# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1956_S725
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

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MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS 725

pastors in difficult welfare cases in their congregations, or of
requests made by laymen for advice in solving some family-welfare
problem.

2. Activities of the Department “to Stimulate in All Congregations

Active Participation in Works of Christian Social Service and to

Promote an Enlightened Christian Conscience Concerning Perplexing
Social Problems”

The Department is suggesting to the Twenty-eighth Delegate
Synod that the various Districts of Synod be encouraged to estab-
lish Welfare Committees or Boards, “which shall advise the con-
gregations of the respective Districts as to the needs of welfare
agencies of the church, suggest ways and means of supporting
them, and, in general, aid the congregations and the welfare com-
mittees in the congregations in the task of wisely and equitably
ministering to the needs of fellow Christians and others who may
be in need of charity.”

The synodical Districts in turn will, we hope, concur in the
plan and “recommend to all member congregations the establish-
ment of a welfare committee or board for the purpose, among
others, of interpreting the needs of fellow Christians to the con-
gregation and suggesting ways and means of alleviating them, and
wisely administering the charitable gifts of the congregation.”

Many of the “good works” necessary to “minister to the
necessity of saints” must under the conditions of modern life be
done by professionally trained and exoerienced workers, called
social workers, who do their work under the direction and super-
vision of a society, an association of congregations or individuals,
usually called a social or welfare agency. The Department of
Social Welfare is suggesting to the Twenty-eighth Delegate Synod
that it wholeheartedly endorse the work of these agencies and
recommend ways and means by which they may be given much-
needed support.

3. Activities of the Department in Providing Consultative Services
to Lutheran Social Work Agencies
These advisory or consultative services are given only when
they are requested. The Department has to date undertaken six
surveys of agencies and has counseled 24 additional agencies.

4. Assisting in the Establishment of Adequate Standards of Work
and the Making of Improvements in the Social Welfare Programs
Within the Church

The Departrnent is seeking to accomplish these objectives
through the consultative service it is rendering to our agencies
of mercy. ,