# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1977_S190
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

190 RESOLUTIONS

other drug abusers during the next biennium; and be it
further

Resolved, That the terminal schools of the Synod be
encouraged to require exposure in ministry to
alcoholics and other drug abusers; and be it further

Resolved, That the Synod endorse the concept that
12 Districts during the next biennium conduct special
workshops employing the expertise of our board’s
Committee on Alcohol and Drug Dependency; and be it
further

Resolved, That District groups and congregations be
encouraged to fund such workshops; and be it finally

Resolved, That the Board of Social Ministry and
World Relief report to the next convention in regard to
the implementation of this motion and provide
recommendations for the future.

Action: Adopted as amended (5).

(The committee added “alcoholics and other” in the third
resolve. The convention amended the first whereas, which had

read: “...is a problem which confronts many...” It declined to
insert “spiritual” before “disease” in the first whereas.)

To Sponsor
Serve-Your-Neighborhood Workshops

RESOLUTION 8-04
Overture 8-14 (CW, p. 304)

WHEREAS, The Scriptures strongly urge upon
Christians a ministry of love to the neighbor in word
and deed; and

WHEREAS, Many congregations recognize that their
facilities built years ago are now located in
neighborhoods where relatively few of their members
reside; and

WHEREAS, Such neighborhoods continue to offer
great opportunities for congregations to share the love
of Christ; and

WHEREAS, The Board of Social Ministry and World
Relief has asked the Lutheran Human Relations
Association of America to design a workshop model for
helping parishes to strategize for effective ministry to
their neighborhoods, utilizing their own unique gifts,
resources, and potential; and

WHEREAS, Such a model has now been developed
and tested, and executives of the Synod have monitored
it and recommend its use; and

WHEREAS, The Board of Social Ministry and World
Relief has arranged to provide limited financial
assistance to local groups of congregations in Districts
to sponsor such workshops on a matching-fund basis;
therefore be it

Resolved, That District boards and executives urge
congregations that are threatened by declining
membership and changing neighborhoods to sponsor
such “Serve Your Neighborhood” workshops, utilizing
the services of LHRAA and, where necessary, drawing
on the support offered by the Synod’s Board of Social
Ministry and World Relief; and be it further

Resolved, That suburban and rural congregations

also be invited to these workshops, so that they might
become sensitized to the needs of racially mixed
congregations and thus be enabled to provide possible
assistance and support; and be it finally

Resolved, That the monitoring of these workshops
carried on by the LCMS Board of Social Ministry and
World Relief and the parish commitments resulting
from the workshops be shared with the Synod’s
administrative officers and the communication media
of the church.

Action: Adopted (7).

(In Session 5 the delegates voted down a motion to
recommit.)

To Advocate Adequate Housing
RESOLUTION 8-05A
Overture 8-11 (CW, pp. 303—304)

WHEREAS, Our Keys for Christ program, the Synod’s
concern and activities in behalf of adequate housing for
low- and moderate-income families as well as aging
people, has generated more than $50 million worth of
housing; and

WHEREAS, There continues to exist a desperate need
for appropriate, adequate, and secure housing for many
people in metropolitan centers as well as rural com-
munities, for many who are from minority groups and
many who are elderly; and

WHEREAS, There continues to be a need for us as
Christians to communicate with the members of
Congress, to encourage them to develop and support
adequate legislation that will more effectively meet the
housing needs of our cities and rural areas; therefore be
it

Resolved, That the people of God accept the role of
“advocate” in behalf of those who find it impossible to
obtain adequate and decent housing because of race,
poverty, or age; and be it further

Resolved, That the Board of Social Ministry and
World Relief, after receiving approval of the Board of
Directors (Bylaws 2.85 c, 2, and 9.73) and in consulta-
tion with the Board of Stewardship, together with each
District’s Social Ministry Committee, plan for a
funding effort in behalf of housing concerns; and be it
finally

Resolved, That the Board of Social Ministry and
World Relief shall administer these funds in accor-
dance with guidelines presently operative.

Action: Adopted (11).

To Encourage Conservation of Energy
RESOLUTION 8-06
Report 8-01, V, 12 (CW, p. 300)

WHEREAS, The energy crisis is very real throughout
the world and reminds Lutheran Christians of our
stewardship of resources as directed in Scripture; and

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