LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1981, Page 314

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SPECIAL AND SUNDRY MATTERS 313

of the commission have furnished assistance to convention
floor committees, acting as a resource on adjudication processes
in the Synod and on proposed resolutions or Bylaw changes.
The commission incurs expenses only when hearings are held
on appeals or when commission representatives attend synodi-
cal conventions.

Ottis L. Sauls, Acting Chairman

9-04

To Encourage an Effective Ministry
to Military Personnel

WHEREAS, Our nation’s interests and security require that
many trained and dedicated citizens in military uniform be
ready and willing to give of their personal safety and conveni-
ence—and even life itself—for the preservation of our national
liberties: and

WHEREAS, Many of these persons in military uniform, on
active duty and in the Reserve, are brothers and sisters in
Christ, who have responded to our nation’s needs as a calling
from God in these times of national tensions; and

WHEREAS, Our Lord has called upon us to minister to one
another in order to meet the spiritual needs of members of the
body of Christ; therefore be it

Resolved, That we call upon our heavenly Father in Christ
to extend His hand of protection over our nation and all who
serve under its flag; and be it further

Resolved, That we especially ask that His gracious presence
attend our church’s men and women who represent us in our
military forces; and be it further

Resolved, That we commit ourselves to make every effort to
extend to our brothers and sisters in military service a mean-
ingful ministry of Word and Sacrament individually, through
our congregations, and as members of Synod; and be it further

Resolved, That we encourage our congregations to utilize
fully the services of our Armed Forces Commission in provid-
ing ministry to our military members wherever they may be
stationed; and be it finally

Resolved, That congregations whose pastors are members
of military reserve forces be encouraged to facilitate their
pastors’ participation in and fulfillment of the requirements
placed upon them as members of our nation’s military
establishment.

Trinity Lutheran Church
Norfolk, Va.

Waldo Scheid, President
Shirley Whitson, Secretary

9-05A

To Open Every Ministry Opportunity
to Black Professional Church Workers

WHEREAS, The placement of Black professional church
workers into every facet of ministry will make the ministry of
our church more attractive to young men; and

WHEREAS, The placement of Black professional church
workers in all areas of ministry will help eliminate the stigma
of racism in the placement process of our church; and

WHEREAS, There is ample room to place new Black profes-
sional church workers in all fields of ministry; and

WHEREAS, The Mission and Ministry Committee of the
Commission on Black Ministry has undertaken the task of
planning the deployment of 150 Black pastors over the next 10
years; and

WHEREAS, Res. 2-20 of the 1962 Cleveland convention states
concerning the placement of Black church workers that ‘‘the
Council of Administrators of The Lutheran Church—Missouri
Synod has called attention to the disturbing fact that our
membership gains among Negroes in the United States have
been less than 17,000 when they should have been 229,000 if
they had kept pace with our acquisition among the rest of the
population”; and

WHEREAS, The 1962 convention resolved that “we demon-
strate our sincerity and expedite our outreach among Negro
Americans and other non-whites ... by working toward the
ideal that our Board of Assignment assign the graduates of our
terminal schools to congregations and that they be accepted by
them on the basis of Christian character and personal ability,
thus making available to the church in every sphere the best
that God has provided in personal consecration and fitness,
without weakening the church’s witness and program”’; there-
fore be it

Resolved, That we move with haste at this time to imple-
ment Res. 2-20 of the 1962 Cleveland convention that Black
professional church workers be placed in foreign missions,
hospital chaplaincies, prison ministries, military chaplaincies,
campus ministries, as professors in higher education, and in
various executive positions in Districts and the Synod in the
next 10 years.

Commission on Black Ministry
Simon Bodley, Chairman

Identical or similar:
9-05B

Board of Social Ministry and World Relief
Robert H. Mugge

9-06

To Commemorate the 500th Anniversary
of the Birth of Martin Luther

WHEREAS, The Scriptures are replete in urging us to remem-
ber our spiritual forefathers, notably by the writer of Hebrews:
“Remember them which have the rule over you, who have
spoken unto you the Word of God, whose faith follow, consider-
ing the end of their conversation” (13:7); and

WHEREAS, Nov. 10, 1983 will mark the 500th anniversary of
the birth of Martin Luther; and

WHEREAS, The world, the Chnistian church, and specifically
the entire Lutheran Church has been immeasurably blessed
through God’s marvelous and unique gift of a person like
Martin Luther; and

WHEREAS, The founders of the Synod, as well as their
successors, have interpreted Rev. 14:6 as a prophetic reference
to Martin Luther, “And I saw another angel flying in the midst
of heaven, having the everlasting Gospel, to preach unto them
that dwell on the earth, and to every nation and kindred and
tongue and people...”; and

WHEREAS, The Lord of the church has specifically showered
The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod with magnificent and
eternal blessings through his servant, Martin Luther; therefore
be it

Resolved, That The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
give thanks to almighty God for the innumerable blessings
bestowed upon it through the gift of Martin Luther; and be it
further

Resolved, That the President of the Synod appoint a
representative committee to plan a God-pleasing celebration
and observance of this great half-millennium anniversary,
authorizing it to lead the Synod in edifying commemorative
programs that will truly give honor to our gracious God and the
Gospel of His Son, Jesus Christ; and be it further

Resolved, To prepare truly useful and edifying materials
and resources for study and worship, and to coordinate the
various Luther anniversary celebrations conducted through-
out the Synod (Handbook, 15.45 a 2); and be it finally

Resolved, That the 1983 convention of the Synod com-
memorate in a special rally the anniversary of the birth of the
great Reformer.

Concordia Historical Institute
Department of Archives and History
August Suelflow, Director