The Lutheran Council in the USA (LCUSA) was founded in 1967 as an inter-Lutheran agency of The American Lutheran Church (TALC), the Lutheran Church in America (LCA), the Synod of Evangelical Lutheran Churches (SELC)(which became an LCMS nongeographic district in 1970), and the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LCMS). The Association of Evangelical Lutheran Churches (AELC) joined LCUSA in 1978 and the Latvian Evangelical Lutheran Church in America became a member in 1982. LCUSA coordinated the work of the participating church bodies in mission planning; ministry to students, immigrants, and other groups; theological education, dialogues, and studies; service to military personnel; public relations; and government liaison activities. The Division of Mission Services was established at the LCUSA's founding to further cooperation.
Among the LCUSA church bodies in their mission activities in the U.S. and abroad. The Division's Regional American Mission Planning Consultations brought together mission directors, district and synod presidents, and other representatives of the LCUSA's participating church bodies to: share plans for new ministries, discuss major changes in existing ministries, reduce conflicting plans and duplication of work, identify regional mission needs, and discuss theology of mission topics. These gatherings were held in sixteen regions of the U.S. on a semi-annual basis. In 1973, the Division of Mission Services and Division of Welfare Services merged to become the Division of Mission and Ministry. The Regional American Mission Planning Consultations were expanded under this new Division. The LCUSA was terminated in 1987 at the founding of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA).
From the description of Regional American Mission Planning Consultations Minutes and Agenda, 1967-1973 [microform] (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Library). WorldCat record id: 76806733
