# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1986_S121 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) WITNESS AND OUTREACH 121 sequence in the title to“... Outreach and Membership Conser- vation.” By amendment, the first resolve above was substituted for one which stated, “Resolved, That the Synod in convention adopt the following three directives from the ‘Forward in Growth Report’ (1-01A) and recommend that each individual congregation also adopt these directives: I. We will make growth a top priority for the next six years. IL. We commit ourselves to carrying out the Great Commis- sion. III. We will do everything necessary, so that by God’s grace we may grow.” By amendment to the amendment and common consent the limitation of “the next six years” was deleted and the words “in- formed and inspired by the Holy Spirit” were added. The delegates declined an additional resolve stating, “Resolved, That the Board of Directors of the Synod provide the necessary resources in fi- nances and personnel necessary to carry out this resolution.”) To Increase Multicultural Awareness and Ministry RESOLUTION 1-04 Overture 1-22 (CW, p. 32) Wuereas, The Synod recognizes that one of the largest and most important world mission fields is right here in this country; and Wuenreas, Our present population of 230 million Ameri- cans includes 29 million Blacks, 23 million Hispanics, and 10 million Asians; and Wuereas, It is estimated that by the year 2,000, today’s “minorities” will actually become the majority of the American people; therefore be it Resolved, That all congregations, departments, schools, and agencies of the Synod recognize the growing multi- cultural needs and challenges affecting our church; and be it further Resolved, That all congregations strive for multicultural inclusiveness; and be it further Resolved, That the Synod devote to the multicultural challenge a proportionate share of its mission time and resources; and be it finally Resolved, That the Synod provide training and educa- tion at every level for effective multicultural awareness and ministry. Action: Adopted as amended (8). (The second resolve was added by amendment.) To Encourage the Commission on Black Ministry to Continue to Work Within the Present Structure of the Synod RESOLUTION 1-05 Report 1-03 (CW, p. 24) Wuereas, There continues to be discussion regarding the formation of a nongeographical Black Mission and Min- istry District within The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod; and Wuereas, There is a greater sensitivity throughout the Synod for the concerns of the Black Ministry Commission for more involvement of black people in the decision mak- ing process of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod; and Wuereas, The President of the Synod in his report rec- ommends “that the Synod be encouraged to elect women and representatives of minority groups to all program boards, and, if this does not occur, that the Board of Di- rectors be authorized to include such persons among its appointments to those boards; and Wuereas, The sainted Dr. Joseph G. Lavalais served as vice-president of the Synod, a black pastor is currently first vice-president of the Southern District, a black pastor serves as executive for Congregational Services of the Southeastern District, a black pastor serves as the exec- utive of the Black Ministry Commission, and a black pastor serves on the mission staff of the Synod; therefore be it Resolved, That the commission be encouraged to make the best use of the present structure of the Synod for ef- fecting black mission and ministry within the Synod, rather than pursuing the feasibility of a nongeographical Black Mission and Ministry District; and be it further Resolved, That the structure of the Synod be encouraged to assist the Commission on Black Ministry in carrying out its task for effective ministry. Action: Adopted as amended (14). (In the fourth whereas the committee deleted the words, “a black pastor serves as assistant to the executive secretary for Board for Youth Services,” since this information was in error. It was also noted that the second last resolve would not prevent the Commission on Black Ministry from carrying out a study with regard to the possibility of a black district. The final resolve was added by common consent to an amendment from the floor. A request to include the word “qualified” before “women” in the third whereas was declared out of order.) To Strengthen the Effectiveness of the Commission on Black Ministry to Represent the Concerns of All Blacks RESOLUTION 1-06 Report 1-03 (CW, pp. 24-26) Wuereas, The Synod has charged the Commission on Black Ministry to represent the concerns of black ministry, and it is important to determine that the commission is doing so as effectively as possible; and Wuenreas, There is a need for reliable and objective data on the effectiveness of the commission’s mandated respon- sibilities to represent the concerns of black ministry “be- fore the boards, commissions, committees, and judicatories of the Synod”; therefore be it Resolved, That the Commission on Black Ministry, in association with the Department of Planning and Research of the Synod, develop an objective survey instrument within one year following the 1986 convention to determine from the black members of The Lutheran Church—Mis- souri Synod what could be done to strengthen the com- mission’s efforts to represent all blacks; and it be further Resolved, That the results of this survey be reported to and reviewed by the Board of Directors of the Synod. Action: Withdrawn by committee.