It was the vision and dedication of a single congregation, Luther Place Memorial Church, which led to the establishment of LVC. Today, congregations across the country continue to be vibrant and vital members of the LVC community.
Congregations ground LVC more deeply in the communities LVC serves, and help LVC maintain its strong calling to Christian mission. There are many ways local congregations are part of LVC.
Donor Congregations are local congregations and religious groups from across the country that support the mission and vision of LVC. LVC seeks to partner with congregations to journey together in working for social justice, creating intentional community, and encouraging simple, sustainable living. Through spiritual and financial support, congregations and other religious groups help make LVC’s mission possible. LVC provides materials, such as inserts and the LVC newsletter, opportunities to hear from LVC alumni and current volunteers, and other ways to help congregations learn and reflect on social justice, community and simple, sustainable living in their own congregation.
Financial support from these congregations falls under various categories, although any amount is appreciated:
- Social Justice (over $5,000)
- Intentional Community ($1,000 - $4,999)
- Sustainability ($500 - $999)
- Simplicity ($100 - $499)
Support Congregations are local partners in neighborhoods where LVC volunteer intentional communities live. These congregations provide physical, financial and personal support directly to the LVC volunteer communities, the Local Support Committee and LVC as a whole. This support is an outgrowth of the specific gift, talents and resources of the congregation and therefore the type of support given varies greatly from congregation to congregation. The relationship is flexible and is based on immediate local gifts and needs. As a whole, support congregations' partnership includes:
- providing LVC office space;
- providing housing for LVC volunteers;
- providing household furnishings;
- assisting with relocating houses within their city;
- hosting local commissioning services and events;
- picking up volunteers upon first arrival in their cities;
- serving as placement agencies;
- providing financial support to LVC and support fund development efforts;
- providing pastoral counseling and worship support to volunteers and staff;
- providing LVC volunteers a relationship with a worshipping congregation and;
- helping represent LVC in their cities and synods and;
