Christian Cyclopedia

Founded 1901 in Chicago by 3 pioneers in city or institutional miss. work: F. W. Herzberger* of St. Louis, August Schlechte (July 9, 1868–April 17, 1920) of Chicago, and F. C. T. Ruhland* of Buffalo. Men prominent in the movement in later yrs. included Carl Eissfeldt (November 29, 1854–March 14, 1935) of Milwaukee, a worker in the field of child welfare; Philipp Wambsganss Jr. (February 16, 1857–April 21, 1933) of Ft. Wayne, Indiana, whose interests centered in hospitals and child welfare agencies; and Enno Duemling,* long-time institutional miss. in Milwaukee.

In the early days of the organization an annual conf. for mutual instruction and encouragement was the sole objective. Later other aims were added.

Assoc. Luth. Charities was instrumental in est. Bethesda Luth. Home for mentally retarded and epileptic children, Watertown, Wisconsin, 1903. It also provided the impetus for founding the Deaconess Soc. 1919 and for est. undergrad, soc. work courses at Valparaiso U. Assoc. Luth. Charities took the leading role in sensitizing LCMS to its need for a Dept. of Soc. Welfare.

In recent years new and experimental forms of soc. ministry have emerged. LCMS experiments involve “Ministers of Social Service,” Luth. soc. workers with theol. training besides grad. soc. work educ., on staffs of inner city parishes. They engage in a generic ministry, sharing professional insights with other parish staff members. JCC

See also Social Work.