# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1995_S53 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) To Thank God for Those Responding to Oklahoma City Bombing 7 WHEREAS, There are many tragedies in the present world because of sin; and WHEREAS, The bombing in Oklahoma City was a mani- festation of sinful man’s sin against man; and WHEREAS, It affected many of our brothers and sisters in Christ directly and indirectly, locally and nationally; and WHEREAS, God was faithful to His promise to give the gifts to share with those in need; and WHEREAS, He used Lutheran Social Services, Inter- Lutheran Disaster Response, LCMS World Relief, the LLL, AAL, Lutheran Brotherhood, many congregations, and in- dividuals in a mighty, positive witness; therefore be it Resolved, That this assembly give thanks to God in prayer for the quick effective responses of Bernice Karstensen, Director of ILDR and Elaine Richter, Director of LCMS World Relief, and to other individuals directly in- volved in the relief effort; and be it further Resolved, That the Secretary of the Synod write a letter of thanks and commendation to Lutheran Social Services, ILDR, LCMS World Relief, LLL, AAL, and Lutheran Broth- erhood; and be it finally Resolved, That the letter of Paul Hartman in the July 1995 Reporter, page 11, be entered into the Proceedings of this convention as a witness of God sending us forth by His blessing to be a blessing. Action: Adopted (11). (I was so disappointed in the article about the Oklahoma City disaster in the May Reporter. The article failed to give an accurate picture of the response of Oklahoma LCMS pastors and churches. It did not reflect the efforts made by these people in the name of Christ and the church to those affected by the bombing, nor did it reflect the tremendous help provided by agencies such as Lutheran ’ Social Services (LSS), Inter-Lutheran Disaster Response (ILDR), LCMS World Relief, the International Lutheran Laymen’s League, Aid Association for Lutherans, and Lutheran Brotherhood. The very day of the bombing, LSS Director and ILDR Chair- person Bernice Karstensen was coordinating with Pastor Tim Steenbock of Immanuel, Oklahoma City, arranging a meeting with area LCMS pastors to discuss plans and approaches for offering assistance. The very next morning, and again for the next two Mondays, area Lutheran pastors met with LSS and ILDR repre- sentatives to help organize our response and to offer guidance and support. Within 48 hours, local LLL leaders had arranged for five phone lines and the Living.4 Tomorrow Center staffed with volunteers from area churches. Two Lutheran Hour Ministry booklets were available April 21 for mailing to callers seeking answers and com- fort from God’s Word. LSS also provided a trained volunteer ther- apist each day at the crisis phone center. Aid Association for Lutherans and Lutheran Brotherhood arranged to match funds collected for the victims. LCMS World Re- lief provided funding to local agencies and victims, and Director Elaine Richter was in Oklahoma City the day following the bomb- ing to direct and support the local efforts. MISCELLANEOUS RESOLUTIONS AND RESOLUTIONS OF THANKS Many congregations throughout our Synod telephoned Okla- homa congregations, seeking ways to show Christian concern for the victims and survivors, as well as for the pastors and congregations who were having to deal with the wide variety of emotions and re- actions to this tragedy. Several OKC congregations arranged for all members to be phoned to remind them of the assurance and com- fort of their caring Savior and His family. I was so proud to be a part of such a devoted, caring church body. LCMS members can be thankful that our Synod has had the fore- sight to support agencies and trained professionals who can provide assistance to the church in its-desire to respond to people in crisis with the caring love of Christ. Rev. Paul A. Hartman, Moore, OK) To Express Gratitude for Support of Mrs. Barry WHEREAS, A wife of noble character is “worth more than rubies”; and WHEREAS, Our Synod has been blessed with a President’s wife who has given her support of the President, even in the ’ midst of her trials; and 53 WHEREAS, It is appropriate for us to express our appreci- ation; therefore be it Resolved, That the 59th Regular Convention of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod thank Mrs. Barry for her faithfulness; and be it further Resolved, That we send two dozen long-stem roses to Mrs. Barry with a message of our love; and be it finally Resolved, That we keep the Barrys in our prayers as we return to our homes and congregations. Action: Adopted (11). To Encourage Congregations to Invest Worker Benefit Plan Rebate in Full-Time Ministry Student Aid Endowment WHEREAS, Many pastors are graduating from our semi- naries with debts related to their schooling cost that are ex- tremely burdensome and difficult to repay on a pastor's salary; and WHEREAS, This 59th Regular Convention of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod has resolved in Res. 5-02A to set a goal for the ingathering of money to fund a full-time min- istry student aid endowment sufficient to cover the cost of all seminary tuition; and WHEREAS, The Board of Managers—Worker Benefit Plans in its report to the convention floor indicated an approximate “Experience Rebate” value of about $6 million of Concordia Health Plan premiums which in 1995 has and is being real- ized as amounts left in the budgets of the congregations and other entities of Synod; therefore be it Resolved, That the President of the Synod write each con- gregation receiving such a rebate a letter explaining the need for funding the above-referenced endowment and en- courage these congregations to invest all of or a major por- tion of their rebate in said endowment. ; Action: Adopted (11).