| |
A Brief History Of Lutheran Congregational Services, Inc.
The agency was founded in 1972 as Lutheran Chaplaincy Services of the Lehigh Valley, Inc. Its genesis was the retirement of the Reverend Charles Fisher, whose call for some years had been as a “roving” Lutheran chaplain to residents or inmates in the public institutions of the Lehigh Valley. The institutions included Cedarbrook (Lehigh County’s home), Gracedale (Northampton County’s home) and the county prisons.
Pastors and congregations in the Lehigh Valley requested that the Eastern Pennsylvania Synod reconfigure the ministry in a form that would train Lutheran laity to fulfill these needs. Though a few other ministries were touched upon, the primary focus of the new agency through the tenures of the first three Executive Directors was to continue ministries to individuals in public institutions. Gradually, requests began to surface for the agency to provide programming that congregations could not do themselves. One of the first such programs was the Marriage Preparedness Series.
In 1976, the name of the agency was changed to Lutheran Services of the Lehigh Valley. The name change was designed to reflect a growing diversity in its programs and that it was doing much more than providing chaplaincy services. The agency offered programs like the Marriage Preparedness Series, “Choices for Children”, workshops for confirmands, youth work camp at the Allentown State Hospital and many more. It coordinated the Christmas Ingathering efforts of the three districts that constituted its service area (the Bethlehem-Easton, Lehigh and Northern Lehigh Districts) and assisted with refugee resettlement in the mid 1970’s.
During the 90’s, LCS became designated as the lead agency for the Northeastern Pennsylvania Synod to coordinate the relief response should a disaster happen any where on the synod’s territory. Also in 1994, it began to train laity for the opportunity and responsibility to take the sacrament of Holy Communion to members of their congregations who were homebound, in nursing homes or hospitalized. This ministry enabled pastors to offer more frequent opportunities for the celebration of the sacrament by those who could not attend public worship.
Presently, the agency is staffed by the President/CEO, an Administrative Assistant,a Disaster Response and Preparedness Coordinator, and a Coordinator of Congregational Services. In addition, there are other part-time staff making up our Disaster Response and Preparedness team. LCS continues to provide its Marriage Preparedness Series, Workshops for Confirmands, Grief Support Series, and Lay Eucharist Visitor Training. Spiritual Discernment and Strengthening Congregational Leadership Workshops are also available for congregations and leaders of the church.
LCS is looking to develop new relationships with neighboring synods and ecumenical partners of the ELCA. In the last few years, the agency has provided its Lay Eucharist Visitor Training to congregations in the Southeastern Pennsylvania. This was done at the request of pastors from that synod and with the permission of that synod’s bishop.
Lutheran Congregational Services stands ready at the beginning of a new century and millennium to serve the church and its leaders with quality and innovative programs that make a difference.
Coordinators, Executive Directors and Presidents/CEO’s of Lutheran Congregational Services, Inc. and its predecessor agencies:
- The Rev. Charles Fisher, 1971-1973
- Ms. Deborah Sieger, 1973-1976
- Ms. Pat Higham, 1976-1978
- Ms. Shirley Lucore, 1978-1985
- Ms. Lois Emsweller, 1985 (Acting Director)
- Mr. Ernest G. Siegfried, 1986-2002
- The Rev. John Brndjar, 2003-2004 (Interim Director)
- The Rev. Dr. Dennis S. Ritter, 2004- Present
To read a more detailed history click here to read a history that was written Corky Blake on the occasion of the agency's 35th Anniversary of its Incorporation.
|
