# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1977_S189
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

189

8. SOCIAL MINISTRY

To Direct Commission

on Ministerial Health

to Further Implement
Ministerial Health Program

RESOLUTION 8-01
Report 8-02 (CW, p. 301)

WHEREAS, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
has instructed the Commission on Ministerial Health
to provide needed help to congregations and their
professional church workers and families in instances
of severe physical and mental disabilities (Handbook
2.111); and

WHEREAS, The commission is seeking to strengthen
this program in each District; and

WHEREAS, The commission has expressed concern
in the area of vocational redirection or guidance into a
more suitable work situation (Handbook 2.111 b, 3);
therefore be it

Resolved, That the commission establish guidelines
for the evaluation of emotional stability of all
applicants prior to the acceptance of their Declaration
of Intent; and be it further

Resolved, That the commission review the entire
ministerial health program for church workers in order
to insure preventative, corrective, and vocational care
with adequate funding to be provided; and be it finally

Resolved, That the establishment and activity of
responsible District representatives be strongly en-
couraged in all these areas.

Action: Adopted (5).

To Support
World Relief/World Hunger

RESOLUTION 8-02
Overtures 8-04, 8-05 (CW, pp. 301—302)

WHEREAS, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod’s
Board of Social Ministry and World Relief functions
effectively as the Synod’s arm through its World
Relief/World Hunger programs; and

WHEREAS, Increasingly higher levels of giving to
World Relief/World Hunger are essential to meet
mounting needs of an expanding world population,
economically depressed societies, and drought- and
disaster-stricken areas with a minimum of special
congregational appeals; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Synod express its appreciation to
our congregations and individual members for the
support given for self-help, development, and
rehabilitation projects of World Relief/World Hunger;
and be it further

Resolved, That we restate our concern for those who
live under the stress of inequitable distribution of the
necessities of life in our sinful world, seeing our

abundance as a gift from God to be shared with those in
need; and be it further

Resolved, That congregations of the Synod en-
courage continued prayerful offerings for this Chris-
tian task of alleviating distress and eliminating hunger
and starvation wherever possible; and be it finally

Resolved, That members of the Synod be urged to
support this ongoing ministry for Christ by making
“Faith Promise” pledges for World Relief/World
Hunger annually and by redeeming those faith
promises through regular contributions to World
Relief/World Hunger.

Action: Adopted (5).

To Encourage More Effective Ministry
to Alcoholics and Other Drug Abusers

RESOLUTION 8-03
Overture 8-15 (CW, pp. 304—305)

WHEREAS, Alcoholism is a disease which affects
many within and outside our Synod; and

WHEREAS, Alcoholism has = spiritual,
physical, and social implications; and

WHEREAS, Young people, as well as adults, are
becoming more involved with alcohol problems; and

WHEREAS, Abuse of drugs other than alcohol
remains a problem among both adults and young
people; and

WHEREAS, The church is called to minister to the
whole man, body, mind, and spirit; and

WHEREAS, Pastors, teachers, lay workers, and lay
people in our Synod need to be alerted to the seriousness
of the problem in our midst; and

WHEREAS, Church workers need more knowledge in
regard to identification, treatment, and referral of
alcohol and other drug problems; and

WHEREAS, The Board of Social Ministry and World
Relief with financial assistance from Aid Association
for Lutherans has developed a program of workshops
for pastors and/or teachers conferences, created
resource kits, and developed cassettes on pastoral care
for alcohol and other drug dependent persons; therefore
be it

Resolved, That the Districts and congregations of
the Synod commit themselves to a fuller concern for
and involvement with alcoholics and other drug
abusers; and be it further

Resolved, That the Board of Social Ministry and
World Relief publish and/or distribute through the
Districts drug-abuse materials for church workers and
congregations; and be it further

Resolved, That the pastors’, teachers’, and other
church workers’ conferences of the Synod be strongly
urged to consider the topic of ministry to alcoholics and

mental,