# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_1981_S307 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) 306 SOCIAL MINISTRY WHEREAS, The number of refugees (people who are victims of war, disaster, or oppression from hostile governments) in our world currently stands at about 15 million (1% million in Somalia alone); and WHEREAS, The Lord of the church has encouraged His people to ‘reach out to the stranger” and to “demonstrate hospitality”; and WHEREAS, Assistance to the oppressed and the refugee needs to be viewed as an ongoing social ministry of the church; therefore be it Resolved, That the LCMS call upon the governments of the United States and Canada to continue theirinvolvementin the resettlement of many refugees from around the world; and be it further Resolved, That this convention encourage our members and our congregations to become sponsors (assuring persons of housing, employment, and assistance for daily needs for a limited period of time) of refugee persons through the programs of Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service. Board of Social Ministry and World Relief Robert Mugge, Chairman Leslie F. Weber, Executive Secretary 8-12 To Encourage Donation of Kidneys and Other Organs WHEREAS, We accept and believe that our Lord Jesus came to give life and give it abundantly (John 10:10); and WHEREAS, Through advances in medical science we are aware that at the time of death some of our organs can be transplanted to alleviate pain and suffering of afflicted human beings (see Gal. 6:10); and WHEREAS, Our heavenly Father has created us so that we can adequately andsafely live with one kidney and can express our love and relieve the unnecessary prolonged suffering of our relative; and WHEREAS, We have an opportunity to help others out of love for Christ, through the donation of organs; therefore be it Resolved, That our pastors, teachers, and DCE’s be encour- aged to inform the members of The Lutheran Church— Missouri Synod of the opportunity to sign a Universal Organ Donor Card (which is to authorize the use of our needed organs at the time of death in order to relieve the suffering of individuals requiring organ transplants); and be it further Resolved, That we encourage family members to become living kidney donors; and be it further Resolved, That the program committee for the next Profes- sional Church Workers Conference be encouraged to include “organ transplants” as a topic on the agenda; and be it finally Resolved, That the entire Synod join in this opportunity to express human mercy. Nebraska District Eldor W. Meyer, President B. F. Meschke, Secretary 8-13 To Sponsor Haitian Refugees WHEREAS, Our Lord at His coming for judgment will among other things say to believers, “I was a stranger and you took me in”; and WHEREAS, About 16,000 Haitian refugees have been recog- nized as refugees in need of American sponsors; and WHEREAS, The Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service in New York with its representatives in all of our Districts can assist us; therefore be it Resolved, That all congregations and Districts are urged to sponsor a Haitian family as well as refugees from other countries. Board of Social Ministry and World Relief Robert Mugge, Chairman Leslie F. Weber, Executive Secretary 8-14 To Respond to the Needs of the Aging Members of the Christian Family WHEREAS, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod has given much attention and concern to the problems of its older members through the establishment of new nursing homes and care facilities, and in the fiscal support of established facilities, and in suggesting approaches to enable the frail elderly to achieve independent living in the security of their own homes; and WHEREAS, The Board of Social Ministry and World Relief has developed some programs such as Project Compassion to respond to some of the needs of the aging; and WHEREAS, The White House Conference on Families developed a number of important recommendations related to the concerns of the aging, suggesting greater involvement of the religious community; and WHEREAS, The 1981 White House Conference on Aging will offer many worthwhile suggestions designed to improve the quality of life for older citizens; therefore be it Resolved, That The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod direct its Board of Social Ministry and World Relief to study the recommendations of the White House Conference on the Family and the White House Conference on Aging to determine the relevance and applicability of their findings and to report to the Board of Directors with proposals that implement such recommendations as are feasible and relevant to our consti- tuency. Board of Social Ministry and World Relief Robert Mugge, Chairman Leslie F. Weber, Executive Secretary 8-15 To Affirm Pastoral Care to Institutionalized Persons WHEREAS, Approximately 30 million persons enter various hospitals and institutions each year; and WHEREAS, More than four million persons are confined in city and county jails each year; and WHEREAS, Ourchurch has traditionally provided chaplains, deaconesses, and trained volunteers to share the love of Christ and to provide pastoral and spiritual concern for the patients, residents, and inmates in the public and private institutions of America; and WHEREAS, Many states and institutions, recognizing the therapeutic value of pastoral-care departments, provided funds for chaplains, but more recently, in some areas, have decreased or eliminated the funding for chaplaincy programs for various reasons (church/state issues, fear of lawsuits from persons antagonistic to religion, uncertainty of economic situation, etc.); and WHEREAS, The Chaplaincy Services Committee of the Board of Social Ministry and World Relief recognizes a dangerous situation in which neither the state, the institutions, nor the church ‘is providing the trained clergy to minister to the millions in our institutions; therefore be it Resolved, That The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod reaffirm the Scriptural mandate (2 Kings 8:29; Matt. 25:36; James 5:14) to provide programs of pastoral care by encourag- ing Districts and clusters of local congregations to take steps to assure that present chaplaincy programs be maintained and new ones be established; and be it further Resolved, That The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod through the Board of Social Ministry and World Relief address itself to the various governmental units, national, state, and local, as well as the nonprofit voluntary sector, to continue departments of pastoral care and to reinstitute those that have been discontinued or decreased. Board of Social Ministry and World Relief Robert Mugge, Chairman Leslie F. Weber, Executive Secretary