Chaplaincy Areas

LCMS Specialized Pastoral Ministry

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Through The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod’s Specialized Pastoral Ministry program, commissioned men and women receive training to serve as institutional and emergency services chaplains, pastoral counselors, and clinical pastoral educators.

These professional church workers offer comprehensive service that includes Word or Word and Sacrament ministry, counseling, compassionate care, and contextual education for specialized pastoral ministries.

In touching many lives at many points of mission, SPM takes place in diverse, specialized, and geographical locations.

 

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Prison and Jail Ministry

“Remember those who are in prison as though you are in prison with them.” (Heb. 13:3a)

• Prison and Jail Ministry Plan — “Not Forgotten” *
• Prison and Jail Ministry Handbook of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod *
• Addendum to the Prison and Jail Ministry Handbook *
• Prison and Jail Ministry — Brochure *
• Grant Request Form — Chaplain James Rivett Memorial Jump Start Prison and Jail Ministry Grant Program
• Guidelines for Celebration of Holy Baptism in a Correctional Setting
• Reaching In — A Guide for Getting Started *
• Map — LCMS Prison Ministry Coordinators

* To receive free printed copies of these resources, contact LCMS Prison and Jail Ministry Coordinator Don Sundene at lcmsprisonministry@lcms.org or 888-843-5267.

Free Bibles available

Through a generous family, LCMS Prison and Jail Ministry is able to offer large-print Bibles at no charge. The Bible highlights appropriate passages for inmates and chaplains.

To receive one or more free Bibles, contact LCMS Prison and Jail Ministry Coordinator Don Sundene at lcmsprisonministry@lcms.org or 888-843-5267.

Bible studies

• Christ in the Cellblock
   Participant Guide
   Leader Guide

• Freed in Christ
   Participant Guide
   Leader Guide

Devotions

• Prisoner’s Reflections: Meditations for Prisoners — The collection of devotions was written by Thomas Bird, a Lutheran Christian who was in prison for many years.
   Download devotions

Video

• ‘Not Forgotten — The Story of Jack Baird’ — While feeling alone and hopeless in prison, Jack Baird heard God’s Word from Pastor Steve Waterman and a prison ministry group. Baird accepted Christ and was baptized in prison.
   Watch video

Conference presentations

• “Captive Souls ... Mercy for All” — View presentations and workshops from the prison/jail ministry conference, which was held in 2018 in St. Louis.
   Watch presentations

Contact information

• Don Sundene
  Prison & Jail Ministry, Contract coordinator
  The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
   lcmsprisonministry@lcms.org
   888-843-5267

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Emergency Services

Emergency services chaplains provide emotional and spiritual care to members of law enforcement, emergency medical services, and fire services.

• Read brochure
• View video presentations
• Training resources
• Activity report form
• Personal Data Form

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Disaster Response

The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod’s Disaster Response ministry responds to immediate and long-term needs following natural and man-made disasters.

Disaster Response chaplains are provided to:

• Help church workers affected by a community crisis deal with their own stress in healthy ways; and
• Provide guidance and resources to pastors and other church leaders as they seek to help others.

Disaster Response chaplains provide pastoral care, information, support, conversation, and education to:

• Understand the effects of stress;
• Normalize” understandable reactions to disasters; and
• Implement best practices for ministering to those suffering from disaster-related stress.

  Read brochure

  Visit lcms.org/disaster

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