# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_1969_S386 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) 356 SOCIAL ACTION AND WELFARE It determines the priority of need and suggests a plan of action. It works closely with the Board of Parish Education’s Committee on Religious Education of the Mentally Retarded. The committee invites suggestions and recommendations from all interested persons in our church. b. Committee on Residential-Care Facilities (Coordinating Council). This subcommittee has been functioning to meet with representatives of the resi- dential-care facilities in an attempt to coordinate all such facilities within the Synod. Meetings of this group are scheduled on a regular basis. Committee work it- self has to do with coordination and cooperation with our residential-care facilities toward improved care, education, and services. Consultant Services —The commission through its executive has acted as consultant to the Lutheran Mis- sion Society in Baltimore regarding future programing for the retarded in that area. In Chicago the Lutheran Charities Federation has requested consultation as it prepares to bring a final report on services to the men- tally retarded of the state of Illinois. In Denver, con- sultation was effected with Lutheran Hospital in its planning and strategy for a long-range consideration of services to the mentally retarded in that geographic area. A planning and strategy meeting was held with the LCUSA consultant and representatives of member syn- ods regarding future cooperative work among the men- tally retarded. Confirmation Training —One exploratory meeting has been held of pastors and chaplains experienced with confirmation training of the retarded in preparation for receiving the sacrament of Holy Communion. Another such meeting is planned in 1969 with additional ex- perienced persons included. District Conventions -—- The commission was repre- sented at several District conventions where an oppor- tunity was provided to speak to the assembled pastors and laymen regarding the active program for the re- tarded in our Synod. At most such meetings a display was set up with literature distributed to the delegates. Response was favorable at every appearance at a Dis- trict convention, indicating interest generally at the parish level. Future Programs Institutes — Realizing that many congregations are not as yet fully aware of the needs of the retarded in their midst. the commission is continuing its efforts to bring this awareness to more of our congregations and pastors by proposing workshops and institutes. It is only by having all of our members throughout the Synod recognize the need that exists and their responsibility to meet those needs with adequate religious programs that the commission can fulfill its obligation. Therefore in- quiries are invited from our congregations throughout the United States and Canada to avail themselves of the services provided by the Synod through the Commission for Services to the Mentally Retarded and to request institutes and workshops in their areas so that they can become informed of their responsibilities toward the retarded in their community and to secure help in meeting those responsibilities. The commission plans the programs, provides the speakers, and furnishes a handbook for those attending. All interested in the mentally retarded are invited to attend, especially pastors, teachers (day and Sunday school), parents, and members of the various social ministry committees and parish education committees. The commission requests that these institutes be sponsored by the local social ministry committee and/or the local board for parish education. The request for institutes should be made to the commission through one or both of the afore- mentioned groups. The request of the commission by the sponsoring group should be addressed to: The Commission for Services to the Mentally Retarded The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod 210 North Broadway St. Louis, Missouri 63102 Curriculum Plans — As mentioned before, each grad- uating class of pastors and teachers will be provided with our packet for their future file. However, in this connection a planned education program by the com- mission will be to meet personally these candidates in the classrooms at their respective colleges to provide basic understanding of the problem of mental retarda- tion in the parish. Visits have already been made in this regard at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis; Lay Train- ing Institute, Milwaukee; teachers colleges at River Forest, Ill, and Seward, Nebr. A possibility presents itself that one of our special educators will provide a survey course at River Forest, IIl., this summer. A fu- ture endeavor then will be to provide a similar course at other colleges during the summer or during the school year to prepare candidates to meet the needs of excep- tional children and adults in the parishes. Religious Materials —The commission through its two committees will continue to determine policy in each area: lesson materials and publications, and resi- dential care. In the former committee an attempt is being made to coordinate the efforts of the Committee on Religious Education for the Mentally Retarded which presently is part of the Board of Parish Education. The great unmet need is for more and more teaching aids and appropriate lessons. The latter committee will con- tinue to be concerned about study and survey of future planning for residential-care facilities and to cooperate regarding geographic jurisdictional areas of influence by each residential facility and in future studies regarding placement of additional services. LCUSA — There seems to be a willingness by mem- ber synods of LCUSA to consider cooperative activities for the mentally retarded in the combined parishes. The commission will study this tendency toward cooperation to share programs. Recruitment — Because there is a continual need for recruiting of chaplains for work in public institutions caring for the retarded, cooperation will continue with the Secretary of Institutional Chaplaincy Services of the Board of Social Ministry to meet this need.