# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_1973_S328 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) 326 SOCIAL MINISTRY Resolved, That The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod in convention at New Orleans encourage Synod, Districts, circuits, congregations, and individual Christians to sup- port community and economic development programs with seed money in the form of grants and loans; and be it further Resolved, That the Social Ministry Committee of the LCMS be instructed to implement this resolution and in- form member Districts and congregations of specific oppor- tunities for such action. Cross LurHeran Cuurcy Milwaukee, Wis. Paulette Barr, Secretary Cardell Willis, President 9-27 To Fund Adequately Social Ministry Whereas, Scripture clearly teaches that the Christian is to be concerned with the material needs of our fellowmen as well as his spiritual needs (James 2:14-17: 1 John 3:16-18; Luke 10: 24-37); and Wuereas, The Synod has recognized Social Ministry to be an integral, legitimate, and valid part of the work of the church at large, and of the local congregation; and Whereas, The various Districts of Synod are the arm of Synod through which much of Synod’s ministry is per- formed; and Wuereas, It is a truth that adequate funding is vital to the efficient execution and fulfillment of almost any program or ministry; therefore be it Resolved, That Synod again reaffirm the place of Social Ministry as a part of our ministry of the church to our world; and be it further Resolved, That the Districts of Synod again be reminded that the Social Ministry programs and resolutions, which may originate on the synodical level, are the responsibility of each District; and be it finally Resolved, That each District of Synod provide adequate funding for its Social Ministry responsibilities on the District level. e Boarp oF Soctau MINISTRY AND Wortp RELIEF Leslie F. Weber, Executive Secretary 9-28 To Adopt New Bylaws for Board of Social Ministry and World Relief Wuereas, The Bylaws for the Consolidated Board of Social Ministry and World Relief were approved by the Board of Social Ministry and World Relief as well as the Board of Directors of Synod in 1971, but were not acted upon by the Milwaukee convention; and Wuereas, Both the Board of Directors and the Board of Social Ministry and World Relief concur with the Bylaw revisions which spell out the regulations of this board which was merged in 1969; therefore be it Resolved, That the following Bylaws be approved by the convention: A. BOARD OF SOCIAL MINISTRY AND WORLD RELIEF 13.01 Personnel and Appointment A Board of Social Ministry and World Relief consisting of seven members, at least four of whom shall be lay members, shall be appointed by the Board of Directors of the Synod upon the recom- mendation of the President of the Synod. 13.02 Duties and Functions The board shall serve as the administrative, programmatic, and evaluative agency for social min- istry interests of, within, and in behalf of the Synod, both within the United States and abroad. Each District shall provide for a Board of Social Ministry and World Relief to assist in the imple- mentation of the program. a. Within the United States 1. The board shall stimulate and encourage Christian social ministry within congregations and groups of congregations: establish and maintain standards of social ministry activities and promote related research; give assistance to Districts re- garding the implementation of social ministry pro- grams; conduct or arrange for studies of social ministry needs prior to the establishment of health and welfare agencies and programs so that good stewardship of the church's efforts might prevail; give counsel to the Board of Directors of the Synod regarding social ministry concerns; arrange for in- stitutes and seminars on social ministry concerns nationally and regionally; Participate in social edu- cation and encourage endeavors to remove or al- leviate human suffering, enlisting where possible and in keeping with the adopted policies of the church, national, State, and municipal services; maintain liaison with the Division of Welfare Ser- vices of LCUSA as well as other religious or secu- lar agencies that may have a bearing on Synod's program of social ministry. 2, The board shall accredit health, social ser- vice, and chaplaincy agencies, upon the recom- mendation of the staff, as an assurance that the agencies meet and maintain acceptable standards of performance in meeting demonstrated needs and have achieved a responsible relationship with the Synod and its jurisdictional units according to the approved Polity Statement. 3. The board shall give guidance to and co- ordinate the efforts of Districts and agencies within the Districts that plan or conduct institutional chaplaincy services in the following areas: aa. arrange for studies regarding new or exist- ing programs; bb. encourage adherence to approved standards and procedures for institutional chaplaincy pro- grams; ce. give counsel regarding calls, appointments, and training of chaplains; dd. provide for regular liaison with institutional chaplains to maintain a responsible relationship of the chaplain with the church and of the church with the chaplain; ee. stimulate concern within congregations and Districts for increased volunteer involvement of pastors and lay people in the ministry to insti- tutionalized people. 4. The board shall administer scholarships for social workers, administrative personnel in agen- cies, and institutional chaplains. 5. The board shall endeavor to identify emerg- ing social problems, and provide counsel so that the church might respond as a healing instrument of Jesus Christ for the broken as well as be a con- cerned Christian force in the prevention of injus- tices, inhumanities, and other evils within society. 6. The board shall give assistance to congrega- tions or through them to their members, or to others, in dire emergencies or disaster situations re- sulting from floods, famines, fires, earthquakes, wars, and related situations, for rehabilitation and refugee service with limited assistance as an in- centive to develop self-help programs in under- developed communities, Assistance may take the form of cash grants, loans without interest, distri- bution of food, clothing, medical or other supplies, or whatever other means best suit the need. 7. The board shall advise individuals, congrega- tions, or Districts in instances of disaster. Emer- gency needs which cannot be met with gifts from