LUAD Vision, Mission & Principles
Lutherans United to Assisting after Disasters (LUAD) is an established ministry of the South-Central Synod of Wisconsin (SCSW-ELCA) with an established objective to assist disaster survivors through the initial stages of disaster recovery. To assure its ability to effectively manage operations, LUAD established its geographic scope to an area approximating that covered by the SCSW-ELCA’s congregational membership. LUAD’s governing Council commits to working closely Lutheran Disaster Services (LDS) and the SouthCentral Wisconsin Dean’s Group and partnering with several disaster assistance organizations to assure coordinated operations and to minimize duplication of effort. LUAD commits to supporting all disaster work by informing its membership of volunteer disaster activities that fall outside the auspices and scope of LUAD and encourage these members to independently support these other disaster operations as independent volunteers. Once all the operational, financial and governance objectives are fully completed, LUAD’s longer range goals includes packaging its concept for local disaster recovery and working with other synods and faith-based entities to set up similar programs.
Vision
The vision for LUAD is to be a spiritual partner in assisting disaster survivors in the SouthCentral Synod of Wisconsin-ELCA through the initial stages of disaster recovery.
Mission
LUAD’S mission is to help disaster survivors bridge the gap between the emergency of disaster and long-term recovery by rendering the necessary services, donated items, supplies, assistance, and the social, emotional, and spiritual support to help them return as quickly as possible to a state where they can again safely carry out ‘the business of family/individuals.’
Principles
LUAD’s primary focus is on survivors and their needs following a disaster – the identification and delivery of desired services, donated items, assistance, and other emotional and spiritual support that falls within LUAD’s ability to provide. The intent is not to duplicate the efforts of governmental entities or other non-governmental organizations. The purpose of LUAD’s efforts are to assist disaster survivors to achieve as near normal environment as is possible for carrying out the ‘business of family/individuals’ safely while navigating toward longer-term disaster recovery. These efforts may include damage mitigation, damage remediation and cleanup.
LUAD does not discriminate by any definition or classification other than that of being a disaster survivor and will treat all disaster survivors with the empathy, dignity, and respect necessary to effectively serve them.
LUAD understands and accepts that long-term recovery efforts eventually identify and assign responsibility to private insurers, governmental organizations and programs, and other purveyors of liability. It is understood that LUAD efforts in damage mitigation/remediation might unintentionally aid some of these entities – this is considered an unintended by-product of our charge to effectively carry out our mission.
LUAD commits its efforts to the survivors of disasters. We are specifically excluding assistance to commercial enterprise although our efforts in helping survivors might unintentionally assist private enterprise – this is also considered an unintended by-product of our charge.
For LUAD to be most effective, it needs the support of and coordination with, all government and non-government entities involved in post-disaster operations. At the same time, LUAD maintains independence and autonomy in its operational authority and governance. LUAD ought never finance, endorse or lend its name or support to any noncharitable entity – political, public, or private – as such actions will most certainly divert us away from our primary mission.
LUAD’s effectiveness in service delivery is maximized by remaining congregationally-focused in all its efforts – from its own governance, to the identification of disaster victims for services, to service-delivery and the determination of what each congregation can provide.
LUAD has at its center a governing council whose responsibility it is to develop the necessary goals, objectives, processes, policies, procedures, and coordination to carry out its mission. This will be accomplished in a way that all participating congregations will have equal say, or near equal say, in the organization’s governance and operational authority. To effect changes to the LUAD Vision, Mission and Principles requires a super majority two-thirds (2/3) of sitting LUAD Council members
All individuals, congregations, or entities that make up LUAD will conduct themselves in a manner representative of the organization’s mission and principles at all times while conducting organizational business or while representing LUAD.
In its formation, planning, and development, LUAD should always remain respectful of anticipated growth, changes, and technological advances such that its processes follow a natural evolutionary progression while remaining focused on service delivery.
LUAD shall always maintain a spiritual foundation in all of its operations and maintain the commitment that Jesus’ teachings are best communicated through the love and actions of His followers.