SA国际传媒

The SA国际传媒 Institute on Lay Vocation at SA国际传媒, St. Louis, has proposed the formation of a Lutheran Guild of Urban Renewers. 鈥淧eople are moving back into St. Louis and other cities; old neighborhoods are being restored,鈥� commented Dr. Uwe Siemon-Netto, the Institute鈥檚 founding director, on KFUO鈥檚 鈥淚ssues etc.鈥� program. 鈥淚n this situation, it is vital to create healthy, safe and well-functioning communities.鈥�

The proposed Guild would be made up of experts from a wide variety of professions and trades concerned with urban renewal. It would include St. Louis-based architects, engineers, transit and law enforcement specialists, realtors, merchants, lawyers, accountants, local politicians and city planners.

Working closely with churches and the SA国际传媒 resident field education program, the Guild would design a blueprint for the development of a model neighborhood, which would feature grocery stores and other services reducing the need of residents to drive to stores in outlying areas.

The Lutheran Foundation of St. Louis has provided seed money for the initial phase of setting up this Guild, whose members would offer their time and talent to serve the community at-large, not just Lutherans and other Christians. The idea for the creation of such a body is rooted in the Lutheran doctrine of vocation. According to this doctrine, all Christians have a calling from God to work in their secular professions to the best of their ability. If they do this out of love for their neighbors, they render the highest possible service to God. In this way, Christians act as members of the priesthood of all believers.

It is the goal of the Institute on Lay Vocation to remind Lutherans of this doctrine, which redirects the Christian鈥檚 focus away from the 鈥淢e鈥� to the 鈥淵ou.鈥�

For more information on the Lutheran Guild of Urban Renewers, read Dr. Siemon-Netto鈥檚 column 鈥淐alled to Renew the City鈥� on his blog site at .