# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_1975_S448 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) 448 ume or part-time executives for evangelism, or to as- sign the area of evangelism to one of its other full-time executives; c. That the Districts be directed to use a circuit or regional organization, with both a pastor and a lay per- son in each circuit or region as their evangelism repre- sentatives, and to provide specific programs and materi- als for the circuit or region: and d. That the congregations assign evangelism to a specific committee, or evangelism director where they can not have a committee, and that the District and cir- cult representative be in close contact with the commit- tee chairman or evangelism director, providing his materials and personal training and motivation for win- ning and integrating new members into each congrega- tion's life and work. To Budget for International Congress on World Evangelism in Lausanne, Switzerland RESOLUTION 8-10 Report 8-01 (CW, pp. 307—311) Resolved, That an additional $10,000 be included in the 1974 budget for the Board for Evangelism to assist youth, lay, and clergy representatives of the Synod to attend the International Congress on World Evangelism in Lausanne, Switzerland. in July, 1974. To Decline Overtures Supporting Capital Punishment RESOLUTION 9.14 Overtures 9-17, 9-18 (CW, p. 323) Wuereas, The recent Supreme Court decision pro- vides for discretionary leg.slation on the part of each state in the matter of capital punishment, which legis- lation may vary from state to state: and Wuereas, This entire matter gives rise to complex social and theological implications: therefore be it Resolved. That individual Christians throughout the Synod be guided by Christian knowledge and con- science when making judgments regarding capital pun- ishment: and be it further Resolved, That because of the many implications surrounding this issue we ask the Commission on Social Concerns to prepare and disseminate guidelines de- signed to assist our membership in making these judg - ments, and be it finally Resolved, That we respectfully decline Overtures 9-17 and 9-18. To Decline Overture on Additional Participation in Rebuilding Vietnam RESOLUTION 9-15 Overture 9-21 (CW, p. 324) Wuereas, Government and private agencies, includ- ing the church's agencies of world relief, are already involved in significant efforts to alleviate the sufferings of the people in Vietnam and may become involved to @ greater extent in the future: therefore be it Resolved. That Overture 9-21 be respectfully de- clined. To Reaffirm the Social Ministry Affirmations RESOLUTION 9-18 Overtures 9.24, 9.25 (CW, p. 325) Wuereas, The Social Ministry Affirmations adopted by the Synod at its 1971 convention at Milwaukee state that “the church has only one ministry, centered in Word and Sacraments”: and WHEREAS, “The Statement on Principles of Social Action, with special reference to corporate positions” adopted by the Synod at its 1969 convention in Denver States that this ministry “must be to the whole man and even to the whole society of men": therefore be it Resolved, That the Social Ministry Affirmations adopted by the Synod at its 1971 convention in Milwau- kee be reaffirmed: and be it further Resolved, That Overtures 9-24 and 9-25 be respect- fully declined. REFERRED RESOLUTIONS To Support Community and Economic Programs RESOLUTION 9.19 Overture 9-26 (CW, pp. 325—326) Wuereas, Central city and rural communities fre- quently suffer serious handicaps because of low income levels, unemployment, substandard housing, substand- ard education, inadequate recreational facilities, lack of community-owned businesses, etc.: and Wuereas, Christians are called to minister to the total needs of the total man: therefore be it Resolved, That the Board of Social Ministry and World Relief provide resource and encouragement to District social ministry committees to survey commun- ity and economic needs both in central city and rural areas and stimulate action whereby self-help develop- ment programs may be initiated either by Districts, cir- cuits, clusters, or individual congregations: and be it further Resolved, That. where needed, seed-money funds be made available to assist these depressed areas in effect- ing improved living standards: and be it finally Resolved. That wherever possible these efforts be developed and implemented together with other inter- ested church and or community groups. To Provide Scholarships for Clinical Pastoral Education and to Express Appreciation to Wheat Ridge for Its Support RESOLUTION 9.21 Overture 9-30 (CW, p. 327) Wuereas, Wheat Ridge Foundation has been a tre- mendous blessing to our church in helping to develop unique Gospel ministries in areas of special need that are relevant to the times and needs: and Wuergas, It is the policy of Wheat Ridge Foundation to demonstrate the value of a Program so that the church might then continue it: and Wuereas, Wheat Ridge Foundation has generously helped stimulate a higher quality of institutional chap- laincy services over the past 9 years by supplying $91.- 218 to 62 qualified applicants through the Chaplaincy Service Committee of the Board of Social Ministry and World Relief, and this has proven to be an important part of the Gospel ministry to God’s world and to His people: therefore be it Resolved, That Synod express its gratitude to Wheat Ridge Foundation and to God for Wheat Ridge, Founda- tion in having moved the church to produce a more understanding and relevant Gospel ministry through the institutional chaplain: and be it further Resolved, That beginning in the next biennium, Synod subsidize the Clinical Pastoral Education Scholar- ship Program for pastors, deaconesses, and seminarians interested and qualified for institutional ministry, in the amount of $7,500 per year so that Wheat Ridge can apply its resources to other areas of special need tor creative and unique ministry. To Reconsider Repudiation of “Christian News” RESOLUTION 11-07 Overture 11-21 (CW. p. 355) Resolved, That The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod ask the Council of Presidents of The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod to reconsider its repudiation of Christian News. To Minimize the Effects of Smoking at Conventions RESOLUTION 11-08 Overture 11-10 (CW. p. 352) Wuereas, As brothers and sisters in Christ we should be vitally concerned with the health of one another, including as a part of our concern abstaining from that which may be detrimental to others: and Wuereas. Delegates to our conventions, conferences, etc.. could be both nonsmokers and allergic to tobacco smoke: therefore be it Resolved, That all smokers are urged to use good Judgment as individuals in this matter and respect the concern and comfort of others in order to minimize the effects of smoking at conventions. To Refer Overture 11-15 to the Council of Presidents RESOLUTION 11-09 Overture 11-15 (CW, pp. 352—353) Wuereas, Synodical Bylaws Section 2.112 provides for the use of vocational redirection: therefore be it Resolved, That Overture 11-15 be referred to the Council of Presidents for their consideration within these existing synodical Bylaws. To Refer Overture 11-11 to Convention Planning Committee RESOLUTION 11-10 Overture 11-11 (CW, p. 352) Wuereas, The concerns expressed in Overture 11-11 require consideration during the planning stages of a convention: be it Resolved, That Overture 11-11 be referred to the convention planning committee for review and imple- mentation as feasible To Practice Love, Expedite Convention Business, Grant Equal Opportunity, Provide Equal Opportunity of Debate, Invite Guests to Attend and Address RESOLUTION 11-11 Overtures 11-05, 11-06, 11-07, 11-08, 11-09 (CW, pp, 351— 352) WHEREAS, Great concern has been expressed in the referenced overtures with regard to varied aspects of convention decorum: therefore be it Resolved, To refer Overtures 11-05, 11-06, 11-07, 11-08, 11-09 to the synodical Board of Directors: and be it further Resolved, That the Board of Directors review these matters in light of the Statement on Ethics and estab- lished convention procedures and implement them with Tespect to future conventions: and be it finally Resolved, That the chair of this convention make note of their applicability to this convention, To Establish Realistic Salaries for Pastors RESOLUTION 11-12 Overture 11-29 (CW, p. 357) Wuereas, The Milwaukee convention Tequested all Districts to set up salary guidelines (Res. 11-06, Con- vention Proceedings, 1971, p. 207): and Wuergas, All Districts have apparently not estab- lished this plan; and Wuereas, The establishment of equitable salaries for church workers is a matter which should demand their immediate attention; therefore be it Resolved, That all Districts be encouraged to imple- ment fully and without delay Milwaukee resolution 11-06; and be it further Resolved, That the LC-MS in convention assembled in New Orleans, 1973, urge all congregations to use these guidelines so as to provide adequately for the needs of their pastors and teachers. To Clarify the Theological Stance of Candidates for Calls in The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod RESOLUTION 11-13 Overtures 11-12, 11-13 (CW, pp. 352—353) Wuereas, The Lord of the church, through the in- spired prophet Jeremiah, declares “He who has My Word let him speak My Word faithfully.” “I am against