LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1981, Page 289

Transcription machine transcription, uncorrected

⤓ Download .txt · copy text

PARISH SERVICES 289

providing updated material, whether that be federal or state
regulations or new teaching materials, including films and
filmstrips, books, and articles that might benefit our people. A
message is also provided for our pastors in every issue.

A scholarship fund has been created by commission action
to assist Lutheran college students planning careers in special
education. Women of the church have been asked to support
this effort.

The commission’s outreach to church members has been
enhanced by regular publicity releases in the Reporter. This
has proven to be an invaluable resource to acquaint synodical
members with the many opportunities for ministry with
mentally retarded people.

Other outreach techniques include cosponsorship of work-
shops with church-related residential facilities and meeting
with camp directors of the Outdoors Ministry group.

_ 777 In 1979 and 1980 the commission in cooperation with the

Board of Parish Education in an effort to stimulate additional
special vacation Bible school classes offered free curriculum
material. Such material will again be available for the summer
of 1981 but at a retail price. Also the commission provides an
approved curriculum for adults in special Sunday and weekday
schools, adapting religious teachings to their everyday living
and work experiences.

The executive for the commission is honored to serve during
1980 and 1981 as chairman of the Religion Division of the
American Association on Mental Deficiency—the oldest pro-
fessional organization in America concerned with mental
retardation. One is able in this way to project the leadership
exercised by our Synod in the overall field of mental retarda-
tion. Members of the division include chaplains and religious
workers serving retarded people.

Asa leader in the field, LCMS is now a partner-member for
the celebration of 1981 as the International Year for Disabled
Persons. The commission will attempt to alert the church
through boards and commissions, Districts, parishes, and its
many agencies concerning various aspects of new ministries
and opportunities to improve the mobility and access of those
with disabilities to our church buildings and facilities. Of
special merit will be the open welcome of our members to these
people, a welcome into the community that is the church.
During the ’80s the churches will have every opportunity to be
the “everlasting arms” of Christ to handicapped persons.

The commission would draw your attention to the unique
service of one of the workers in His vineyard, Mr. Bernard H.
Arkebauer. Arkie, as he is known to all, decided to resign from
the Committee on Religious Education of the Mentally
Retarded after continuous service for 30 years. One of the first
DCE’s in service to the Synod, an accomplished musician and
choir director, a man well grounded in Scripture, this “divine
irritant” to the Board of Parish Education and to the committee
gives God the glory for his contribution to the church. The
commission proudly salutes him and invites all of your “well
wishes” for his retirement years.

— And finally, the commission is ready to recommend to the
membership a name change to more adequately serve other
members of the Synod who are parents of children with
varying disabilities. A name change would indicate to the
world the inherent leadership of the Synod to serve all its
members hurting under yokes of different handicaps—‘“‘he who
thus serves Christ is acceptable to God’’ (Rom. 14:18).
Comments are solicited regarding services, ministry, support,
and other needs required by families living under the burden of
various disabilities.
Donald Ahlersmeyer, Chairman
Marshall R. Nelson, Executive Secretary

7-04
Report of Board for Public Relations

The Board for Public Relations continues to see its primary
objective as reporting and interpreting the work of the Synod.
In striving for that goal, the activities and programs of the
Public Relations Department were directed toward (1) increas-
ing confidence in and enthusiasm for the services offered by
the Synod; (2) increasing the knowledge of the services offered

by the Synod: and (3) enlisting the support and participation of
Synod members in effectively using the media.

The spiritual dimension of these objectives, which is the
basis for all the work of the department, aids the entire church
in a ministry of “preparing the way” to bring people to Christ.

Reporting

Much of the department’s time was devoted to one of its
major areas of responsibility, that of serving as the ‘news
bureau” for the church. Through news releases, media queries,
backgrounders, and other mediums, the department strives to
provide complete, continuous information concerning the wide
variety of the church’s activities and programs.

Interpreting
Booklets and brochures such as ‘Good Things Happen
When...” are among the efforts designed to help explain the

work of the church. An increased number of network, as well as
local, placements on television and radio have helped interpret
the work of the church for the general public.

All activites of the department are based on free access to all
information. Members of congregations, as well as the general
public, have a “right to know.” Credibility can only be
maintained through prompt, accurate, and objective reports of
actions taken by the Synod and its units.

Special Services and Programs

Another responsibility of the department is to serve as
communications consultants to other units of the Synod in
their task of carrying out Christ’s mission.

The board had developed and recommended the imple-
mentation of a nationwide, multimedia (radio, television, and
magazine) preevangelism program that was included in the
1979 synodical budget as an unfinanced need. The board still
believes in the merit of such an effort and would hope that the
church could undertake a similar program in the near future.

To meet the needs of congregations that want to utilize the
media for outreach, the department developed ‘“‘Ad Packets,”
which contain easy-to-use newspaper ads and radio—TV spots.
Related to that are District and Circuit workshops that provide
encouragement and training in the use of communications
tools.

The department also serves as an information resource
center for both church members and the general public.
Although time-consuming, this is a service appreciated by all.

Two special projects that could impact greatly on the church
are (1) a joint Lutheran Media Mission Pilot Project designed to
increase the public’s awareness of Lutherans in areas of the
country where Lutherans are a minority and (2) a joint
Lutheran Parish/Family-Based Video Communications Fea-
sibility Study conducted in conjunction with the Aid Associ-
ation for Lutherans.

With video-related communications tools now becoming
commonplace, the board recognizes the need to increase its
services to congregations in this area so that these tools can be
properly utilized for the Lord’s work.

Coordination

The Board for Public Relations is greatly encouraged that
both Task Force II (in its report) and the Board of Directors
(1979 Res. 7-01) are recommending the formation of a Board for
Communications. The board has long supported such a struc-
ture that would better coordinate the work of various com-
munications groups under one board. A formal resolution to
that effect was adopted by the Synod in 1973 but not imple-
mented. The Board for Public Relations would hope for rapid
implementation, since the need for coordination is becoming
even more pressing as technology brings us a growing number
of new communications tools that the church could utilize in
bringing God’s Good News to the world.

Board and Staff

The report of the board would not be complete without
noting the homegoing of Dr. Victor C. Rickman on Feb. 7, 1980.
As LCMS president J. A. O. Preus said, ‘““The Synod has lost a