# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_2019_S405
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

MERCY
for their government. For although this is not expressed in the Ten
Commandments, it is nevertheless abundantly enjoined in many
places in the Scripture. And God desires to have it embraced in this
commandment when He speaks of father and mother. For He does
not wish to have in this office and government knaves and tyrants;
nor does He assign to them this honor, that is, power and authority
to govern, that they should have themselves worshiped; but they
should consider that they are under obligations of obedience to God;
and that, first of all, they should earnestly and faithfully discharge
their office, not only to support and provide for the bodily
necessities of their children, servants, subjects, etc., but, most of all,
to train them to the honor and praise of God. Therefore, do not think
that this is left to your pleasure and arbitrary will, but that it is a
strict command and injunction of God, to whom also you must give
account for it.” (Large Catechism [LC] I:167–169); and
WHEREAS, As seen above it is the true and living God who
establishes the nations of the earth and sets their boundaries (Acts
17:26). The governing authorities in those nations are established
by God and Christians are to be obedient to those governing
authorities (Rom. 13:1–6; Titus 3:1), except where they must obey
God rather than man (Acts 5:29). The governing authorities have
the God-given responsibility to faithfully discharge their office for
the support and provision of their subjects (LC I:167–169); and
WHEREAS, Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service (LIRS)
states on its website, “LIRS is concerned that legislative efforts to
increase immigration enforcement, such as a border wall, an
increase in agents, and an end to family migration only seeks to
threaten family unity, community stability, and strips away
protections for vulnerable newcomers. Reforming only select areas
of our complex system does not reflect the needs of the country, nor
does it uphold the dignity of migrants and refugees seeking safety,
family reunification, or the opportunity to contribute to the United
States. LIRS continues to advocate for the welcome, protection, and
care of our migrant brothers and sisters through compassionate
immigration reform” (lirs.org/immigration-reform, accessed Aug.
17, 2018); and
WHEREAS, LIRS clearly advocates for a specific political
agenda:
TAKE ACTION NOW!
#KeepFamiliesTogether Urge Congress to uphold this country’s
standards of family unity and protect children and families at our
border;
#RaiseTheCeiling Urge the Administration to raise the refugee
admissions ceiling from 45,000 to 75,000 in FY 2019;
#WhereRTheRefugees Hold the Administration accountable to
resettling the 45,000 refugees they have committed to bring to
this country” (lirs.org/advocate, accessed Aug. 17, 2018);
Only the version submitted by Circuit 3, Southern Illinois District,
includes the following additional citation:
“DEMAND THAT CONGRESS #RAISETHECEILING.
REFUGEES ARE UNDER ATTACK, AND THEY NEED
YOUR HELP.
On September 17, the Administration announced its intentions
to set the annual admissions ceiling for refugees at 30,000 – the
lowest ceiling in the history of U.S. refugee resettlement. The
consequences of this decision could be devastating for tens of
thousands of refugees, and LIRS is calling on Congress and the
Administration to revise and amend this figure.

405

There’s still time to make your voice heard! Call Your
Representatives Today!” (lirs.org/raisetheceiling, accessed Oct.
10, 2018);
and
WHEREAS, Individual members of The Lutheran Church—
Missouri Synod (LCMS), and members of Synod congregations are
free to disagree with the political advocacy of the LIRS and in fact
advocate for increased immigration enforcement, a border wall, and
lowering refugee admissions and may do so without sin, and in fact
may do so for the good of their neighbor; therefore be it
Resolved, That the LCMS take no position on the political issues
of immigration enforcement, border wall, increase in federal agents
and other related issues except to confess that it is the government’s
responsibility to “bear the sword” (Rom. 13:4) for the provision and
bodily necessities of its own citizens (LC I:169); and be it further
Resolved, That the LCMS sever any agreements with LIRS and
cease any financial grants or support to LIRS.
Circuit 3, Southern Illinois District;
Circuit 4, Southern Illinois District
Ov. 3-09

To Mark the 75th Anniversary
of Lutheran World Relief
WHEREAS, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod helped to
found Lutheran World Relief (LWR) in 1945 for the purpose of
providing emergency aid for thousands of homeless, displaced, and
starving individuals and families in war-torn Europe; and
WHEREAS, Our Synod each year since then has continued to
support LWR’s efforts both to respond to international disasters
resulting from droughts, earthquakes, and typhoons, and to address
global poverty, along with the human suffering and injustices that
so frequently accompany this problem, primarily through
development projects designed to help small, local farmers become
self-sustaining; and
WHEREAS, Our Synod’s congregations and their individual
members have strengthened these same efforts by providing
generous donations, handcrafted quilts, personal care and school
kits, as well as through direct purchase of LWR coffee and other
special gifts; and
WHEREAS, Our Synod and LWR are currently working together
in Latin America to fund and to manage the “mercy” arm of
international mission and outreach projects on the part of the Synod
and its partner churches; and
WHEREAS, LWR will celebrate its 75th anniversary of this worldwide ministry and its partnership with our Synod in 2020; therefore
be it
Resolved, That our Synod encourage its congregations to let this
anniversary become an occasion to give thanks for all that God has
accomplished over the past three-quarters of a century in our world
of human need through LWR; and be it further
Resolved, That our Synod assist our congregations and their
leaders in recognizing LWR as an organization through which they
can serve international neighbors who face poverty, suffering, and
injustices on a daily basis, and thereby joyfully to put their Lutheran
faith into action; and be it further
Resolved, That our Synod’s congregations and their leaders use
this 75th anniversary to set aside an annual Sunday to bring the work
2019 Convention Workbook