# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_1973_S27 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) MISSIONS 27 b. The Board may invite the full-time or part- time advisory participation of individuals related to ministries or organizations concerned with missions. Curist LUTHERAN CHURCH Troy, N.H. Edwin G. Mattson, Chairman Bradley Hongisto, Secretary To Advise Board for Missions Wuereas, Dr. Martin L. Kretzmann is a gifted and faith- ful servant of the Lord and of the church; therefore be it Resolved, That The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod in convention urge the Board for Missions to renew its con- tract with Dr. Martin L. Kretzmann. Z10N LUTHERAN CHURCH Decatur, Ind. Morris Krueckeberg, President Raymond Thieme, Secretary To Make Loans Only Where Fair Employment Contractors Are Involved Wuereas, Christians are obliged to “do justice and love mercy,” and Wuereas, The Synod, its Districts, and many of its con- gregations have found participation in Project Equality an effective way to practice justice and mercy in our steward- ship of our spending, and Wuereas, Discrimination in the hiring of minority persons is still a serious problem in our society, and Wuereas, The Synod’s Church Extension funds create many jobs in the construction trades, therefore be it Resolved, That the Synod adopt the policy of lending its Church Extension funds to finance only that construction which is built with the labor of fair employment contractors, and be it further Resolved, That a contractor’s membership in Project Equality shall be deemed proof of fair employment practice. IMMANUEL LUTHERAN CHURCH Cincinnati, Ohio Mary Rozier, Secretary Robert J. Grosch, Pastor 1-13 To Intensify Evangelistic Work Among Jews Wuereas, The task of proclaiming the Gospel among all peoples is a continuing one-——a task in which the Missouri Synod has been engaged ever since its founding; and Wuereas, Our Lord’s command to evangelize all peoples certainly includes God’s original chosen people, the Jews: and Wuereas, The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod dare not shrink back from difficult or unique ministries to minori- ties and ethnic groups; therefore be it Resolved, That The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod, under the auspices of its Department of Evangelism, inten- sify evangelistic work among the Jewish people; and be it further Resolved, That this work begin by making available to congregations, guidelines and materials which treat the spe- cial problems inherent to this work; and be it finally Resolved. That any such work which is initiated not over- look the possibility of joint efforts with Lutherans of other denominational groupings. LUTHERAN CHURCH OF St, LUKE Philadelphia, Pa. Bruce J. Lieske, Pastor 1-14 To Send Resource People into Mission Fields Wuereas, Our Savior has directed us to go into all the world to disciple all nations, and Wuereas, We have spent several years retrenching our mission forces in various areas of our world; an Wuereas, It is easier to focus our attention upon closed doors rather than to recognize that God is opening other doors for us to enter. and Whereas, A spirit of pessimism has made inroads into our church which would deny us the thrill and joy of enter- ing open doors in foreign lands; and Wuereas, St. Paul urges us to “equip the saints” for their task of ministry; and Wuereas, Good stewardship would direct us to make the best use of existing men and opportunities; an Wuereas, We desire to give our missionaries the benefit of training in effective techniques of evangelism and thereby encourage them in a witness and ministry to people; there- fore be it Resolved, That we go forward with a positive mission thrust and that the church send more men to enter doors God is opening to us, and be it further Resolved, That we direct the Board of Evangelism to secure two full-time resource people who can work with our world missionaries in the field in developing an exper- tise in effective techniques of evangelism. Boarp OF DIRECTORS Towa District WEST D. E. Weiss, Secretary 1-15 To Establish Missionary Medical Emergency Reserve Fund Wuereas, The Board for Missions in budgeting for the health care needs of its expatriate missionaries and their families (1.200 plus persons) finds it impossible to provide adequately for unexpected major medical expenses; and Wuereas, The Board for Missions has responsibility to respond to missionary health emergencies when they occur (e.g, serious and prolonged illness, accident, emergency travel of patient and family —- sometimes with necessary escort —- unexpected death while en route, etc.); and WuereaS, The Board for Missions has a responsibility to continue providing health care coverage to the missionary who is required to terminate for medical reasons and who has not yet been accepted by another plan for health care coverage (e.g. lay workers who will not be in church-re- lated work and who return with field-related uninsurable conditions) ; therefore be it Resolved, That the Synod authorize the establishment of a $75,000 Emergency Reserve Fund for unexpected major health expenses of foreign missionary personnel; and be it further Resolved, That the administration of this fund be in the hands of the Board for Missions (through its Personnel Sec- tion, Office of Medical Secretary, and the Executive Secre- tary) which shall include in its annual budget request what- ever amount is needed to bring the fund back to $75,000; and be it finally Resolved. That the continuing need for the maintenance of such an emergency reserve fund be reevaluated if and when Concordia Plans should expand medical coverage to include expatriate missionary personnel. COUNCIL FOR CHRISTIAN MepicaL WORK Edward C. May, Secretary (This Memorial was endorsed by the Board for Missions at its meeting in April 1973.)