training for social ministry vocations, among others.
In addition to Harrison, speakers include:
- Dr. Leo Mackay, former deputy secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs, Top Gun Navy pilot, and board chair for the new LCMS National Housing Support Corporation.
- Dr. Kurt Senske, CEO of Lutheran Social Services of the South, Austin, Texas.
- Dr. Gene Veith, former World magazine culture editor and head of the Cranach Institute in Fort Wayne, Ind.
- Non-profit funding consultant Jerry Twombly.
- Clinical counselor and educator Dr. Beverly Yahnke.
- Stan Veit, executive director of Lutheran Social Services of Indiana, Fort Wayne.
- Jill Schumann, CEO of Lutheran Services of America, Baltimore.
- Tim Goeglein, White House adviser to President George W. Bush.
- Parish nurses, pastors, seminary professors, and more.
Erin Bode, a popular jazz recording artist with deep Lutheran roots, will entertain at the evening banquet.
Registration opens in January and must be completed by March 31. The conference is partially supported by a generous donation, enabling LCMS World Relief/Human Care to keep the registration cost to $100, which includes meals.
LCMS World Relief/Human Care is the mercy arm of the LCMS. For more information about the conference, visit www.lcmsconferenceonmercy.org or call (800) 248-1930, Ext. 1380.
Posted Dec. 4, 2006
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