LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1981, Page 308

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SOCIAL MINISTRY 307

8-16

To Continue to Express Opposition
to Blasphemy and Pornography in Movies,
in the Media, in Literature, and in Music

WHEREAS, The use of blasphemy and pornography is becom-
ing more pronounced in movies, in the media, in literature, and
in the music of today; and

WHEREAS, We as a church body should take a stand against
such blasphemy and pornography wherever and in whatever
way it occurs; and

WHEREAS, Our Synod in convention at St. Louis went on
record in 1979 (Rs. 9-01) as opposing all blasphemy in these
areas and to relay this stance to the producers of the public
media and to develop guidelines for helping our congregations,
our schools, and our families in their effort to protect and
combat this evil trend; therefore be it

Resolved, That all efforts be doubled in these areas by
pastors, teachers, and lay people in expressing opposition
directly to those involved in blasphemy and pornography and
also expressing gratitude and support to the producers who
uphold Christian standards of decency.

St. Peter Lutheran Church
Hilbert, Wis.

Gene R. Kangas, Pastor
Ralph Koffarnus, President
Dean Bergelin, Secretary

To Support Lutherans for Life

WHEREAS, The American holocaust, abortion on demand,
continues as the law of the land; and

WHEREAS, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod has
clearly stated its oppositions to this contemporary problem in
1979 Res. 3-02A; and

WHEREAS, Lutherans for Life has been formed to provide a
clear witness and to work for changes in our society so that this
terrible problem will be ended; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Synod ask our Lutheran churches to aid
and assist in forming chapters of Lutherans for Life and
provide assistance and support where possible to those groups
already in existence so our people may become more aware of
the nature and extent of this problem; so Lutherans might
provide a more forceful witness to each other and to society in
opposition to this problem; so the whole range of life concerns,
including the problems of the elderly, might receive attention;
and so God-pleasing solutions to these problems might be
effected.

St. Paul’s Lutheran Church (Canton)
Mondovi, Wis.

Arnold Heck, President

Roger Arneson, Secretary

8-18
To Encourage Zero Population Growth

WHEREAS, The U.S. government projects that the world
population will increase by one billion people to a total of 5.3
billion in 1990; and

WHEREAS, The people of 40 developing nations already
malnourished will have to import twice the food to support that
projected population increase; and

WHEREAS, Most productive land is already being farmed;
land one-third the size of France is being lost to desertification
annually; more than that is estimated to be taken out of
productivity by industrialization, urban sprawl, and road-
train-airport construction; and energy inputs to increase food
production are less available due to increasing cost; and

WHEREAS, Raising the standard of living in impoverished
nations correlates with decreased family size and less danger
of endemic famine; therefore be it

Resolved, That we encourage the limitation of population
growth through voluntary family planning to approach zero
population growth; and be it further

Resolved, That we encourage the federal government, the
United Nations, and our own world relief programs to help
developing nations raise their standards of living and other-
wise effect a lower population growth.

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

8-19
To Take Position Regarding Human Rights

WHEREAS, The prophets of the Old Testament, St. John, and
the Master Himself make it embarrassingly clear that we are to
be concerned with the physical well-being of our brothers and
sisters wherever they may live and that our love for them dare
never stop with more talk but must always be concrete,
tangible, and specific (Is. 58:1-12; Amos 5:21-24; Micah 6:8; 1
John 3:16-18; 1 John 4:19-21; Matt. 25:31-46; and Luke 10:25-
37)); and

WHEREAS, Our brothers and sisters in South Africa are
grievously oppressed, their cries going up to God as in the days
of the Hebrew slaves; and

WHEREAS, Financial institutions and multinational corpor-
ations in America undergird South Africa’s oppressive minor-
ity regime with their loans and investments; and

WHEREAS, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, together
with many other churches, may unintentionally be doing
business with banks and lending institutions and/or multi-
national corporations that do business with South Africa,
which would result in the moral dilemma of having our Lord’s
Day tithes and offerings be used to support severe oppression;
an

WHEREAS, Our brothers and sisters in South Africa have
informed us that we can help them achieve liberation by (a)
communicating with our lawmakers, (b) transferring our
personal, congregational, District, and synodical accounts
from banks and lending institutions that do business with
South Africa to banks and lending institutions that do not do
business with South Africa, and (c) divesting ourselves, our
congregations, Districts, and the Synod itself of all invest-
ments in multinational corporations holding investments in
South Africa; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Synod’s Secretary be instructed to write
President Reagan on behalf of the Synod, pledging him our
support in his efforts to achieve human rights in America,
South Africa, and around the world; and be it further

Resolved, That the Synod instruct its financial officers to
inform the Synod, through the Reporter, no later than Oct. 1,
1981, of the banks and lending institutions with whom the
Synod has accounts and the multinational corporations in
which the Synod has investments; and be it further

Resolved, That the Synod instruct its financial officers to
determine whether or not any of the banks, lending institu-
tiors, and multinational corporations with whom the Synod
does business are financially involved in South Africa (Note:
The American Committee on Africa, 198 Broadway, New York,
N.Y. 10048, can provide listings of appropriate banks, lending
institutions, and multinational corporations); and beit further

Resolved, That if any banks, lending institutions, or multi-
national corporations with whom the Synod does business are
financially involved in South Africa, the Synod instruct its
financial officers to transfer all banking business to institu-
tions that do not do business with South Africa, and to divest
the Synod of all investments in multinational corporations
doing business with South Africa, such transfers and divesti-
ture to occur not later than Jan. 1, 1982; and be it further ;

Resolved, That the Synod’s staff inform all affected institu-
tions and corporations as to the reasons for our transfer of
business and divestiture; and be it further

Resolved, That the Synod officially urge all individuals,
congregations, Districts, affiliated agencies, and special minis-