Meet Our Neighbors

Click image to view video of the work of CFLS. Claudia Thorne (pictured here), CFLS Executive Director, has been very helpful as the synod makes this transition.

Side-by-side doorbells will buzz the new synod office or Community Family Life Services (CFLS) when the synod moves to 4th and E later this month. Our future landlords have a long and respected involvement with those in need in the area.

First Trinity Lutheran Church, a synod congregation, started CFLS in 1969 in response to the needs of exoffenders, poor and homeless persons in the community. Today the organization is a faith-based, independent non-profit with a mission to facilitate personal growth, independence and integration into a healthy community for people who are homeless or have low-incomes.

“Our agency has two primary goals: to resolve our clients’ short-term crisis needs and to help them break the cycle of poverty that leads to crises and homelessness,” states the CFLS Web site. Nearly 500 people monthly receive housing, youth development, employment, mentoring and emergency services through the agency.

Around the corner from the founding church, and with a floor of offices in the CFLS building, you will find the Metro D.C. Synod office at its new home in NW D.C. soon.