LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1992, Sheet 173

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HUMAN CARE 171

- To Encourage Environmental
Stewardship
RESOLUTION 7-09A
Overture 7-05 (CW, p. 284)

Wuereas, We have been entrusted by God to manage
responsibly and live in harmony with all of His creation;
and

Wuereas, In response to the love of God in Christ Jesus,
our stewardship is reflected in our lifestyle and priorities,
and

Wuereas, Responsible biblical stewardship of natural
resources needs to be emphasized urgently today; and

Wuereas, The Synod’s Stewards of God’s Earth Com-
mittee has provided materials for assisting congregations
and members in the continued promotion of environmental
stewardship; therefore be it :

Resolved, That we encourage the Synod in the promo-
tion of a greater awareness of biblical stewardship in en;
vironmental concerns; and be it further

Resolved, That we encourage all educational agencies
of synodical, District, and local levels to make every effort
to teach biblical stewardship principles in the areas of en!
vironmental concerns to equip people to respond to Christ’s
love with God-pleasing management of the environment:
and be it further

Resolved, That we encourage congregations and their

. members to be involved in community environmental ef-
forts through ongoing messages about our stewardship re-
sponsibilities concerning our environment in church!
bulletins, sermons, Bible classes, and other opportunities;
and be it finally

Resolved, That we encourage all Districts and congre-
gations to present these issues at least annually by utiliz-
ing the worship and educational helps provided annually
by the Synod’s Stewards of God’s Earth Committee.

Action: Adopted as amended (14).

(The words “stewardship in” were added by common consent
to the first resolve after the words “greater awareness of biblical.”)

To Expand and Utilize
Resources That Exist
for Dealing with Substance Abuse

RESOLUTION 7-10
Overtures 7-06-07 (CW, p. 284)

Wuereas, Alcohol and substance abuse, one of the three
major health problems in our country, reaches into every
congregation and into the lives of both lay people and
professional church workers of our Synod; and

Wuereas, Such abuse causes pain, illness, and family
suffering as well as public endangerment and economic
hardships; and

Wuereas, Such abuse directly affects the ministry of
both lay people and professional church workers; and

Whereas, October has been designated as Alcoholism
Awareness Month with the third week being designated
as Red Ribbon Week; and

Wuereas, District and the Synod have church workers
and boards ready to provide assistance to congregations
and individuals; therefore be it

Resolved, That congregations and professional church
workers utilize personnel and board resources such as the
Board for Human Care Ministries, Standing Committee
on Ministerial Health/Health and Healing Ministries, Pre-
ferred Health Care, and available District resources; and
be it further

: Resolved, That congregations and professional church
workers take advantage of materials that now exist, such
as A Manual for Lutheran Support Teams Ministry, the
AAL video Now You're Talking, the LWML video Carefully
Hidden, the Board for Human Care Ministries’ Aide to
Recovery, and other available resources; and be it further

. Resolved, That The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
present a unified and visible commitment toward the cre-
ation of a drug-free America by incorporating alcoholism
awareness messages into the sermon, prayers, litanies,
and the distribution of literature and red ribbons, in the
month of October; and be it further

‘ Resolved, That our seminaries and colleges continue to
provide instruction and expanded field work training in
counseling and treatment of such abuse; and be it finally

Resolved, That the Board for Human Care Ministries,
Standing Committee on Ministerial Health/Health and
Healing Ministries and the Task Force on Alcohol and Sub-
stance Abuse continue to lead our Synod toward expanding
programs and treatment in this area.

Action: Adopted (14).

‘

I

.To Encourage Responsible Christian
Sexual Behavior

t

RESOLUTION 7-11A
Overtures 7-09A-B (CW, p. 285)

1 .

Wuereas, Sexual activity apart from Christian values
is often portrayed in the media as behavior which is ac-
ceptable, with the emphasis on “safe sex”; and

Wuereas, Surveys indicate increasing numbers of
youth and adults engage in sexual activity without con-
sideration of responsibility and accountability to God and
others; and

Wuereas, Such activity clearly abuses the intent of our
Creator who made us male and female for responsible
expression of mutual affection within the marriage rela-
tionship; and

Wuereas, These attitudes and behaviors are an indi-
cation of the sexual idolatry of our present day society; and

Wuereas, Sinful, selfish choices always bring an ever-
increasing pyramid of consequences, such as teen preg-
nancy, sexually transmitted diseases, abortion, lack of re-
spect for marriage, and complex issues related to guilt and’
shame; therefore be it

Resolved, That The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
in convention affirm the God-given responsibility of par-
ents, teachers, pastors, and leaders to encourage and teach