# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1956_S737
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

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MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS 737

gregational welfare committees, to publish them after being ap-
proved by the Board of Directors, and to distribute them to our
Districts and congregations without charge.

Tue Boarp or SOCIAL WELFARE
H. F. Winn, Executive Secretary

ACTION
Synod adopted Resolution 6 of Committee 13:

Resolution 6

Wuereas, It is the will and command of God that Christians
should “bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the Law of
Christ” (Gal. 6:2); and

Wueress, 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 congregation,
whose duty it was to administer charitable gifts given by the
members of the congregation for the relief of the needy; and

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

Wuereas, 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
Lutheran 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;