# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_1973_S319 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) SOCIAL MINISTRY 317 that the 1,440 minutes in a day can be cherished and not “stared at” in loneliness and fear. One of every ten persons in America and in our church is 65 years of age or older. These make up the 20 million individuals who have one thing in common — they have passed their 65th birthday. It is a changing group. In the course of a year, 1.4 million are newcomers to this group. More than a million are 85 or over. In our own Synod, 300,000 persons have crossed the line into what should be a good life. But so often older people are lonely. depressed. and feel worthless. Society, with its arbitrary conclusion, that a person cannot produce or carry on his work because he has reached 65, has caused much sorrow and discouragement among older people. There are serious problems that older people face. such as loss of status. loss of associates with whom he or she worked, dwindling finances. and possible loss of health, All of these factors, particularly if accompanied by a lack of concern by the church, result in growing loneliness and despair. Project Compassion volunteers have brought new interests and revived new faith in the lives of many older persons. “Thank you for speaking to me, was the comment of a forgotten and lonely aging person when the volunteer stopped at her bedside. We believe that we can do much to “stamp out loneliness” in the lives of older people. We must provide the supportive concern that will help the aging to maintain their faith in the God of their salvation. G. Unloved People There are millions whose lives have not been touched by the love of Jesus Christ and His people. Perhaps they haven't desired that love. But perhaps they have never really understood its nature because people they dealt with didn't share it. This places a great responsibility upon every Christian to be known not only for his words but for his deeds. We are convinced that thousands of our tellow Christians have not turned aside from the unloving and un- loved. Some of these people may be handicapped, some may be very contemptible, some may be very negative and hostile. But maybe they are this way because they haven't really experienced love. As Christians we must love even our enemies. Social Ministry offers loving concern and con- cerned love also to the unloved. IV. The Helping Process People helping people in Jesus’ name must be an on- going process. A brief amount of interest. a casual bit of helping won't accomplish much. It is only through continued concern that we can help people to help themselves. Our health and welfare agencies provide such ongoing assistance. Special projects of self-help, rehabilitation, and relief which are developed by Districts, congregations, or overseas church groups. become the channel whereby our Synod and its congregations may become involved in the helping process. Basic to any helping program must be the involvement of the local congregation where the need exists. and the District in which the situation occurs. Once this involve- ment occurs, the helping process is underway and the help- ing people are brought together with the people needing help and the name of Jesus is glorified. Communities and Government agencies frequently are willing participants in helping programs in which our church is involved. Many people have been helped by such a co- operative activity without compromising the stand of the church. The helping process has been greatly enhanced by our relationship with LCUSA. in regard to welfare services, clinical pastoral education, Lutheran Selective Service In- formation, and Lutheran Housing Coalition. Wheat Ridge Foundation and Aid Association have provided funds for CPE and Project Compassion. Lutheran Resources Commis- sion — Washington has explored Government programs and possible funding for projects. The American Association for Homes for the Aging, the National Interfaith Coalition on Aging, and the Steering Committee for National Organiza- tions, have assisted with our work among older persons. The National Social Welfare Conference. the Committee on So- cial Welfare. and the Task Force on Alcohol and Drugs of the National Council of Churches have provided us with re- sources and help which have made the helping process to people in need more effective. V. More Helping Is Needed Just as “love never ends.” so helping never ceases. When the needs of one are met. there are always others to whom we may turn. It isn't possible for our church to minister to everyone in need. Others can join in helping. too. But after we have helped to resolve the problem in a given area, we find that many more people are looking to us for help. In the months before us we shall have countless oppor- tunities to be “people helping people in Jesus’ name.” These opportunities which we face deal with the following seven priorities: (1) We must do a better job in combatting racism and developing wholesome Christian relationships among all people. (2) We must provide concern for the 6 million Vietnam- era veterans. (3) We must face realistically the seriousness of alco- holism and drug dependency. (4) We must continue our involvement in housing for low- and moderate-income families. (5) We must give growing attention to the increasing number of older persons. (6) We must take more aggressive steps to help the poor and hungry throughout the world. (7) We must help our nation to show greater concern for our environment and the world that God has given to us. Yes, we are people — Christian people — helping people in Jesus’ name. God help us: Boarp OF SociaL MINISTRY AND Worip RELIEF Julian G. Hoffmann, Chairman Robert J. Riedel. Vice-Chairman Arnold G. Deke. Secretary Robert H. Mugge James M. Ehlers Dallas A. Martin Howard A. Foard Marie Sump Audrey Gooch Staff Alfred Y. Armstead. MSW, ACSW Secretary for Agencies and Institutions Eugene C. Gunther, Secretary for District and Parish Welfare Services Melvin E. Witt. Secretary for World Relief Leslie F. Weber, D. D., Executive Secretary 9-02 Report of Commission on Social Concerns The Handbook of The Luthran Church — Missouri Synod, 1971 Edition, pp. 214 and 215 contains the following: B. COMMISSION ON SOCIAL CONCERNS 13.11 Membership and Appointment A Commission on Social Concerns shall be ap- pointed by the President after consultation with the Vice-Presidents. The Commission shall consist of at least four members. including the following: one pastor: two professors, one from each of the two seminaries: and one layman. 13.13 Responsibilities The Commission shall — a. study current social issues: b. secure “position papers” on subjects of critical interest in these complex areas from those agen- cies of Synod directly involved: c. forward its findings and recommendations to the President of the Synod. at whose direction they will be referred back to the Commission. to the De- partment of Public Relations, or to other agencies for dissemination.