# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1956_S736
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

736 MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS

Wuereas, Our Lord Jesus Himself commanded His children
“that ye love one another” (John 15:17), and in His own life and
ministry exemplified this love in countless deeds of mercy; and

Wuereas, The example of the early church (Acts 6:1-6), which
established a welfare committee for the orderly and equitable
distribution of charitable gifts (the first congregational committee
to be established by the early church), clearly shows that the
exercise of Christian love in deeds of mercy is a God-pleasing
function of a Christian congregation; and

Wuereas, In the early days of our church it was the general
practice to appoint almoners ( Almosenpfleger) in the congrega-
tion, whose duty it was to administer charitable gifts given by
the members of the congregation for the relief of the needy; and

WuereEas, This fine, God-pleasing institution has seemingly
been allowed to lapse in many congregations; and

WuergAs, It is more necessary than ever in these days of
increased and multiplied need, when countless appeals for aid in
many forms are made to individual Christians and to Christian
congregations, that good stewardship be exercised and that there
be a proportionate division and wise administration of gifts of
charity; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Twenty-eighth Delegate Synod of The Lu-
theran Church — Missouri Synod

1. Recommend to all member congregations the establishment
of a congregational welfare committee or board for the purpose,
among others, of interpreting the needs of fellow Christians to the
congregation and suggesting ways and means of alleviating them,
and of wisely administering the charitable gifts of the congregation;

2. Recommend to all synodical Districts the establishment of
District 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 of the congregations in the task of wisely and equitably
ministering to the necessities of fellow Christians and others who
may. be in need of charity;

3. Direct the Department of Social Welfare to assist synodical
Districts and individual congregations in establishing such welfare
committees, aiding in defining their functions in detail, and, in gen-
eral, counseling them in all matters pertaining to the administration
of welfare activities whenever called upon to-do so;

4. Direct the Department of Social Welfare to prepare manuals
for the use and guidance of District welfare committees and con-

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