# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_1981_S306
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

SOCIAL MINISTRY 305

8-06

To Minister to Disabled Persons
and Their Families

WHEREAS, Our Lord Christ ministered to all people regard-
less of race and condition of life in His teachings and healing;
and

WHEREAS, He commands that we minister to all people,
including those in the church with various disabilities such as
physical handicap, blindness, deafness, mental retardation,
and those with learning disabilities; and

WHEREAS, The year 1981 is designated as the International
Year of Disabled Persons, which The Lutheran Church—
Missouri Synod endorsed as partner with the national com-
mittee recognizing such a year; and

WHEREAS, Our congregational leaders as well as parishion-
ers should seek those with disabilities and their families in
order to bring the Gospel to them and also to assist them to find
help and resources available in all communities to combat and
alleviate problems of disability; therefore be it

Resolved, That all congregations minister to members with
disabilities and their families through the Synod’s parish
advocacy program and other methods; and be it further

Resolved, That congregational trustees and elders look to
the removal of barriers which might deny or limit access to any
disabled member and visitor; and be it finally

Resolved, That aid and assistance also be sought in this
regard from Districts and synodical boards and commissions.

Board of Social Ministry and World Relief
Robert H. Mugge, Chairman
Leslie F. Weber, Executive Secretary

8-07

To Encourage the Synod to Do More
to Meet the Needs
of the Mentally Handicapped

WHEREAS, We realize that there is a lack of programs in
teaching and evangelizing the mentally handicapped; and

WHEREAS, When Christ recognized the children of God, He
recognized all children, and we at this point do not recognize
the needs of all children; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Synod set up a special campaign to
reach all the mentally handicapped in the Synod; and be it
further

Resolved, That the Synod include in this campaign the
materials needed for teaching and evangelizing; and be it
further

Resolved, That the Synod encourage its congregations to
take an active interest in legislation pertaining to the lives and
activities of the mentally handicapped; and be it further

Resolved, That the Synod recognize the need of providing
some education for all professional workers in the area of the
mentally handicapped; and be it finally

Resolved, That the Synod give priority to the recruitment
and specialized training of full-time professional workers for
the mentally handicapped.

First Lutheran Church
Helena, Mont.

Lowell L. Bartels, President
Marilyn Rasmussen, Secretary

8-08

To Spell Out Accountability
of Social Ministry Agencies

WHEREAS, There can be no doubt that the church is deeply
indebted to Lutheran social service agencies for the many
splendid ways in which they have been in the forefront in
promoting social ministry among the poor and unfortunate;
and

WHEREAS, The development of the collegial approach of the
Lutheran Social Service System (LS/3) by the ALC, the LCA,
and the LCMS has filled a need to simplify reporting by the
agencies and to cut the red tape to a significant degree; and

WHEREAS, In some areas, some agencies apparently feel
that they no longer need to clear extensive capital investments,
changes in programs, new programs, and solicitation of funds
with the appropriate District boards (Social Ministry, Steward-
ship, and Board of Directors); therefore be it

Resolved, That the Synod commend these agencies for the
outstanding services they have performed and urge the
members of the Synod to support these works of love as
liberally as possible; and be it further

Resolved, That the Board of Social Ministry and World
Relief seek a revision of the LS/3 guidelines re policies, criteria,
and procedures that will spell out and clarify a greater degree of
accountability at the District level so that this important facet
of church responsibility may not be hindered nor impeded; and
be it finally

Resolved, That 3b on page 7 of the criteria (January 1979
edition) read as follows: ‘“‘Develop essential policies governing
programs and funding in consultation with the judicatory
officials; inform District officials of any changes in plans and
alert them with regard to new building plans; to be sensitive to
judicatory responses and reactions to the proposals”’; in addi-
tion, this statement should be added at the end of 3 on page 7:
“Failure to comply with the conditions stated in 3b and 3d will
seriously jeopardize the church affiliation and endorsement
and may lead to its withdrawal.”

Ohio District
C. Brumme, Secretary

8-09

To Revise Present
Social Ministry Affirmations

Resolved, That the Synod revise the Social Ministry Affir-
mations to be a better guideline for ministry in the area of
social concerns and a more workable document of the Synod.

Ohio District
C. Brumme, Secretary

8-10

To Support Documentation
for Undocumented Aliens

WHEREAS, Undocumented aliens in the United States of
America are victims of unscrupulous employers, landlords,
and businesses because of the threat of disclosure of their
status and the fear of arrest and deportation; and

WHEREAS, Christ has commanded us to love our neighbors
as ourselves, and for many of us undocumented aliens are
residents of our local neighborhoods; and

WHEREAS, The plight of this portion of our population is not
what we would want for ourselves, hence our Christian re-
sponsibility to try to alleviate this situation, therefore be it

Resolved, That the LCMS go on record as supporting
documentation for undocumented aliens as a demonstration of
Christian love.

English District
Paul E. Bacon, Secretary

8-11

To Intensify Resettlement of Refugees

WHEREAS, The Lutheran churches of the United States and
Canada have carried on effective programs of refugee resettle-
ment through the Department of Immigration and Refugee
Service of LCUSA and Canadian Lutheran World Relief; and

WHEREAS, More than 465,000 refugees have come to the U.S.
since April 1975, of which number Lutherans have resettled
approximately 15 percent (15,295 persons) in 1980 alone; and