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“Our mission is to serve God”

In response to the Gospel and the needs we see around us, our mission is to serve God by being a prophetic, Eucharistic community that connects the church at large with the urban poor. We provide:

physical and spiritual works by mercy, including comprehensive pastoral care to the disenfranchised and marginalized of our society
human and material resources
opportunities for education and training in ministry
advocacy

Our Mission Statement

What it Means to be a Prophetic Community

by Brian Heinrich, LUMS Street Priest

This is our mission; we've been sent. This is not our initiative; we are emissaries for God. In a Jonah-like way the office is not chosen, it is thrust upon us. I'd rather not have to point out to our society that people are suffering here. But I am not permitted that evasion. We are backed into a corner without alternative. To remain silent is not possible. To be a prophetic community is to be compelled to speak out. It means we strive consistently to be a community where the prophetic Word is announced, enfleshed, articulated, and enacted; a community in which the Word is spoken forth. This is why we practice the Liberation Theology, base Christian community style of discerning the Word corporately in community, striving to hear what the Spirit is saying to the church. Although it is a risky business, it facilitates a living encounter with the astonishing Word. We desire to be a community whose heart the Word beats, informing and spreading its life to all its varied members.

The folks of the Downtown Eastside neighbourhood have a pretty good idea of whose community this is. In the midst of the chaos that often break out here, one frequently hears: "Come on guys, this is a church." In other words somebody resides, dwells here in this community. God is worshipped amongst us, deserving regard. God gets credit.

The folks who sleep on the stoop, whom I must step over on my way, keep us real. They challenge us to live up to this Word we dare announce, to practice what we preach, and to walk the walk as well as talk the talk.

Our Identity

We are a Reconciling In Christ (RIC) Organization of Lutherans Concerned North America

Endorsed at LUMS AGM 2001

As a community of the people of God, we are called to minister to all people in our world, knowing that the world is often an unloving place. Our world is a place of alienation and brokenness. Christ calls us to reconciliation and wholeness. We are challenged by the Gospel to be agents of healing within our society.

We affirm with the apostle Paul that in Christ, "there is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female" (Galatians 3:28). Christ has made us one. We acknowledge this reconciliation extends to people of all sexual orientations and gender identities.

Because gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered persons and their families are often scorned by society and alienated from the Church, we wish to make known our caring and concern. It is for this purpose that we affirm the following:

1.	that people of all sexual orientations and gender identities share the worth that comes from being unique individuals created by God;

that people of all sexual orientations and gender identities are welcome within the membership of this mission upon making a common, public Affirmation of faith; and that as members of this mission, people of all sexual orientations and gender identities are expected and encouraged to share in the sacramental and general life of this mission.

Inclusivity Statement
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting, Amen.
As a community with a pastoral mission to the urban poor, we, following the example of, and enlivened by the Spirit of Jesus, welcome those frequently excluded, disqualified and ostracized by both society and other religious communities. Accepting the risk and responsibility, we have heard a prophetic call to be an inclusive community.
This means we practice gracious hospitality and table fellowship with the sisters and brothers of the downtown eastside nonjudgementally. We recognize the real Presence of our Lord in them precisely in their uncomely woundedness. Jesus is the source and Host of our meals and we, rather than presume to prevent those responding to His gracious invitation, attempt to facilitate access.
We welcome Him in those who are HIV positive, drug users, sex trade workers, transsexuals, homosexuals and any other marginalized and disenfranchised sibling. With longing we struggle toward the reign of God where people of every flavour will be welcomed as guests at the Banquet of Life.

LUMS Vision

1. Support ministries in other marginalized neighbourhoods

As congregations become aware and involved with LUMS, they will be encouraged to spearhead service-related projects in their own neighbourhoods.

LUMS would encourage Evangelical Lutheran ELCIC members to present opportunities and areas of need which they have noticed in their neighbourhoods, to the Society.

2. Shelters

To be advocates for government involvement in the allocation of empty industrial/business buildings for over-night dormitories/hostels.

To address the issue of shelters with various church denominations and groups in the DTES and devise a program or seasonal strategy for rotating church shelters

LUMS Goals

To participate ecumenically in ministry with the marginalized.
To provide a vehicle whereby Lutheran congregations and individuals can participate directly in ministry.
To focus this within the context of a worshipping community.
To foster deeper consciousness within our congregations of the needs and gifts of the inner city.
To help our congregations and individual members understand mission as present in our neighbourhoods.
To mobilize a broad range of human and financial resources to enable involvement in ministry with the urban marginalized.
To facilitate people to use and develop their gifts in inner city ministry.
To promote and encourage advocacy for and with those who feel threatened.

About LUMS - Our Mission, Our Identity, Our Vision

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