# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_1983_S237 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) STRUCTURE AND CONSTITUTION 237 colleges and seminaries to deal with basic problems of Christian education; k. assist our families in the development of Chris- tian family life on all age levels: l. provide periodical literature such as story papers and devotional literature for children and periodicals for youth and adults. 7.41 Membership Each synodical District shall elect or in some other way create a committee or board of parish education. 7.43 Functions The District board shall cooperate with the Svnod's Board of Parish Education and shall assist and advise the local congregation with regard to the whole range of Christian education on all age levels, helping the local congregation achieve the objectives and scope of Christian education as outlined in Section 7.01. 7.45 Director of Education The Districts of the Synod are advised to provide for the systematic supervision and professional guidance and promotion of Christian education and to that end, wherever possible, establish and main- tain the office of a full-time superintendent, director, or secretary of education, who shall be responsible to the District Board of Parish Education in the perform- ance of his duties. D. CONGREGATIONAL BOARDS OF EDUCATION 7.51 Functions Every congregation should be encouraged to elect or in some other way create a board or committee of Christian education. This board as the agent of the congregation is to deal with the educational needs of the congregation. It concerns itself with education for all age levels and suggests policies for all the educa- tional agencies. E. HIGH SCHOOL ASSOCIATIONS 7.53 Encouragement to Form Congregations in the same area should be encour- aged to form associations to establish and maintain secondary schools and to seek the advice of Boards of Parish Education of the Synod and the Districts and of the Board for Higher Education for professional guidance in setting up the programs. The general supervision of this program, however, shall be pro- vided by the District Board of Parish Education; therefore be it Resolved, That the 1982 Missouri District Convention petition the 1983 synodical convention to review all the above named sections and to incorporate them into the 1983 Hand- book of the LCMS. Missouri District Paul Spitz, President 5-88 To Change Name from Social Ministry Services to Church and Society WHEREAS, Social Ministry has frequently been misunder- stood and for that reason has been confusing to many of our members; and WHEREAS, Social Ministry Services has improperly, though frequently, been identified with Social Gospel; and WHEREAS, Such misperceptions have hampered the work of this board of our church and required needless explanation that the work of the board is in the best tradition of Lutheran- ism, both confessional and caring; and WHEREAS, The service of this board is complex, frequently technical, addressing many dimensions of human need, spiri- tual, psychological, and physical; therefore be it Resolved, That the Bylaws of The Lutheran Church— Missouri Synod be amended to change the name of the board from Social Ministry Services to Church and Society: and be it further Resolved, That this change be publicized with proper notice in the church's periodicals; and be it further Resolved, That hereafter the board be known as the Board for Church and Society; and be it finally Resolved, That the chief executive officer of this board be known as the Secretary for Church and Society. Board for Social Ministry Services Walter W. Snyder, Chairman Eugene W. Linse, Executive Secretary To Remove the 1986 Timetable for the Discontinuation of Commission on Black Ministry WHEREAS, The Commission on Black Ministry in its efforts to plan, coordinate, and expand Black ministry in the Synod, has made outstanding contributions to the growth of Black ministry; and WHEREAS, The work of the commission as a coordinating unit in the synodical system is extremely complex and compli- cated, requiring long-range planning for effectiveness at all levels; and WHEREAS, The projected discontinuation of the commission is predicated upon a great change in the social patterns in our society, so as to make the need for the commission nonexistent; an WHEREAS, The present social patterns in our society, espe- cially in the church, point to an increasing need for a Commis- sion on Black Ministry; therefore be it Resolved, That the timetable of 1986 be eliminated; and be it further Resolved, That a realistic study and appraisal of social conditions, social patterns, and trends be the basis for any further recommendation for the discontinuation of the Commission on Black Miuistry; and be it finally Resolved, That the Synod express its appreciation for the work which, under the blessings of God, has been achieved by the commission and assure the commission of its continued support. Commission on Black Ministry Richard Dickinson, Executive Secretary 5-90 To Establish and Initiate the Office of Called Lay Minister (CLM) Preamble The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod in its last four conventions has passed various resolutions in an effort to implement training for workers for Hispanic ministry. For whatever reason, the implementation of these resolutions has been difficult. Perhaps some of the reasons for this are as follows: the diversity that is found among the Hispanic people caused by country of origin; the cultural and social background. which plays a very important role in the life and thinking of Hispanic people; economic factors; language barriers; and general levels of formal education.