For the past few years, Trinity Lutheran Church in Chesterfield, Missouri has been engaged in a process of prayerful reflection to faithfully identify their mission and ministry. In the midst of this journey, several members of Trinity realized their call to advocate for the poor, hungry, oppressed, and marginalized in God’s world. Trinity acted on this call by providing opportunities for its members to participate in “Offerings of Letters” in conjunction with the ELCA, Bread for the World, and the ONE Campaign. The first “Offering of Letters” was conducted in October of 2006 and the second was held in June of 2007, with over 200 letters sent to our members of Congress advocating for those who are poor and hungry both in the United States and globally. In the spring of 2008, Trinity will again participate in an “”Offering of Letters”.

Realizing that the move toward advocacy may cause some controversy within a congregation, a task committee was formed to address if and how members of Trinity are to engage in discussions of difficult issues within the church. Using the ECLA document, “Talking Together as Christians about Tough Social Issues”, the committee developed a document expressing why and how Christians are called to address difficult issues, including advocacy, which was adopted by the church council.

Incorporating the adopted guidelines, in October 2007, the Missional Service Team of Trinity conducted a series of classes to educate members on the issues of extreme global hunger and poverty, using the ecumenical study guide, “God’s Mission in the World”, which was jointly prepared by the ELCA and the Episcopal Church. The six-week course identifies how the Millennium Development Goals (MDG’s) address eight goals as a means to eradicate extreme hunger and poverty in the world, identifies how we as Christians view social justice, and how we are called to advocate for those who are poor and hungry. “God’s Mission in the World” also contains useful resources to assist participants including information on visiting lawmakers and resources for further learning.

At the conclusion of the six-week course, participants and the larger congregation were invited to a discussion, where members of a panel addressed issues of extreme hunger and poverty, the Millennium Development Goals, and related their personal experiences working with people in the developing nations of Kenya, Haiti, and the Central African Republic. Members of the panel were Carole Vorst, of the orphanage House of Hope in Haiti; Sr. Antoinette Temporiti, founder and Executive Director of Microfinancing Partners in Africa; and Trinity’s Pastor Jeff Hackler, who served as a missionary in the Central African Republic. Their personal experiences and insight into the issues of extreme hunger and poverty strongly complemented the information presented in “God’s Mission in the World” and helped those in attendance understand the issues on a more personal level.

Today, Trinity continues its journey to faithfully and prayerfully discern its role within the greater community and how we are called to serve and advocate for those in need. “God’s Mission in the World” helped participants to gain greater understanding of the issues and clarify their call. One outcome of the course was the development of an ongoing group of Trinity members who will focus on issues of poverty, hunger, social justice, and advocacy. Members of this group will pray, study and discuss the issues, access effective strategies, and actively work for social justice.

If you would like to learn more about “God’s Mission in the World”, you can download the curriculum from the ELCA web site at: www.elca.org/advocacy/one/mdgguide.pdf . If you would like more information about the program, as conducted at Trinity, you may contact Peggy Beljan Schaefer at pbschaefer@sbcglobal.net.

Thank you to the ELCA’s Washington Office for their efforts in the development of “God’s Mission in the World” and their continued efforts to advocate for those in need. Thank you also for your support of Christ’s mission in Central States Synod, ELCA.

Peggy Schaefer
Trinity Lutheran Church
Chesterfield, MO
January 25, 2008

“He has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” Micah 6:8