LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1983, Page 24

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24 MISSIONS, EVANGELISM. AND SOCIAL MINISTRY

sion on Theology and Church Relations has agreed to under-
take a study: “The Theology of Social Ministry.” Concurrently,
a three-year project sponsored by Wheat Ridge Foundation
through Valparaiso University will develop 40 workshops and
seminars on the integration of Christian faith and professional
practice for our agencies nationwide. Beyond these first steps.
long term. we need to develop sound routes of in-service
theological training for the staffs of our social ministry
agencies to help them address difficult situations and complex
social issues.

Many social ministry agencies are inter-Lutheran in nature.
Their work is currently orchestrated through a plan known as
“Lutheran Social Service System™ (LS 3). Atthe request of the
Board for Social Ministry Services, a review is under way to
determine our future role in cooperative work in agencies.

We Serve Him Caring for the World He Saved

Feeding the poorest of the poor, freeing the least of the
powerless so they can be financially independent, finding
clothing for the naked and housing for the homeless are acts of
service to Christ Himself. LCMS World Relief World Hunger
funds are contributed above and beyond congregational and
synodical offerings. The church which preaches Good News to
the poor also cares for prisoners, the sick. the blind, and the
oppressed (Luke 4:18-19). God be thanked for an increasing
measure of generosity that permits new opportunities for
service through four major funds: World Relief. World Hunger.
Native American Concerns. and Disaster Aid.

Increasing Aid: U.S.A. and Abroad

Higher unemployment, reduced federal welfare subsidy to
states. and less private money donated to nonprofit public
service corporations have greatly increased proposals request-
ing domestic project grants. Job skill training, job placement.
and food distribution have taken on more urgency. Cooperation
with partner Lutheran churches overseas has become more
productive in community church development. especially in
Brazil and in African nations such as Nigeria, Namibia, and
Tanzania. which are expanding their social ministry pro-
grams. New avenues have been opened with school lunch and
orphan care programs in Haiti and—through International
Lutheran Hour contacts—a Christian outreach program for
the poor in Jamaica. More food and self-help programs have
been funded for Native American tribal councils than in any
previous two-year span. Similarly, about $25,000 more Disaster
Aid has been funneled through Lutheran colleges. Luther-
an Social Service agencies, and local Lutheran congregations
to help victims of tornadoes. mudslides. and catastrophic
floods during 1981—83.

Increased Giving

In 1981—82 giving for World Relief World Hunger reached
$2 million. about $1 for each adult member of the Synod.
Members of comparable-size Christian denominations gave $3
to $8 per adult to help feed, clothe, house, and care for the
impoverished one-third of the world’s population. Additional
staff and a higher budget would permit the Board for Social
Ministry Services to communicate its work through the public
press, informational-educational media for parishes, video
education series, and mass media productions for cable and
public channel TV.

We Serve Him in Chaplaincy Concerns

The scope of the work of chaplains is much greater than
what is perceived. A total of 155 men who are pastors in The
Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, in addition to 45 others
who are also listed as pastoral counselors, respond to the
special needs of suffering people in a variety of settings. Some
serve in the inner city, some in hospitals, some in prisons. All of
them bring with them the Word and other resources so badly
needed to heal the whole person. Chaplains have countless
opportunities to speak to people who—under other circum-
stances—would not desire spiritual ministry or be found in
places where they would come into contact with the Word.
Chaplains are our special emissaries to those with special
needs.

Chaplaincy is a concern of social ministry. The Board for
Social Ministry Services has traditionally certified chaplains
and represented their interests to the church. Some of these
pastors are related directly to the District of the church in the
area where they serve. Some serve under the direction of an
executive chaplain in an institutional environment, and some
work more independently in agency settings. The Task Force
on Chaplaincy Matters, meeting semiannually during the past
two years, has reviewed applications for scholarships, has
advised the Executive Secretary regarding problems as they
emerged, and has advocated the concerns of chaplains. The
Board for Social Ministry Services has enhanced ministry in
chaplaincy through dialog with District Presidents, through
identification of chaplaincy service opportunities, the screen-
ing of chaplaincy candidates, and the qualification of appli-
cants for Clinical Pastoral Education under the direction of
LCUSA. Yet the real work of ministry and response to the
needs of people is that which the chaplains themselves have
accomplished. They have counseled the sick, comforted the
lonely, and visited those in prison, even as our Lord has
mandated for us all. 3

The staff of the Board for Social Ministry Services !
recommends that the Synod: ‘

1. discover new ways to give recognition to work well done. .
Feature successful chaplaincies occasionallly in District ;
and local communications media:

2. encourage chaplains to participate more extensively in
local pastoral conferences, so that their efforts become
better known to their brothers in the parish:

3, invite chaplains who attend District conventions to give
one of their representatives a part of the program so their
voices can be heard and their needs better understood:

4. urge District Presidents to review staff functions, giving

assignments to staff that assure inclusion of chaplaincy

matters and concerns in ongoing reports to District

Boards and Committees:

5. continue to examine the effectiveness of liaison, support.
and supervision as provided through LCUSA.LS 3. and
other organizations. Remember that—whatever common
structures or public agencies are involved in their work—
chaplains still are clergy members of the LCMS. They
want to be regarded as such. They want to participate in
the total ministry of their church. Give them opportuni-
ties for visibility, involvement in decicion-making. and
upward mobility in service to the Synod:

6. develop new resources at the District level that can be
used to select, train, and equip chaplains in the special
ministries in which they serve:

- include Clinical Pastoral Education in theological train-
ing at our synodical seminaries.

Board for Social Ministry Recommendations:
a Summary

1. Stay Organized for Service: Every congregation should
identify again the resource person or committee to keep
social ministry in focus for all members.

2 Plan now for “Caring Especially Now” Circuit conven-
tions so that cooperative efforts of many congregations
and their communities can make an impact on people in
need.

3. Introduce more practical social ministry training for
professional workers and add Clinical Pastoral Educa-
tion (C.P.E.) as a requisite for seminary graduation.

4. Investigate placing social work graduates in congrega-

tional settings.

. Develop guidelines and establish directions for joint
work with other churches, organizations. agencies, and
communities.

6. Clarify Old and New Testament statements referring to
“advocacy” and give guidance on the “propehtic role” of
the church.

_ Include sufficient resources in budgets at every level to
do works of mercy.

8. Place World Relief World Hunger concerns on every
District convention agenda and encourage Districts to
set a goal for funding programs which meet the needs of
suffering people worldwide.

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