# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1979_S99 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) E : f = RESOLUTIONS ; 99 Therefore we seek to help our congregations under- stand the contemporary Jewish people who live with them in the community and share their faith with them in a sensitive and respectful way. We need to provide special helps for this purpose just as we do for other groups of people, such as Blacks, Hispanics, Indians, cults, etc. We have full-time pastors to deaf, Estonians, and Puerto Ricans, etc. III. We State our Commitment— 1. That Jesus of Nazareth is the promised Messiah, who fulfilled the prophecies of the Old Testament and by His life, death, and resurrection provided complete atonement for the sins of all people, Jew and Gentile alike. 2. That since the New Testament, as well as the Old Testament, is the verbally inspired Word of God, the words of Jesus remain true for us today: “I am the Way and the Truth and the Life; no one comes to the Father but by Me” (John 14:6); as do the words of Peter: “There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name [than the name of Jesus] under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). 3. That we are obligated to share the Gospel of Jesus as Lord and Savior with all people, Jew and Gentile alike (Matt. 28:18-20; Luke 24:46-49), and we seek to follow the example of our Lord and the early apostles with the zeal expressed by St. Paul when he said, “My heart’s desire and prayer to God for them [Jews] is that they may be saved” (Rom. 10:1). 4. That we do love the Jewish people, that we stand with them in opposing all forms of anti-Semitism and injustice, that we join them in humanitarian concerns, and that we will continue to love them even when they choose not to accept our witness. Action: Adopted (7). (The convention declined to include several paragraphs of Overture 1-28.) To Thank All Agencies, Auxiliary Organizations, and Fraternal Benevolent Societies RESOLUTION 1-31 Report 1-01, App. A, Rec. 1 (CW, p. 31) WHEREAS, Valuable resources for carrying the Gos- pel throughout the world are provided through the programs and activities of the various agencies, auxil- iary organizations, and fraternal benevolent societies; and WHEREAS, A key ingredient to the success of such programs and activities is the continued communi- cation between the Board for Missions and the mission- related programs and activities of agencies, auxiliary organizations, and fraternal benevolent societies; there- fore be it Resolved, That we express deep appreciation for the contributions made by these agencies, auxiliary orga- nizations, and fraternal benevolent societies; and be it further Resolved, That we urge them to continue their strong mission emphasis and concern for the proclamation of the Gospel at home and abroad; and be it finally Resolved, That we encourage greater communication between the Board for Missions and the agencies, auxiliary organizations, and fraternal benevolent soci- eties in mission-related programs and activities. Action: Adopted (11). To Review Comity Arrangements RESOLUTION 1-32A Overture 1-11 (CW, p. 48) WHEREAS, Comity arrangements are to further the programs of the Kingdom by utilizing the resources of the church most efficiently to bring the Gospel to the greatest number of people without undesirable dupli- cation of efforts; and WHEREAS, Such comity arrangements sometimes do not aid the prompt following of the leading of God to enter doors which He opens; therefore be it Resolved, That The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod urge its Board for Missions, in consultation with those involved in joint planning with other Lutheran church bodies through the Lutheran Council in the U:S.A., to review and evaluate the guidelines governing comity arrangements and their implementation, in the light of our mission and church planning strategy, so that the church can move forward in meeting the opportunities which God places before His people; and be it further Resolved, That the Board for Missions be instructed to report its findings to the next convention of the Synod. Action: Adopted (11). (The convention declined to consider a substitute resolution to withdraw from comity arrangements with the Lutheran Council.) To Convey Concern re Campus Pastors RESOLUTION 1-33 Overture 1-14 (CW, p. 49) WHEREAS, Campus ministry is under the jurisdiction of the Districts of the Synod; therefore be it Resolved, That this concern be addressed to the proper District that the concerns expressed may be met there. Action: Adopted (11).