By Megan Mertz
Months after the Aug. 9 shooting of black teen Michael Brown Jr., a group of Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod pastors and vicars — led by LCMS Missouri District President Rev. Dr. Ray Mirly — continue to look for ways to bring hope and healing to their communities.
The men serve five LCMS congregations in St. Louis’ North County area, where Ferguson also is located. The congregations are Grace Lutheran Chapel, Immanuel Lutheran Chapel, Salem Lutheran Church (Black Jack), Chapel of the Cross Lutheran Church (a member congregation of the LCMS English District) and Blessed Savior Lutheran Church.
“I have been impressed by how the pastors have been recognizing community needs, identifying local and/or Synod resources to apply to the needs and especially engaging the community with the Gospel and lifting it up in prayer,” Mirly said.
To aid that work, the LCMS Office of National Mission provided a $25,000 grant to the group. The money will be used for both short- and long-term work in North County.
During a Nov. 18 meeting, members of the group agreed that they would reach out to anyone in need — residents, business owners or first responders — following the announcement of the grand jury’s decision on whether to indict police officer Darren Wilson. (That announcement had not been made at the time this story was written.)
“We’re in a ministry of hope and reconciliation,” the Rev. Roosevelt Gray Jr., director of LCMS Black Ministry, said during the meeting. “We will bring to bear the Gospel and other resources that can heal the community.”
In addition, the grant will provide initial funds for the group’s long-term goal: to open an outreach center in the area. They are currently looking for potential locations where they could provide educational opportunities such as tutoring and job training, as well as spiritual care.
Eventually, the Rev. Steven Schave, director of LCMS Urban & Inner-City Mission, said he hopes this work will address the “bigger mercy issues” in the community, such as the availability of jobs, in conjunction with nearby Word and Sacrament ministries that transform city communities.
“You want to prepare people for work, but they often are in communities with few jobs,” he said. “It’s something we are starting to tackle.”
Early on, Mirly invited Schave and Gray to provide their expertise in addressing the situation. Interest in developments related to Ferguson has expanded far beyond its borders.
“We are happy to partner in support of the local response with the district and local congregations and pastors,” said the Rev. Bart Day, executive director of the LCMS Office of National Mission and interim chief mission officer for the Synod. “We pray this grant will allow the Lutheran community to be proactive in our response of love and mercy to a hurting community with the Gospel in word and deed.”
Megan K. Mertz is a staff writer for LCMS Communications.
Posted Dec. 4, 2014
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What is broken can be fixed thru the Word and Grace of God.
Education of the facts of WHO we are and what God has done for us .
We have to make a commitment of Breaking down the walls of division between people.
We can start with ourselves and confess that we are The Children of GOD!
With a new Vision combine with a new direction we can start a Unity movement
I propose a new Statement, “Working Together to Become One in Christ”.
This is a Vision and a direction the church needs to embrace.
I pray for our church to take up our cross and move in the direction toward Christ.
my prayers are with these people – May God bless your work & help bring about discourse & peace
I’m a retired police officer from the Cincinnati PD, I’m a police chaplain, I went through what Officer Wilson did, I was charged to settle racial tensions, I was tried, found not guilty, I want to help, I have perspectives no other Pastor can see, let me know if I can be of use. In 2001 Cincinnati rioted because of the situation myself and partner were in from 2000, then in 2001, with tension strained, another officer shot a young black teen and the riots began. I was forced into hiding, I left Cincinnati, I know this is a violent issue that can be solved in God alone.