LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1983, Page 303

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APPENDIX I

Other Reports

X-01

Report of the Lutheran Council
in the U.S.A.

“Lutherans Together: Making a World of Difference
Through the Lutheran Council in the USA,” proclaims a
recently produced, banner-sized poster showing in color photos
a few of the council’s ministries.

These ministries embrace many people and concerns. Refu-
gees admitted to the United States from throughout the world;
American Indians; victims of disasters which hit U.S. com-
munities: the forgotten aged, the neglected handicapped and
the nation’s poor and powerless; Lutherans in military service
and Lutheran students on secular college and university
campuses; Lutheran youth who belong to Boy Scouts, Girl
Scouts, Camp Fire and 4-H; Lutheran clergy in specialized
pastoral care and various chaplaincies; national and regional
Lutheran church-body executives and administrators of Lu-
theran colleges and theological seminaries; Lutheran theolo-
gians and historians—all are included in the far-ranging scope
of the council's work.

For these groups and others The Lutheran Church—Mis-
souri Synod and its Lutheran Council partners—American
Lutheran Church, Lutheran Church in America, Association
of Evangelical Lutheran Churches and, since May 1982,
Latvian Evangelical Lutheran Church in America—are mak-
ing a world of difference. How they do it through the council is
highlighted in this report. divided according to its administra-
tive units.

Office of the General Secretary

The Lutheran Council operated on a $3,728,210 budget in
1981—82 and $3,874,880 in 1982—83. In addition, two council
units—National Lutheran Campus Ministry and Lutheran
Immigration and Refugee Service—had separately approved
budgets of, respectively. $1.709.195 and $6,804,100 in 1981—8&2
and $1.768,395 and $8,222,475 in 1982—83. LIRS income has
come from contracts with the federal government. A number of
council projects and events were made possible by grants from
Aid Association for Lutherans, Lutheran Brotherhood, and the
Siebert Lutheran Foundation.

These sums were part of an annual cash flow of close to $30
million handled by the council in providing centralized finan-
cial services for Lutheran World Relief. Lutheran World Min-
istries, and other inter-Lutheran agencies.

At a meeting of the council in November 1982 LCMS
President Ralph A. Bohlmann urged that a “fresh look” be
taken of inter-Lutheran cooperation in light of the vote of the
ALC. LCA, and AELC to form one new church and the
agreements of the same bodies and the Episcopal Church onan
“interim sharing of the Eucharist.” The “fresh look” started
this January when Bohlmann. ALC Presiding Bishop David
W. Preus, LCA Bishop James R. Crumley. Jr.. and AELC
Bishop William H. Kohn met. They decided that the planning
process for future cooperation will commence when the work of
the Commission for a New Lutheran Church has progressed
“to the point that ecumenical relationships and interchurch
cooperation can responsibly be discussed” —probably late in
1983 or early in 1984. Other Lutheran churches in the United
States will be invited to join in the process. Meanwhile, “the
Lutheran Council and its programs will be maintained until
such time as they are relocated in a restructured Lutheran
Council or a new inter-Lutheran cooperative structure or are
lodged in one or several Lutheran church bodies.”

303

A council-arranged “continuing education” event in July
1982 in Keystone. Colo., had nearly 100-percent participation
by the national and district-synod bishops and presidents of
the council's partners. Four theologians sought to help them
think in fresh ways about the theme “Creation as Promise,
Threat, and Gift.” “We were a-tiptoe all week toward that
topic,’ said the discussion coordinator, church historian
Martin E. Marty. ‘The question will not let us go.’ The papers
given by the theologians are being published by the council.

Under a special office set up by the council and funded by
AAL. coordination is being provided to the commemoration
this vear in the United States of the 500th anniversary of
Martin Luther's birth. The main national event will take place
November 6—12 in Washington, D.C. It will include presenta-
tions by 21 Luther scholars, concerts, exhibits at the Folger
Shakespeare Library and Library of Congress. a birthday
banquet with special entertainment, films, a “parade of wit-
nesses” pageant and hymn festival. and the first-day issue by
the U.S. Postal Service of a Luther commemorative stamp.

The oral history collection in the council's Archives of
Cooperative Lutheranism has grown to 116 memoirs, provid-
ing an invaluable source for researchers. Published in 1981
was the “Introductory Guide to Lutheran Archives and Col-
lections,’ which brings together in one 204-page volume
descriptions of the council's collections and those of the church
bodies and other depositories.

Office of Communication and Interpretation

“Who are we?” “What have we to say?” “How can we best
become known so that we can reach out?” are among questions
asked and struggled over during 1981—82 by 25 Lutheran
congregations in Orlando. Fla. They participated in a Lu-
theran Media Mission Project, which OCI facilitated for the
council's participating church bodies and AAL funded and
which sought to enhance Lutheran identification in the city of
Disney World. The theme “Lutherans—In Love with Life, In
Life with Love” was used in newspaper ads. radio and TV
spots, buttons, and large signs outside each Lutheran church.

Another project facilitated by OCI, also with AAL funding.
centers on studying the most effective ways for Lutheran
congregations to utilize video technology in their ministries in
combination with cable TV and computer potentialities. “With
the recent explosion of video technology.” states Lee Droege-
mueller of the University of Arizona, Tucson. consultant
engaged by the steering committee to design the pilot study,
“nearly every aspect of life will be affected. This influence will
change the nature of work. how family members live and
communicate with each other, as well as how they worship,
support, and interact with their local churches.”

Video technology has already taken prominence in OCI's
work. The production of videotapes has included “The Kathryn
Koob Experience,” in which the former director of the Iran-
American Cultural Center in Teheran talks movingly about
her confinement for 444 days during 1979—81 as aU‘S. hostage
in Iran. The classic feature film biography “Martin Luther”
has been released in a video cassette by its producer, Lutheran
Film Associates. a separate corporation staffed by OCI.

For the Martin Luther Jubilee LFA has produced a brand
new filmstrip by that name. It tells the Reformation saga from
the perspective of Luther's trial before the Holy Roman Empire
at Worms in 1521.

Among recent printed materials OCI has produced for units
of the council. LWR, LWM. and others are the “Lutherans
Together: Making a World of Difference” posters plus related