THE  MISSION  PROJECT

Background

I.  SOCIAL OUTREACH

Churches from the beginning have been called to do God's work of love (healing the sick, clothing the naked, fedling the hungry) - being Good Samaritans to the needy.

At Lake of the Isles Lutheran Church in the 1950s the Sunday School was growing and a Vacation Bible School was an outreach to the neighborhood.  Otherwise, by holding weekly services, Sunday School, doing baptisms, confirmations, weddings, and funerals and contributing to the Synod's benevolence and missionary programs, the congregation was doing its mission.

In the 1960s the vision expanded.  Four neighborhood Protestant churches, all about the same size, came together to pool resources (money and volunteers) to do social outreach ministry.  The Neighborhood Involvement Program (N.I.P) was born.  Trinity Baptist, Grace Presbyterian, St. Paul's Episcopal and LOTI Lutheran Churches hired a director and provided office and activity space.  A food shelf was in one church, clothes closet in another, senior's activities at another, etc.  When health care needs seemed a major problem (people without health insurance) N.I.P. opened a clinic and later offered dental care.  Temple Israel, St. Mark's Episcopal and Hennepin Avenue Methodist joined N.I.P. and it moved to rented space on Hennepin Avenue.  Lake of the Isles has been a supporter of N.I.P. since its beginning, continues to support with money and volunteers on the board.  We host the Leisure Time Party for nursing home residents in February and October of each year.  N.I.P. has expanded with a branch in North Minneapolis, an ambitious "study friends" mentor program and recreation activities for young people.

In the 1970s we worked with Lutheran Social Services to assist single moms in transitional housing, find furniture and household goods, find more permanent housing and help with moving.   

In the 1980s we helped a Hmong family furnish and move to a PPL rehabed house, helped them settle in and stocked shelves and fridge with groceries.  Later, we helped some in the family get driver's licenses and buy a car.  Also, a team of volunteers began delivering Meals on Wheels. 

In the 1990s we had a brief partnership with a girl's school in Tanzania; we sent books, school supplies and money.  We began participating in the Paint-a-Thon, organized by the Greater Minneapolis Council of Churches.  A group of 20 or so volunteers painted a house for an elderly or disabled home-owner on a sunny Saturday in August.  We also began our association with Our Saviors Housing - on the first Friday of each month we prepare and service the evening meal to the homeless guests at the shelter.  We sponsored several "fun-runs" (Hotcake Hustles) around the lake which ended with a hotcake breakfast at the church for comraderie. 

In 2005, spurred by Fritz Kotke, we took on financing a Habitat for Humanity townhouse in North Minneapolis.  We raised over $60,000, committed 58 volunteers to fill a schedule of two  40-hour weeks with a daily 15-person crew.  This major event astonished members of the Church Council; they asked "Can we do something like this every year?"  The memory of this effort, this demonstration of what our relatively small congregation can do, has sparked the present discussion of our mission.

II.  The PARSONAGE 

The congregation did not own a parsonage for the first 20 plus years of its history, but in the late 50s, bought a house for the pastor and his familly on 24^th Street, a few blocks south of the church.  About 10 years later, when the house just north of the church went up for sale, the congregation decided to buy it and sell the other house.  Thus the church has owned this home until now and the value of the site has substantially increased.

During this same period the practice of providing housing for pastors has proved to be financially imprudent for both congregations and pastors.  Pastors now prefer owning their own homes - a tax benefit as well.  At present the house used by former pastors stands empty as Pastor Gayle and Jay have moved to their own home as was agreed to in pastoral negotiations.

This is the situation: Can the congregation use the house in other ways to further the mission of the church?  If so, how?  A homeless shelter?  A counseling center?  An educational center for special needs students?  A half-way recover house?  A tutoring/mentoring center?......etc...

What costs will be involved in bringing the house up to required standards to meet these needs....

Where will funds be found to do the work.....

OR

Should the house be sold and the proceeds be carefully invested  to further the mission of the church?   Join with already established organizations to further develop housing or food shelves?  Long term housing for homeless familes, teens, other adults?  Plymouth Foundation for former foster care children who have aged out of the system but have no way to get established?  Community Emergency Services to build/buy a building to more efficiently serve food?                  

The Council has discussed these questions for at least 3 years.  Two task forces have studied the issue and made reports.  A clear solution has yet to emerge thus no action has been taken to date. 

Since February of this year the Mission Project has held meetings to determine the alternatives, to recommend a path of action to the Council and then present the matter to the Congregation (see Summary of Mission Project Activities, May 17, 2007). 

In this fact finding series of presentation we learned how we might weigh in on the problems of housing for the homeless, helping to alleviate hunger, become a partner with Kenwood School in tutoring students who are falling behind.

At the most recent Mission Project meeting, Sunday, May 20, 2007, two groups were formed to focus specifically on 1) How to use the house or the proceeds from the sale of the house and marshall our resources - money and volunteer energy, and 2) what social need(s) should we concentrate on? 

There are strong feelings around these issues and we want ALL voices to be heard, the strongest centering around the sale of the house.  Some projects like the Kenwood School partnership, shelter meals, etc. are in place and will continue regardless of other major decisions.  The world is before us....

PLEASE PRAYERFULLY CONSIDER WHERE YOU BELIEVE GOD WANTS US TO GO AND JOIN IN HELPING TO LEAD US THERE  - Let your voice be heard!

Anyone in the congregation may be a part of either of these groups.  Those who cannot attend meetings may express their feelings via e-mail or the web site.  These two task forces will complete their deliberations by June 24, 2007.  Please pray for your Council as they review the groups recommendations.  The Council will review the recommendations in July and present an action item for a vote at the mid-year Congregational Meeting on July 29, 2007.