For Immediate Release
Contact: Vicki Biggs, 314-996-1236, 314-556-3829 (cell), @theLCMS
Download photo here: Deaconess Cara Patton
ST. LOUIS, September 9, 2013—Deaconess Cara Patton has accepted a call to serve as coordinator for The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod’s Recognized Service Organizations program, effective Aug. 5, and will be formerly installed today at the LCMS International Center in St. Louis.
Recognized Service Organizations (RSOs) are independent organizations that serve to foster the mission of the LCMS – reaching into communities to provide services beyond the scope of traditional church ministry – and agree to operate in accordance with the beliefs and teachings of the church. Some 300 social-service and education organizations around the country currently hold RSO status with the LCMS.
Patton’s responsibilities include building and maintaining relationships between RSOs and LCMS districts, congregations and other partners; assisting in evaluating and processing RSO status applications; and performing site visits and assessing RSO efforts to foster the mission of the LCMS.
“Cara’s deaconess training has given her the experience of the mercy work that many of our RSOs engage in as they serve people in need,” said Deaconess Dorothy Krans, director of RSOs for the LCMS. “Her field work and internship have provided her with the understanding of the strengths and challenges of faith-based organizations. I expect that Cara will be great addition to our team as we work together with our RSOs in spreading the Gospel and carrying out Christ’s call to love and care for others.
Patton is a 2013 graduate of Concordia University Chicago, River Forest, Ill., where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in theology with the LCMS Deaconess Certification. She minored in biblical languages. She served her deaconess internship from July 2012 to May 2013 as coordinator of The Bridge Ministry, an inner-city outreach ministry to the homeless operated by the Federation of Lutheran Churches of Cincinnati and Vicinity.
An accomplished trumpet player – Patton was named Trumpet Section Leader and 1st chair of the Concordia University Chicago Wind Symphony – she looks forward to continuing to play in church in her new hometown of Sappington, a suburb of St. Louis.
To learn more about LCMS Recognized Service Organizations, visit www.lcms.org/rso.
About The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod is a biblical, confessional, witness-oriented Christian denomination with 2.3 million members – 600,000 households – in 6,200 congregations. Through acts of witness and mercy, the church carries out its mission worldwide to make known the love of Jesus Christ. Learn more at www.lcms.org.
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