1) Our church service content, often in homelies, and congregational activities/fund-raisers focus on community poverty, loneliness and isolation, local and world hunger, and to a lesser extent, environmental issues and gun violence. Lack of school supplies, meals, programs experienced by Racine-area kids are a concern that we work at addressing through Neighborhood Camp, annual drives, mitten collections and similar activities. We also look at suffering in other parts of the world and donate money to ELCA to do our part with the larger concerns. Concern with environmental issues is prompting some church members to explore ways to be more environmentally responsible, with hopes that these activities will grow. Gun violence continues to be a divisive issue, but has been addressed by clergy although as a congregation no action has occurred. 

2) Our congregation strives to share both financial and personal gifts that we are blessed to receive.  Our benevolence disbursements, as reflected in our income statement, have declined in recent years; from nearly 10% of annual income in 2019 to 6% budgeted this year. Our priorities of mission are also reflected through the generous individual gifts we receive — beyond our budget — which are dedicated toward supporting those in need within our community.  This outreach includes meals, veterans housing, food pantry, neighborhood camp and youth mission trips.  Through these gifts and the energy of our people, LCR has been blessed with a sustained opportunity to provide help to others.

3) We have a mix of socio-economic strata in our congregation. Some of our congregation lives within a short radius of the church and are thus a part of the neighborhood. Some live outside of the neighborhood and may have a different social makeup such as farmers, executives and white collar workers, which are not generally found in the surrounding neighborhood.

4) One of the most formative events in the history of the church was its founding. It was founded as a merger of two ethnic congregations that had very different ways of doing things. The congregations came together with a vision for the future that was mutually beneficial and built on commonalities rather than differences.

A second event of consequence was the introduction of a contemporary service which replaced the second traditional service. With new music, and a new way of viewing our faith, it has become the dominant program within the church. While not without some disruption, the vision brought about a reinvigorated congregation.

And certainly the formation, focus and support of our youth programs through the years has been a hallmark of our congregation. The programs have strengthened countless faith journeys, produced clergy, counselors, mission workers, and disciples of Jesus. Many of our current congregation have fond memories of their own time in the youth programs which has kept them close to God and the church.

6) Yes, we have experienced conflict. What we have learned from that conflict is: 1) The greater good of the health the congregation is more important than an individual dispute, and that trusting in the love and guidance of the Word, the mission of the church can continue. 2) Focusing on commonalities rather than differences can lead us forward. 3) If we truly open our minds to a new idea, method or program, good things will happen and the congregation will flourish. 4) If we work together as a congregation to determine our own future, we can realize great things.