# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1973_S200 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) 200 RESOLUTIONS Wuereas, The Synod has recognized social ministry and world relief to be an integral, legitimate, and valid part of the work of the church at large, and of the local congregation; and Wuereas, The various Districts of Synod are the arm of Synod through which much of Synod’s ministry is performed; and Wuereas, Adequate funding is vital to the efficient execution and fulfillment of almost any program or ministry; therefore be it Resolved, That Synod reaffirm the place of social ministry and world relief as a part of our ministry of the church to our world; and be it further Resolved, That the Districts of the Synod be re- minded that the social ministry programs and resolu- tions, which may originate on the synodical level, are the responsibility of each District; and be it finally Resolved, That each District of Synod avoid giving merely token support to these needs, and instead pro- vide adequate funding. Action: Adopted (13). To Adopt New Bylaws for Board of Social Ministry and World Relief RESOLUTION 9-05 Overture 9-28 (CW, pp. 326—327) Wuereas, The Bylaws for the Consolidated Board of Social Ministry and World Relief were approved by the Board of Social Ministry and World Relief as well as the Board of Directors of Synod in 1971, but were not acted upon by the Milwaukee convention; and Wuereas, Both the Board of Directors and the Board of Social Ministry and World Relief concur with the Bylaw revisions which spell out the regulations of this board which was merged in 1969; therefore be it Resolved, That the following Bylaws be approved by the convention: A. BOARD OF SOCIAL MINISTRY AND WORLD RELIEF 13.01 Personnel and Appointment A Board of Social Ministry and World Relief consisting of seven members, at least four of whom shall be lay members, shall be appointed by the Board of Directors of the Synod upon the recom- mendation of the President of the Synod. 13.02 Duties and Functions The board shall serve as the administrative, programmatic, and evaluative agency for social ministry interests of, within, and in behalf of the Synod, both within the United States and abroad. Each District shall provide for a Board of Social Ministry and World Relief to assist in the imple- mentation of the program. a. Within the United States 1. The board shall stimulate and encourage Christian social ministry within congregations and groups of congregations; establish and maintain standards of social ministry activities and promote related research; give assistance to Districts re- garding the implementation of social ministry pro- grams; conduct or arrange for studies of social min- istry needs prior to the establishment of health and welfare agencies and programs so that good stew- ardship of the church’s efforts might prevail; give counsel to the Board of Directors of the Synod re- garding social ministry concerns; arrange for insti- tutes and seminars on social ministry concerns na- tionally and regionally; participate in social educa- tion and encourage endeavors to remove or allevi- ate human suffering, enlisting where possible, and in keeping with the adopted policies of the church, national, state, and municipal services; maintain liaison with the Division of Welfare Services of LCUSA as well as other religious or secular agen- cies that may have a bearing on Synod’s program of social ministry. 2. The board shall accredit health, social service, and chaplaincy agencies, upon the recommendation of the staff, as an assurance that the agencies meet and maintain acceptable standards of performance in meeting demonstrated needs and have achieved a responsible relationship with the Synod and its jurisdictional units according to the approved Polity Statement. 3. The board shall give guidance to and coordi- nate the efforts of Districts and agencies within the Districts that plan or conduct institutional chap- laincy services in the following areas: aa. arrange for studies regarding new or ex- isting programs; bb. encourage adherence to approved stan- dards and procedures for institutional chaplaincy programs; ce. give counsel regarding calls, appoint- ments, and training of chaplains; dd. provide for regular liaison with institu- tional chaplains to maintain a responsible rela- tionship of the chaplain with the church and of the church with the chaplain; ee. stimulate concern within congregations and Districts for increased volunteer involve- ment of pastors and lay people in the ministry to institutionalized people. 4. The board shall administer scholarships for social workers, administrative personnel in agen- cies, and institutional chaplains. 5. The board shall endeavor to identify emerg- ing social problems, and provide counsel so that the church might respond as a healing instrument of Jesus Christ for the broken as well as be a con- cerned Christian force in the prevention of injus- tices, inhumanities, and other evils within society. 6. The board shall give assistance to congrega- tions or through them to their members, or to oth- ers, in dire emergencies or disaster situations re- sulting from floods, famines, fires, earthquakes, wars, and related situations, for rehabilitation and refugee service with limited assistance as an incen- tive to develop self-help programs in underdevel- oped communities. Assistance may take the form of cash grants, loans without interest, distribution of food, clothing, medical or other supplies, or whatever other means best suit the need. 7. The board shall advise individuals, congrega- tions, or Districts in instances of disaster. Emer- gency needs which cannot be met with gifts from congregations in the area or District, shall, upon endorsement by the District Board of Social Minis- try, be considered eligible for assistance. b. Outside the United States 1. The board shall serve as a channel for the love and compassion of the church and its members by helping the homeless, persecuted, sick, and needy throughout the world as a witness to our faith in Jesus Christ. 2. The board shall give wholehearted assistance to the suffering and needy of the world through its