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 Welfare Services was established at the LCUSA's founding to provide the means.
For research, study, planning, and development of programs related to the social welfare needs of individuals and groups. The Department of Institutional Chaplaincy and Clinical Pastoral Education sought to assist the LCUSA church bodies in the recruitment, training and supervision of personnel for service as chaplains or contact pastors. In 1973, the Division of Welfare Services and the Division of Mission Services merged to become the Division of Mission and Ministry. The Department continued under the new Division and in 1975 was renamed the Department of Specialized Pastoral Care and Clinical Education. The LCUSA was terminated in 1987 with the founding of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA).
From the description of Lutheran Council in the USA, Division of Welfare Services, Department of Institutional Chaplaincy and Clinical Pastoral Education, Minutes and Agenda, 1966-1973. (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Library). WorldCat record id: 38889607
