Parish Ministry Consultants

The Role of a PMC

Bethesda's Parish Ministry Consultants (PMCs) help people with disabilities living in the community become active members in the church. They do this in a variety of ways:

• First, the PMC meets with the person who has a disability to make a spiritual life assessment.
• Next, the PMC works to match the individual with a congregation. The PMC looks not only at routine worship, but also seeks ways for the individual to become part of the congregation’s life through opportunities such as ushering or helping with church dinners.
• Finally, the PMC helps the congregation with disability awareness in order to provide a smooth transition when the person with developmental disabilities joins their congregation.
• The PMC also provides as much follow-up help as needed.

In addition to working with churches, PMCs also reach out to schools and families of people with disabilities. They try to create networks among each of these groups, and between each group, help in educational and informational efforts.

The Results

The true measure of the PMC program is the Christian fellowship and faith in God that result for people with disabilites as well as the members of the congregation who welcome them. Congregations’ faith and fellowship are strengthened when they welcome a person with developmental disabilities into parish life.

Read how Trinity Lutheran Church in Lowell, Ind. has included people who have developmental disabilities into their congregation in Not Only Invited, But Involved.

Contact Information

PMCs are available to serve you in the following locations. If you don't see a PMC listed for your area, please contact Bethesda's Religious Life staff at 1.800.369.4636.

Central California	Southern California
Pamela Martens Good Shepherd Communities 290 Shaw Ave, Ste B-2 Clovis, CA 93612 559.789.4890 pmartens@blhs.org	Rev. Steve Leinhos Good Shepherd Communities 26489 Rancho Parkway South Lake Forest, CA 92630 949.600.6122 sleinhos@blhs.org
Colorado	Florida/Georgia
Susan Hart 5630 S Curtice St Littleton, CO 80120 303.795.2061 shart@blhs.org	Dcs. Lois Diebel 7207 Monetary Dr Orlando, FL 32809 877.457.5556 ldiebel@blhs.org
Indiana
Dcs. Judith Anderson 6660 North Clinton St Fort Wayne, IN 46825 260.452.2283 janderso@blhs.org
Illinois
Diane Mueller c/o Bethel Lutheran Church 38 North Grant Westmont, IL 60559 630.271.9871 dmueller@blhs.org	Rev. Philip Gruenbaum, Central Region Chaplain - Ill. 1480 Reckinger Rd Aurora, IL 60505 630.851.6777, ext. 22 pgruenbaum@blhs.org
Kansas
David Sukolics 14150 W 113th St Shawnee Mission, KS 66215 913.314.6084 dsukolics@blhs.org
Michigan/Ohio/New Jersey	Minnesota
Kathy Morris 2744 Roundtree Dr Troy, MI 48083-2328 248.680.1679 kmorris@blhs.org	Dcs. Jeanne Dicke c/o Concordia University 275 N. Syndicate St St. Paul, MN 55104 651.603.6279 jdicke@blhs.org
New York	Oregon
Sandra Rice 6680 Main St Williamsville, NY 14221 716.631.9212, ext. 112 srice@blhs.org	Philip Mann c/o Good Shepherd Communities 831 SW 17th Ave Portland, OR 97205 503.225.1637 pmann@blhs.org
Texas
Rev. David Cecil, Gulf Region Chaplain 19937 K-Z Rd PO Box 729 Cypress, TX 77410-0729 1.800.220.0423, ext. 4031 dcecil@blhs.org
Wisconsin
Rev. Dennis Kneer 700 Hoffmann Dr Watertown, WI 53094 800.383.8743, ext. 3565 dkneer@blhs.org	Rev. Michael Schempf, North Central Region Chaplain 700 Hoffmann Dr Watertown, WI 53094 1.800.383.8743, ext. 3271 mschempf@blhs.org