LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1981, Page 36

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36 MISSIONS

appreciates the value of securing a staff person for Indian
concerns for the Board for Missions who will also work closely
with the Board of Social Ministry and World Relief in develop-
ing and processing Indian-related social ministry projects; and

WHEREAS, The Board of Social Ministry and World Relief
also recognizes the value of supporting Indian concerns
through the inter-Lutheran programs of the Indian Desk of
LCUSA; and

WHEREAS, Synodical structure and functions are established
to provide interrelated but distinct service roles in missions
and in social ministry; therefore be it

Resolved, That should the Board for Missions secure a staff
person for Indian concerns to provide leadership in expanding
ministry among Indian people, that this staff person work
closely with the Board of Social Ministry and World Relief in
developing and processing social ministry projects, and be it
further

Resolved, That the Board of Social Ministry and World
Relief represent The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod in
supporting the Indian Desk of the Lutheran Council in the
U.S.A. and working with the National Indian Lutheran Board
in developing and funding selected social ministry projects.

Board of Social Ministry and World Relief
Robert H. Mugge, Chairman
Leslie F. Weber, Executive Secretary

To Open 10 New Missions
in Black Communities Each Year
in Both Urban and Rural Areas

WHEREAS, The goal of 10 new Black mission stations is still
a desirable goal; and

WHEREAS, Established congregations in socially changing
urban communities may be considered a mission station; and

WHEREAS, The migration of Blacks from northern urban
areas to southern rural areas reflects a need for new missions;
and

WHEREAS, Very few new mission stations have been estab-
lished in the past few years; therefore be it

Resolved, That with God’s continued blessings we reaffirm
our goals in establishing new congregations in response to the
Great Commission through the proclamation of the Gospel in
our Black and transitional communities; and be it further

Resolved, That the Black Ministry Commission work with
the various Districts in the urban areas to find possible
locations for the establishment of at least one new mission
station each year in a predominantly Black community; and be
it finally

Resolved, That funds for these ministries be sought from
various sources outside the church.

Commission on Black Ministry
Simon Bodley, Chairman

1-24

To Affirm Need to Study Issue of Subsidy
and to Develop Guidelines Designed
to Encourage and Assist Congregations
to Become Self-Sustaining

WHEREAS, Our Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod has a
long history of opening new mission stations with subsidies
from Districts; and

WHEREAS, Subsidy is usually granted as the avenue through
which a broadened ministry can go on in spite of the adverse
circumstances of a weak and struggling mission in its early
years; and

WHEREAS, There is a growing trend that many more Black
and integrated congregations are heavily subsidized, and

WHEREAS, There seems to be such a divergence in the way

and means subsidy is granted and continued in the various
Districts; therefore be it

Resolved, That a task force be established to investigate
this growing trend toward more subsidized congregations and
to evaluate the relationship between mission board policies
because of subsidy and the increasing dependence of some
congregations on more and more subsidy from year to year to
stay afloat; and be it further

Resolved, That a member of the Black Ministry Commission
be a member of the task force, and be it finally

Resolved, That the Synod set up subsidy guidelines designed
specifically to enable churches to become self-sustaining.

Commission on Black Ministry

Simon Bodley, Chairman

1-25

To Discontinue
Comity Agreements with LCUSA

WHEREAS, Comity is defined as an agreement among Chris-
tian denominations to avoid duplication of churches or mis-
sions in a Specific area; and

WHEREAS, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod began
the practice of comity with LCUSA member churches in 1965;
and

WHEREAS, ALC, LCA, and AELC have made it abundantly
clear during these past 15 years that they do not agree in
doctrine and practice with the LCMS; and

WHEREAS, The practice of comity with ALC, LCA, and
AELC, all of which adhere to false teachings regarding (1) the
authority of Scripture, (2) Gospel reductionism, (3) the third use
of the Law as noted in New Orleans Res. 3-09, is expressly
forbidden in such Scripture passages as 2 Tim. 4:3; 1 Tim. 6:3-4;
Matt. 5:19; Heb. 13:9; therefore be it

Resolved, We earnestly request the Synod to inform LCUSA
that the LCMS will no longer engage in comity agreements.

St. Thomas Lutheran Church
Rocky River, Ohio

Donald Reiss, President
Phillip B. Giessler, Pastor

1-26

To Request New Guidelines
for Comity Arrangements

WHEREAS, The ALC, LCA, and LCMS participate in regional
consultations, sponsored by LCUSA, for the purpose of plan-
ning new mission work; and

WHEREAS, LCMS congregations have the freedom to estab-
lish daughter congregations without District approval, which
is not the policy of the ALC and the LCA; and

WHEREAS, Recently the LCA has taken exception with the
Missouri Synod for not seeking LCUSA approval and clear-
ance for such congregations as Trinity, Walton, and Imman-
uel, Loup City, for beginning preaching stations in Palmyra
and Broken Bow; and

WHEREAS, The likelihood for further exceptions will increase
under LCMS policy that in order to manage church growth in
such a way as to provide more money for Districts that havea
low Lutheran population but are experiencing a great influx of
people, Districts like Nebraska would encourage local congre-
gations and circuits to assume responsibility for beginning
new churches; and

WHEREAS, The District Mission Committee is in full agree-
ment with such a plan; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Nebraska District petition The Lutheran
Church—Missouri Synod to request LCUSA to provide new
guidelines that will take into consideration the varying polities
of the synods; and be it further

Resolved, That we ask our District mission executive to
continue to inform and consult with his counterparts in the