# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_1975_S57 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) THEOLOGY AND CHURCH RELATIONS 57 ratification a constitutional amendment to protect unborn children, and indeed all people, regardless of age or dependence. The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod would protest a kind of Justice which is conditioned by what is socially expedient and econom- ically utilitarian. The keystone of any society which would call itself civilized, or even reasonable or rational, is a respect for all human life. But without the right to life, all other rights are meaningless. (The complete record of religious testimony presented on March 7, 1974, may be obtained by writing Room 108, Russell Senate Office Building, Washington, D. C. 70510) Included in the area of life concerns is the question of euthanasia. This subject has been under discussion for some time by the committee. The committee hopes to complete a statement on euthanasia in the near future. Studies on the Equal Rights Amendment, capital punish- ment, and homosexuality are in progress at the present and are at various stages in their development. Representatives from the committee have participated in the Consultation on Education held in New York in September 1974 and in the Impact/Washing- ton Interreligious Staff Council Briefing on the 94th Congress in February 1975. Staff has provided representation for the Social Concerns Committee in the Social Concerns Liaison Group. In addition to concerning itself with specific assignments, the committee has attempted to keep abreast of the activities of other groups, both within and outside of The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod. A number of guests have been invited to attend committee meetings, including Dr. Melvin Kieschnick, Executive Secretary of the Board for Parish Education: Dr. Byron L. Schmid, Secretary for Social Study and Planning in LCUSA: Dr. Carl Reuss, Director of the American Lutheran Church’s office of research and analysis; Mr. Martin McKernan, a lawyer with expertise regarding the various kinds of human life amendments before the United States Congress; and Mr. Marshall Nelson, Executive Secretary of the Commission for Services to the Mentally Retarded. Recommendations The Social Concerns Committee recommends: 1. That in response to the Board of Directors’ referral of 1973 Resolution 11-16, the following resolution be submitted to the Anaheim convention: As Christians we are concerned about injustices and oppres- sion wherever these are to be found: but toward our fellow Christians we have a special obligation, particularly where they are experiencing oppression in severe form. Since it is well known that Christians are being more severely persecuted in territories under Communist rule, we petition the 1975 conven- tion of The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod to resolve: 1) We solemnly declare our solidarity with the suffering, bleeding, yet confessing church under oppression. (1 Cor. 12: 16) 2) We praise God for the inspiring, victorious faith and love with which He has blest these our persecuted brethren. 3) We thank our gracious God for having hitherto preserved our nation and church from the scourge of terror and persecu- tion. 4) We call on all Christians who enjoy the privilege of political freedom to be well informed about the fate of Christians under oppression, to pray fervently for our persecuted fellow believers and for the conversion of their tormentors, to support these suffering Christians by every proper means, and to imitate hum- bly their great zeal and self-sacrifice in the service of the cruci- fied and risen Savior. 5) We call on all church leaders to keep the cause of the oppressed Christians before world opinion—and not by silence to aid and abet their persecution. We encourage them to use every proper means to do this: a. Through the United Nations Organization, which has guaranteed the citizens basic human rights (Articles 18 and 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights), and urging these nations to take all steps possible to secure compliance with these declarations. b. Through special national observances, such as Captive Nations Week, which has been set aside by our Congress. c. Through personal leadership in their own areas to make people aware of the need for such intercession. 6) We call on all Christians to pray for their fellow believers in the captive nations especially as a reminder to us of their needs and struggles, the same struggles with which we identify as fellow members of the body of Christ. (James 5:16) 2. That the present relationship with the Commission on Theology and Church Relations be continued. 3. That the Synod endorse the following resolution regarding continued study in the areas of abortion, amniocentesis, and genetic testing: WHEREAS, The emerging science of bioethics, coupled with new developments in biomedical technology, is causing discus- sion in the fields of medicine, law, social work, and theology; and WHEREAS, Guidance and input to these discussions should include those who will ultimately be most affected by continuing exploration in these fields: and WHEREAS, Serious questions concerning the legitimate use of technology to extend life beyond “naturally” occurring limits, the control of human behavior through surgery and drug therapy, the use of techniques such as amniocentesis to diagnose disease and determine sex in the unborn child, medical experi- mentation on human subjects, and the altering of the genetic code in both human and animal subjects have led the U.S. Congress and the general public to express concern regarding proper ethical constraints in biomedical research: and WHEREAS, Pastors are becoming increasingly involved in these issues in their ministry to individuals confronted with making personal decisions in life-and-death matters: therefore be it Resolved, That the Synod encourage the CTCR’s Social Concerns Committee, in consultation with the Commission on Services to the Mentally Retarded, to address itself to the moral aspects of these questions with the purpose of providing assis- tance to pastors in their counseling, guidance to members of professions involved in the technical aspects of bioethics, and information to the members of The Lutheran Church— Missouri Synod on the serious questions raised by developments in the ‘ life sciences. Dr. Eugene Linse, Chairman Mrs. Jean Garton, Secretary App. 3-011 REPORT OF TASK FORCE ON WOMEN I. Background and Preamble A. Background Resolution 2-49 (New Orleans, 1973) called on the Synod to establish a task force to study the role of women in The Lutheran Church— Missouri Synod. Although this resolution was not acted on, Omnibus Resolution 4-47 implemented its intent through the second resolve: Resolved, That the Task Force on Women be established with the recommendation that the majority of members on this task force be women representing the variety of women who are members of The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod. In compliance with this mandate and in accordance with the original provisions of Resolution 2-49, President J. A. O. Preus, in consultation with the Commission on Theology and Church Relations and the president of the Lutheran Women’s Missionary League, appointed the following to membership on the task force: Mrs. Jean Garton, Prof. Harold Haas, Phyllis Kersten, Mrs. Joane Kohlmeier, Rev. Eugene Kramer, Mrs. Louise Mueller, Mrs. Rozelia Richardson, Prof. Al Schmidt, and Mrs. Olive Spannaus. Mrs. Florence Montz, president of the LWML, was appointed consultant to the task force, and Rev. Samuel Nafzger, acting Executive Secretary of the CTCR, provided staff services. Mrs. Garton served as chairperson and Mrs. Mueller as secretary. The first meeting of the task force was held July 29, 1974. Despite the delay in getting the task force organized, six meet- ings have been held, and the task force herewith submits a progress report on its activities and preliminary findings.