# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1971_S112 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) 112 RESOLUTIONS ethnic and racial minorities, the sensory-impaired (the deaf and blind), the mentally retarded, the mentally ill, the physically ill and disabled, the unmarried mother, and dependent children; and Wuereas, Christ’s people are also sent to witness and minister to more recent and emerging groups of people who often cannot be reached through normal modes of outreach, ministry, and worship; and Wuereas, The Christian congregation has been stra- tegically placed by its Lord in a particular community to be that servant-instrument by which His Gospel is proclaimed and demonstrated to all people; therefore be it Resolved, That each congregation of the Synod be encouraged to engage in an intensive and ongoing process of identifying and ministering to all persons and groupings of people in their parish areas; and be it also Resolved, That the Districts and the Synod (1) en- courage the congregation in sharing the message of reconciliation; (2) provide services of enablement to assist the congregation in its ministry of outreach with greater diligence, sensitivity, and effectiveness. Action: Adopted (13 ). To Refer Request of Board of Control of Instituto Concordia de Sao Paulo, Brazil RESOLUTION 1-18 Report 6-21 (CW, p. 313) Wuereas, The Board of Control of the Instituto Con- cordia de Sao Paulo, Brazil, has requested certain fund- ing for capital needs; and Wuereas, This request has not yet been approved by the Brazil District Board of Higher Education, pend- ing the results of the study of the entire education sys- tem of the Brazil District; therefore be it Resolved, That the request of the Board of Control of Instituto Concordia de Sao Paulo, Brazil, be referred to the responsible officials of the Brazil District, Action: Adopted (13). To Establish a Board for Evangelism RESOLUTION 1-19 Report 4-04, IV; Overtures 4-45—4.50 (CW, pp. 202, 225—226) Wuereas, The chief function of every Christian js to convey, by his words and life, the message “. . . that God was in Christ reconciling the world unto Himself” (2 Cor. 5:19); and Wuereas, There is great need to expand and empha- size the work of evangelism in the Synod so that the command of Christ to bear witness to all’ people may be more fully carried out by the congregations of the Synod; and Wuereas, The Synod has special boards for missions, church extension, higher education, parish education, youth ministry, social ministry, and stewardship to as- sist individuals, congregations, circuits, and Districts in their work; and Wuereas, Provision has already been made in the current budget for an Evangelism Commission and an Executive Secretary for Evangelism, so that additional funding should be minimal; and Wuereas, All evangelistic effort must be closely re- lated to mission activity; therefore be it Resolved, That a Separate Board for Evangelism be established; and be it further Resolved, That said board consist of two pastors, two laymen, and one teacher; and be it further Resolved, That said board be located within the Di- vision of Missions and Special Ministries; and be it further Resolved, That the first Board for Evangelism be appointed by the Board of Directors of the Synod, said first board to include: one pastor and one layman to serve for a term of four years; and one pastor, one lay- man, and one teacher to serve for a term of two years; and that thereafter members of said board shall be elected by the Synod in convention; and be it finally Resolved, That the following addition be made to the Bylaws of the Synod: BOARD FOR EVANGELISM Personnel and Election The Board for Evangelism shall consist of two pastors, two laymen, and one teacher to be elected by the Synod. Functions and Duties The Board shall develop policies and provide programs of evangelism for use by individuals, congregations, circuits, and Districts. Organization and Meetings The Board shall organize itself at the first regu- lar meeting following the biennial convention of the Synod. It shall elect from its membership a chair- man, vice-chairman, and secretary. The Board shall meet in regular session at least quarterly. Action: Adopted (11). (The committee inserted “separate” into the first resolved. An amendment to add “and by the Council of Presidents” in the fourth resolved failed to carry.) To Provide Resources for Missions RESOLUTION 1-20 Report 1-01, I; Overtures 1-18, 1-23 (CW, pp. 1—5, 27, 28) Wuereas, The mission mandate of our Lord Jesus Christ must occupy the highest priority in our planning, and money must serve an enabling role; and Wuereas, Recent reductions in mission program funds, together with projected cutbacks for 1971, pre- Ane me en airmen ce mat atid vous lane