# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1977_S201
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

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RESOLUTIONS 201

23, “To Increase Our Support of Alabama Lutheran
Academy and College at Selma,” has committed the
Synod to the continued and increasing support of
Alabama Lutheran Academy and College at Selma;
therefore be it

Resolved, That The Lutheran Church—Missouri
Synod accelerate its support of Alabama Lutheran
Academy and College, continuing to make it an
excellent integrated school especially for all LCMS
students in the southeastern United States; and be it
further

Resolved, That in support of this oft-neglected
institution one Sunday out of the year be designated as
Alabama Lutheran Academy and College Sunday,
when congregations would be informed about this
important segment of the Synod’s ministry and
offerings received in support of it.

Action: Adopted (16).

To Establish Recruitment Program
for Blacks

RESOLUTION 10-06A

Report 10-01, Rec. 5; Overtures 2-19, 10-05 (CW,
pp. 34, 317, 323)

WHEREAS, There is an acute need for Black church
workers, especially pastors and teachers, to serve in
Black communities where congregations of our Synod
are located; and

WHEREAS, There are approximately 175 Black
congregations in the Synod but only 47 Black pastors;
12 are either retired and working in their retirement or
will be eligible for retirement in the next 5 years; and

WHEREAS, There are only two Black students
presently enrolled in our seminaries, and we foresee a
dramatic decrease from 47 to 36 Black pastors in The
Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod in the next 5 years;
therefore be it

Resolved, That we challenge the Synod to set as its
minimum goal for the next 10 years the recruitment of
one Black pastor for each Black congregation in the
Synod, or approximately 150 Black pastors; and be it
further

Resolved, That the Synod develop a program for
recruiting Black young people for educational
programs in specific synodical schools leading to
church vocation, and develop a program of recruitment
for Black adults for full-time church work through the
colloquy programs of the Synod; and be it further

Resolved, That a full-time Black recruiter for Black
ministry be given first priority among the next full-time
persons to be employed by the Synod; and be it further

Resolved, That the recruiter shall establish a
rapport with congregations to facilitate an effective
recruitment program, visit congregations, day schools,
Sunday schools, secondary schools, etc., develop an
accurate updated listing of interested prospective
students, be familiar with all sources and resources for

scholarships and grants in aid for funding Black
educational programs; and be it finally

Resolved, That in the light of the critical shortage of
Black workers existing in our Synod today, this
program be implemented as soon as feasible after the
Dallas convention.

Action: Adopted (10).

To Encourage
Evangelism Among Blacks

RESOLUTION 10-07
Report 10-01, Rec. 3 (CW, pp. 316—317)

Resolved, That in the Black centennial year the
congregations of the Synod that minister to Blacks
make every effort to celebrate this event by es-
tablishing congregational evangelism boards to utilize
existing evangelism programs and resources of the
Synod and Districts, especially as they relate to the
Sunday school and Christian day schools; and be it
further

Resolved, That Black members be elected or ap-
pointed to synodical and District boards for evangelism
to assist in relating these resources to congregations;
and be it further

Resolved, That the Synod encourage Districts to
fund, develop, and/or utilize evangelism programs,
efforts, resources, and personnel for congregations that
either anticipate or are involved in racial transition in
their communities.

Action: Adopted (15).

(An amendment that the full text of Dr. Dickenson’s
sermon be printed in the next morning’s issue of Today’s
Business was declined.)

To Fund Evangelism Pilot Project
in Changing Communities

RESOLUTION 10-08
Report 10-01, Rec. 3 D, Rec. 8 (CW, pp. 317—318)

Resolved, That the Synod’s Board for Evangelism
coordinate and adequately fund a 3-year pilot project
that calls for a Black clergyman as pilot Project
Director in a changing community congregation; and
that he (a) familiarize himself with various facets of
evangelism resources by research and by attending
workshops, seminars, etc.; (b) develop and implement
the evangelism program in the congregation, based on
his experience and research; (c) conduct workshops for
pastors and laymen from congregations in changing
communities to share his findings and expertise; and
(d) report in detail his 3-year findings and recommen-
dations to the Synod’s Board for Evangelism for
further follow-up; and that a resource book on
evangelism in the changing community be compiled.

Action: Adopted (15).