# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_1969_S400
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

400 SOCIAL ACTION AND WELFARE

(9-28)

To Require Accreditation of Welfare Agencies

Wuereas, The Board of Social Ministry of The Lu-
theran Church — Missouri Synod has been given the
responsibility to serve as the administrative agency of
the Synod for social-ministry interests of and in the
Synod; and

Wuereas, A “Polity Statement” was developed in
consultation with representatives of the various health
and welfare agencies that have developed in our Synod;
and

Wuereas, This “Polity Statement,’ which describes
the character of programs, administration, adequate
financial planning. and appropriate relationship with the
District and Synod, was approved by the synodical
Board of Directors in May 1967; and

Wuereas, A number of our agencies and institutions
have not complied with the “Polity Statement’ and
sought the accreditation of the Synod through its Board
of Social Ministry: therefore be it

Resolved, That all health and welfare agencies and
institutions in our Synod be urged to take immediate
steps to develop an approved relationship with the
Synod; and be it further

Resolved, That institutions and agencies which have
not met the standards of accreditation by 1971 forfeit
the privileges of the listing in the Lutheran Annual and
the right to appeal for the support of the Synod, the
Districts, and the congregations; and be it finally

Resolved, That our congregations, Districts, and
Synod demonstrate by increasing involvement, adequate
support, and continuing interest that our agencies are
truly channels of the church by which the love of Jesus
Christ is proclaimed and demonstrated.

BoarD OF SocrAL MINISTRY
Lesuie F, WEBER, Executive Secretary

(9-29)
To Revise Polity Statement
of Board of Social Ministry
Wuereas, The Lord of the church has blessed the
efforts of His people to establish health and welfare
agencies in the Synod through associations of individual

Christians. associations of congregations, and in recent
years through District action; and

Wuereas, The Board of Social Ministry of the Synod
has adopted policies that grant accreditation only to
welfare agencies that are associations of congregations,
or District-sponsored, and thereby discriminates against
agencies that are an association of individual Lutherans.
cf. “The Relationship of Lutheran Health and Welfare
Agencics tc > Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod,
A Polity St... -nt.” approved by the Board of Direc-
tors of the Synod, May 1967; and

Wuereas, The Polity Statement grants the Board of
Social Ministry control over programs and budgets and
prior approval before men can be elected to local Boards
of Directors, and generally is more restrictive than the
Synod is of her congregations, all of which tends to
stifle Christian compassion and social action: and

Wuereas, The Po! ‘y Statement emphasizes the role
of the organized church in such a manner that it is in
conflict with the spirit of the Mission Affirmations of
the Detroit convention. which encourage individual
Christian responsibility and activity; and

Wuereas, We reject the position of the staff members
of the Board of Social Ministry that welfare associations
of individual Lutherans “represent themselves and not
the church”; and

Wuereas, The Synod has encouraged individual
Christian initiative and action in the area of independent
youth movements, moving forward with the times and
remaining relevant; and

WuHereas, A great measure of the success of the wel-
fare agencies of the Synod today lies in their indepen-
dent origins, their local interest and support, and their
local control: therefore be it

Resolved, That the Synod’s Board of Social Ministry
be directed to remove from its Polity Statement those
features that discriminate against welfare agencies that
are associations of individual Lutherans carrying out
Christ’s mission to the whole society and the whole man
(Mission Affirmations); and be it further

Resolved, That it continue to be the Synod’s policy
to encourage the formation of health and welfare agen-
cies by individual Lutherans who in the name of the
church serve their fellowman.

CHAPLAIN DANIEL Q. JOHNSON
The Lutheran Home

Anaheim, Calif.

Rev. ELMER W. MATTHIAS
Anaheim, Calif.