# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1969_S143
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

RESOLUTIONS 143

ate position on secular issues and call for corporate
action; and

WuereEas, These overtures also ask the Synod to
withdraw certain resolutions adopted at its New York
convention in 1967, specifically 9-08, “To Support Open
Housing,” 9-10, “To Provide Guidelines for Open Hous-
ing,” 9-12, “To Encourage Fairness in Business and
Employment,” 9-13, “To Commend and Support Those
Engaged in Programs Related to Removal of Poverty,”
9-15, “To Act in Behalf of Those Who Are Poor,” and
2-29, “To Receive Document on ‘Civil Obedience and
Disobedience’ as Furnishing Proper Instruction and
Counsel”; and

Wuereas, The committee has reviewed these New
York resolutions in the light of its prefatory statement
on the distinction between the two kingdoms and ap-
preciates the great care with which these resolutions
were prepared, without any confusion of that distinc-
tion; and

Wuereas, The Synod’s increasing awareness of the
call to its people to become involved in the problems
of society, and its official encouragement of such in-
volvement also through adoption of specific action pro-
grams, is of recent origin and has understandably left
certain questions unanswered; therefore be it

Resolved,

1. That the Synod invite its members to study fur-
ther the doctrine of the two kingdoms as well as the
ethical principles affirmed in the Large Catechism on
the Ten Commandments and to consider whether the
preface to these resolutions adequately answers the con-
cerns expressed in these overtures, and invite them to
submit any further questions to the Commission on
Theology and Church Relations;

2. That the Synod reaffirm the resolutions of the New
York convention listed above, as being in accord with
both Scripture and the Lutheran Confessions;

3. That the Synod remain alert to the hazard, to
which the report of the Commission on Social Action
(9-01, Convention Workbook, p.378) also points in its
paragraph on “Moot Issues of Our Day,” of issuing
superficial moral judgments or urging particular forms
of action in complex secular matters for which there is
no clear Word of God.

Action: Adopted (5).

To Commend Commission on Ministerial
Health
RESOLUTION 9-10

Report 9-05 (CW, pp. 389—390)

Wuereas, The Synod in its 1967 convention author-
ized the appointment of a Commission on Ministerial
Health; and

Wuereas, The commission has clearly delineated in
its objectives a deep concern for the health and well-
being of the men who serve God’s church as pastors and
ministers; and

Wuereas, Many of the Districts have already ap-
pointed a District Commission on Ministerial Health,
which will not only share its insights and experiences
with the synodical commission but may also count on
counsel and help from the same commission; therefore
be it

Resolved, That we thank the Commission on Min-
insterial Health for its competent initiation of a mean-
ingful service to the church; and be it further

Resolved, That we encourage every District to ap-
point a similar competent commission according to the
suggested guidelines; and be it finally

Resolved, That in these days of considerable stress
and tension we ask God to favor with sound health in
mind and body those men whom He has called to be His
ambassadors, that the Gospel of redemption may be
proclaimed without interruption.

Action: Adopted (6).

To Intensify Efforts to Alleviate
World Hunger
RESOLUTION 9-11

Overtures 9-07 (CW, pp. 390—392); 9-30U (URO, p.
73)

Wuereas, Hunger, a present-day world crisis, is the
cause of hatred, conflict, and premature death among
mankind; and

Wuereas, Already seven persons die of starvation
every minute, and a United Nations report projects a
world population of 7,000,000,000 people, or double the
present number, by the year 2000; and

Wuereas, This points to a future of unprecedented
mass starvation among mankind unless remedial and
preventive action is taken by those who love God-given
life; and

Whereas, Christians, set free from self-centeredness
by the crucified and living Christ, have the desire to
meet their Lord’s directive to “feed the hungry”; and

Wuereas, The time for Christians to respond to this
directive is while they and their fellowmen are permit-
ted to be alive in this present world; therefore be it

Resolved, That The Lutheran Church — Missouri
Synod, a corporate body of redeemed Christians, direct
it Board of Directors in its first regular meeting follow-
ing this convention to appoint a committee charged with
the task of immediately implementing this resolution
to alleviate world hunger; and be it further

Resolved, That said body consult and cooperate with
other religious and secular organizations in determining
the most effective ways and means to meet the need of
hungry humanity; and be it further

Resolved, That, in view of the urgency of the prob-
lem of world hunger and in order to give this serious
matter high fiscal priority, the Board of Directors of
our Synod be instructed to realign its budget priorities;
and be it further