LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1981, Page 307

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306 SOCIAL MINISTRY

WHEREAS, The number of refugees (people who are victims
of war, disaster, or oppression from hostile governments) in our
world currently stands at about 15 million (1% million in
Somalia alone); and

WHEREAS, The Lord of the church has encouraged His
people to ‘reach out to the stranger” and to “demonstrate
hospitality”; and

WHEREAS, Assistance to the oppressed and the refugee
needs to be viewed as an ongoing social ministry of the church;
therefore be it

Resolved, That the LCMS call upon the governments of the
United States and Canada to continue theirinvolvementin the
resettlement of many refugees from around the world; and be it
further

Resolved, That this convention encourage our members and
our congregations to become sponsors (assuring persons of
housing, employment, and assistance for daily needs for a
limited period of time) of refugee persons through the programs
of Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service.

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

8-12

To Encourage Donation of Kidneys
and Other Organs

WHEREAS, We accept and believe that our Lord Jesus came
to give life and give it abundantly (John 10:10); and

WHEREAS, Through advances in medical science we are
aware that at the time of death some of our organs can be
transplanted to alleviate pain and suffering of afflicted human
beings (see Gal. 6:10); and

WHEREAS, Our heavenly Father has created us so that we
can adequately andsafely live with one kidney and can express
our love and relieve the unnecessary prolonged suffering of our
relative; and

WHEREAS, We have an opportunity to help others out of love
for Christ, through the donation of organs; therefore be it

Resolved, That our pastors, teachers, and DCE’s be encour-
aged to inform the members of The Lutheran Church—
Missouri Synod of the opportunity to sign a Universal Organ
Donor Card (which is to authorize the use of our needed organs
at the time of death in order to relieve the suffering of
individuals requiring organ transplants); and be it further

Resolved, That we encourage family members to become
living kidney donors; and be it further

Resolved, That the program committee for the next Profes-
sional Church Workers Conference be encouraged to include
“organ transplants” as a topic on the agenda; and be it finally

Resolved, That the entire Synod join in this opportunity to
express human mercy.

Nebraska District

Eldor W. Meyer, President
B. F. Meschke, Secretary

8-13

To Sponsor Haitian Refugees

WHEREAS, Our Lord at His coming for judgment will among
other things say to believers, “I was a stranger and you took me
in”; and

WHEREAS, About 16,000 Haitian refugees have been recog-
nized as refugees in need of American sponsors; and

WHEREAS, The Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service
in New York with its representatives in all of our Districts can
assist us; therefore be it

Resolved, That all congregations and Districts are urged to
sponsor a Haitian family as well as refugees from other
countries.

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

8-14

To Respond to the Needs
of the Aging Members
of the Christian Family

WHEREAS, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod has
given much attention and concern to the problems of its older
members through the establishment of new nursing homes
and care facilities, and in the fiscal support of established
facilities, and in suggesting approaches to enable the frail
elderly to achieve independent living in the security of their
own homes; and

WHEREAS, The Board of Social Ministry and World Relief
has developed some programs such as Project Compassion to
respond to some of the needs of the aging; and

WHEREAS, The White House Conference on Families
developed a number of important recommendations related to
the concerns of the aging, suggesting greater involvement of
the religious community; and

WHEREAS, The 1981 White House Conference on Aging will
offer many worthwhile suggestions designed to improve the
quality of life for older citizens; therefore be it

Resolved, That The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
direct its Board of Social Ministry and World Relief to study the
recommendations of the White House Conference on the
Family and the White House Conference on Aging to determine
the relevance and applicability of their findings and to report
to the Board of Directors with proposals that implement such
recommendations as are feasible and relevant to our consti-
tuency.

Board of Social Ministry and World Relief
Robert Mugge, Chairman
Leslie F. Weber, Executive Secretary
8-15

To Affirm Pastoral Care
to Institutionalized Persons

WHEREAS, Approximately 30 million persons enter various
hospitals and institutions each year; and

WHEREAS, More than four million persons are confined in
city and county jails each year; and

WHEREAS, Ourchurch has traditionally provided chaplains,
deaconesses, and trained volunteers to share the love of Christ
and to provide pastoral and spiritual concern for the patients,
residents, and inmates in the public and private institutions of
America; and

WHEREAS, Many states and institutions, recognizing the
therapeutic value of pastoral-care departments, provided funds
for chaplains, but more recently, in some areas, have decreased
or eliminated the funding for chaplaincy programs for various
reasons (church/state issues, fear of lawsuits from persons
antagonistic to religion, uncertainty of economic situation,
etc.); and

WHEREAS, The Chaplaincy Services Committee of the Board
of Social Ministry and World Relief recognizes a dangerous
situation in which neither the state, the institutions, nor the
church ‘is providing the trained clergy to minister to the
millions in our institutions; therefore be it

Resolved, That The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
reaffirm the Scriptural mandate (2 Kings 8:29; Matt. 25:36;
James 5:14) to provide programs of pastoral care by encourag-
ing Districts and clusters of local congregations to take steps to
assure that present chaplaincy programs be maintained and
new ones be established; and be it further

Resolved, That The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
through the Board of Social Ministry and World Relief address
itself to the various governmental units, national, state, and
local, as well as the nonprofit voluntary sector, to continue
departments of pastoral care and to reinstitute those that have
been discontinued or decreased.

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