# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_2001_S345 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) THEOLOGICAL DOCUMENTS—COMMISSION ON THEOLOGY AND CHURCH RELATIONS 345 What are we to make of these contrasting lines of thought as we “reflect on the role of Christian care in the overall life of the Chris- tian community”? Some Scenarios The following scenarios are described to help people reading and studying this report to think about the issues in a concrete way.* The goal is that, on the basis of the biblical, theological reflection offered in this report, pastors and members of congregations will be able to assess the questions raised by the scenarios in a helpful way. At the end of this document the scenarios are once again pre- sented along with further discussion questions and references to previous relevant sections. 1. A Parish Nurse Program A group of congregations is deliberating whether to make funds available to hire a full-time registered nurse to implement health-re- lated programs in the congregations. The proposed plan is that this person would do the following: keep tabs on members of the con- gregations whose health needs are perhaps not being met in a sat- isfactory way; conduct wellness classes for interested members; help members interact effectively with their physicians and hospi- tals; and in a limited way, make available some basic health care to people in need who live in range of the participating congregations. Some persons in the congregations welcome this proposal as a sign that the church will finally be living the Gospel in a concrete and visible way. Others are critical of the proposal because they fear that it will obscure the Gospel of the forgiveness of sins through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. They also assert that the money involved would be better spent to support missionary proclamation, either locally or in a part of the world lit- tle touched by the Christian Gospel. How should we think about these reactions to this proposal? 2. A Day Care Center Program A medium-sized congregation is considering whether to estab- lish and staff a day care center for preschool children. Many fami- lies both inside and outside the congregation need day care. Mem- bers are suggesting that the proposed center would meet a genuine human need, put children in a better environment than might be found in some secular centers, and provide a way that unbelievers would become better acquainted with the Christian community. Many in the congregation are enthusiastic about the plan, but some are worried that people might become confused about the es- sentials of the Christian mission. What do you think? How is this proposal similar to or different from a proposal to establish a Lutheran elementary or high school? 3. A Food Pantry A small congregation maintains a food pantry for people unable to secure sufficient resources for their own or their families’ meals. Since the pastor is the only person present at the church on a regu- lar basis, he is the primary contact person for people bringing food and for those who volunteer to staff the pantry at designated hours. He also usually receives food pantry inquiries outside the desig- nated hours. Since most members of the congregation work full- time, getting sufficient volunteers for the program is an ongoing challenge. For the most part, the congregation is glad to sponsor this pro- gram, but some complain that it takes too much of the pastor’s time away from his other tasks. You have been asked to meet with the congregation and the pas- tor to discuss the project. What will you bring to the discussion? 4. Faith and Works The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod has brought together persons committed to human care ministries from all of its Dis- tricts. At the meeting one presenter offers some comments in light of James 2:17—“So faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead.” The speaker reports: “A year-long study conducted by Search Institute on ‘Congregations at Crossroads: A National study of Adults and Youth in The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod’ con- cluded that our church ‘needs to increase its efforts to help mem- bers make the connection between the church’s teachings and the way Lutherans live out their daily lives’ (Reporter, October 1995). Out of approximately 1800 adults and 500 teens from 163 congre- gations, the majority of those surveyed felt their congregations did not show love and concern for people in their community. Only 22% of the adults and 19% of the youth believed that their congre- gations demonstrated this Christian care. More believed their churches helped their own members, 36% of adults and 35% of youth, but these numbers reflect the sense that congregations are not living out the call to “bear one another’s burdens’ (Galatians 6:2). Dr. Peter Benson of the Search Institute reported that ‘cerebral faith in the LCMS strongly wins out over the faith of the heart... those studied were strongest in trusting and believing, weak in acting, serving, experiencing the fruits of faith’ (Reporter, March 1996). He says further that most survey respondents indicate that their con- gregations do not exhibit the characteristics that distinguish the ‘faith-enhancing congregation’ (Reporter, October 1995).” The speaker concludes: “America’s secular welfare system is collapsing, religious sponsorship of institutions is declining expo- nentially, trust in the decisions of the political process is nearly non-existent, the fastest growing industry is crime and crime con- trol, family life has disintegrated, and poverty and hopelessness exist in the midst of abundance. Ours is a world groaning for a uniquely Christian response that incorporates the words of Christ into tangible Christian care.” You are one of the participants and are now in a small group in which the speaker’s presentation is to be discussed. What would you think important to bring to the discussion? 5. A Low-Income Housing Project Several congregations in the heart of a large urban center are proposing to work together with the federal government to build and administer a system of housing aimed to encourage low-in- come, but self-sufficient people in the city to take on the challenges of home ownership. The congregations will not be undertaking large financial obligations, but they are proposing that the pastors of the several congregations work together with government offi- cials to administer the program. Many in the congregations are delighted to see the church ad- dressing a significant social need, but some are warning that pastors ought not be distracted from their central calling of preaching the Gospel. How should we think about this proposal? 6. Serve God at the Homeless Shelter Several members of a congregation are vocal in their criticism that the members are “too focused on themselves” and “not suffi- ciently committed to addressing human need.” They propose that one Sunday each month the congregation should suspend usual worship and gather instead to staff the Sunday meals program at the local homeless shelter. How would you respond to these members’ concerns and pro- posal? 7. Allocating the Congregational Budget Several influential members of a congregation have agreed to- gether to propose that. from now on, fifty percent of the congrega- 2001 Convention Workbook