# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_1973_S326 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) SO SSS 324 SOCIAL MINISTRY Scripture that calls upon Christians to love their neighbors not merely “with words and with speech but in deed and in truth”; and Whereas, The National Indian Lutheran Board has served the church well in identifying those particular instances in Indian life where help is needed, evaluating comparative needs, and assisting in allocation of funds, especially in self- help programs; and WHEREAS, The convention of the ALC has recognized the value of NILB services and has twice set aside an “Indian Concerns Sunday”; therefore be it Resolved, That the President of Synod designate an Indian Concerns Sunday, both in 1973 and 1974, urging all congre- gations and institutions of the church to utilize the occasion ple, interpreting the unique needs of Indian people, and gathering an offering which shall, through the Board of World Relief, be distributed to Indian Projects designated for funding by NILB. Norty Wisconsin District Lloyd H. Goetz, President Paul G. Mueller, Secretary 9-21 To Participate in Rebuilding Vietnam Resolved, That the LCMS in convention instruct its Board of Directors to arrange for a special peace thankoffering in all congregations of the Synod to be used for the purpose of alleviating the sufferings of the people of North and South Vietnam, particularly orphans and wounded civilians: and be it further Resolved, That the Board of Directors specify in advance the relief efforts to be supported by means of the special thankoffering, Reasons: 1. The Indo-China War caused immense suffering, 2. Many victims of the war do not have any expectation of assistance except from private sources, 3. The gift of peace should prompt from Christians a re- sponse of gratitude and love. 4. Aid to Indo-China would hasten the process of recon- ciliation between peoples and nations and express the spirit of Christ. IMMANUEL LUTHERAN CHURCH Amherst. Mass. Charles Cole, President Mrs. James Terrill, Secretary 9-22A To Grant Amnesty Wuereas, The California and Nevada District has adopted the report of the Lutheran Council in the U.S.A. entitled “Toward Reconciliation,” adopted at its annual meeting on Feb. 29, 1972, and has urged its study by congregations with- in the District; therefore be it Resolved, That the LCMS in convention at New Orleans adopt the following statement of LCUSA and commend it to all congregations of the Synod for study and action: Both the events leading to war and the consequences of war remind us humbly of man’s sinful nature and of God's call for man's repentance. As a nation we have become deeply divided by our Participation in the Vietnam War, We pray fora speedy end of that war. However, since human memory tends to nurse old wounds, the division in our land may not be healed simply by an end to the fighting. _. We affirm that reconciliation is fundamental to the Christian life and that forgiveness js central to the meaning of Christ's life, death and resurrection. The concern of the churches must be for understanding, acceptance and reconciliation among Americans who disagree about the war, We cannot claim fully to know God's mind and judgment, but we can appeal to Him for Suidance in resolving the division among us. We believe it is in the interest of furthering our national healing that the following particulars are offered: 1. We call for acts of reconciliation between those who be- lieve they served their nation by supporting this war and those who believe they served their nation by refusing to support this war. 2. We urge loving concern for those who conscientiously Participated and now return to a society which may forget their service or give it only a negative meaning. We express our ap- Proval of new initiative from both government and private agencies in job training and placement. drug rehabilitation, and other helps toward re-entry to civilian life, 3. We urge loving concern also for those who refused lo Participate for reasons of conscience, including those who chose to face prosecution or to leave our land and seek refuge in another. We express our approval of new initiative from: both government and private services, in order to facilitate re-entry into the life of our nation. 4. We transmit this Statement to the Participating church bedies with the hope that they will commend it to their con~ 8regations for a response in study, prayer, acts of reconciliation, relationships, the recommitment to faith in God's desire that this healing come to all men, and the trust that through God's guidance mankind may find peace and the means for its main- lenance, CALIFORNIA AND NEVADA District Theo. A. Iverson, Secretary To Urge Amnesty Wuereas, The Synod in Res. 2-28 of the Denver conven- tion (Proceedings, 1969, p. 91) recognized the right of the individual not to participate in a war which the person be- lieves to be unjust; and WHereas, There are many Americans who for reasons of conscience opposed American involvement in the war in Indochina; and Wuereas, Many of these Americans, in following their convictions, refused to participate in military service and now live as exiles outside the U.S. or as prisoners or former prisoners in the U. S.; and Wuereas, There has as yet been no reconciliation between these Americans and their government and fellow citizens of the U.S. even though American involvement in the war has ended: and WHEREAS, The proclamation of amnesty has followed many previous American conflicts and served as a reconciliation between those who believed they served their nation by supporting the war and those who believed they served their nation by refusing to support the war; and Wuereas, The Lord of the church has sent His people to be ministers of reconciliation: therefore be it Resolved, That the Synod reaffirm its position of selective conscientious objection as stated in Res. 2-28 of the Denver convention: and be it further Resolved, That the Synod encourage its people to be actively involved in reconciling those who believe they served their nation by supporting this war and those who believe they served ‘their nation by refusing to support this war: and be it finally Resolved. That the Synod urge the President or Congress of the U.S. to promote this reconciliation by granting am- nesty in a review of individual cases for those who for reasons of conscience resisted the draft or deserted from military service. University LUTHERAN CHURCH Lawrence, Kans. Mike Brondos, President Elwood May, Secretary Similar: 9-22C Cross Lutheran Church, Milwaukee, Wis., Cardell Willis. President; Paulette Barr, Secretary. 9-22D The Church of St. John the Evangelist, Brooklyn, N.Y... Jesse Greenlow, Secretary, 9-22E Hyde Park Lutheran Church, Chicago, ll., William Gru- now. President: Susan Shemitis, Secretary.