LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1965, Page 178

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178 RESOLUTIONS — COMMITTEE 11

To Remember Our Church’s Television
Ministry in Our Prayers, etc.
RESOLUTION 11-02

Report 11-03 (CW, pp. 359—361)
Overture 11-07 (CW, p.363)

Wuereas, Our church’s television program “This Is
the Life” is currently in its 13th broadcasting season;
and

Whereas, The rich blessing of the Lord of the
church has once again rested in overflowing measure
on our church’s television ministry, employing its
broadcast testimony to proclaim the Gospel of our Lord
Jesus Christ to the salvation of preciously bought souls;
therefore be it

Resolved, That this convention join in praising our
triune God for the rich benedictions He has showered
on our church’s television program “This Is the Life”;
and be it further

Resolved, That the convention encourage the Lu-
theran Television Productions Board, in cooperation
and coordination with our church’s respective mission
boards, to explore and exploit fully all possible televi-
sion opportunities at home and abroad, including the
possibility of utilizing foreign-language (for example,
Spanish) broadcasts in areas of our country where
a sizable segment of the population regularly employs
that language; and be it further

Resolved, That the convention encourage the Lu-
theran Television Productions Board to explore the
production of television spot announcements to be used
in publicizing local Lutheran churches, area or synodi-
cal activities, and Lutheran teachings; and be it finally

Resolved, That the convention encourage our pastors
and congregations wherever possible to make “This Is
the Life” an integral part of their local programs of
evangelism by a consistent program of prepublicity and
conscientious follow-through; and to remember our
church’s television ministry before the Throne of Grace,
to the end that the Lord of the church will use it as
a mighty instrument in the building of His kingdom.

Action: This resolution was adopted.

To Rename the Title of Article XII
and to Redraft Section A, Article XII
of the Synodical “Handbook”
RESOLUTION 11-03
Overtures 5-15 b, 11-05 (CW, pp. 181, 362, 363)
(Corrected; see TB, pp. 98—100)

Wuereas, The title of Article XII and Section A of
Article XII of the Handbook of the Synod no longer
reflect adequately and accurately the stated purpose,
objectives, and functions of the Department of Public
Relations; therefore be it

Resolved, That the following copy be substituted:

XII. COMMUNICATIONS AND PUBLIC
RELATIONS

A. DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC RELATIONS
12.01 Statement of Purpose

The purpose of the Department of Public Relations shall
be to identify The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod in
the minds of all its publics with the Gospel of Jesus Christ;
to create an image of The Lutheran Church — Missouri
Synod which will engender confidence in and respect for the
church body and acceptance of its message; to create a men-
tal climate in which the church can achieve its essential
mission to a maximum degree; and to interpret the church
to the world and the world to the church in such a manner
as to facilitate: the accomplishment of the church’s essen-
tial mission.

12.03 Objectives

Objectives of the department shall be:

a. an increasing understanding, on the part of the gen-
eral public, of the mission of the church and its essential
message;

b. a knowledge and understanding, on the part of those
outside the church, of the position of the church on matters
of current public interest;

c. a sympathetic understanding of and respect for the
position of the church on the part of groups influential in
forming public opinion;

d. a clear and faithful witness to the Christian ethic in
the marketplace of business, finance, and labor, as well as
in the halls of government;

e. a strong and clear insistence, in all suitable public
forums, on the basic principle of separation of church and
state;

f. a knowledge, on the part of those inside the church,
of the position which the church has taken on various pub-

ic issues,

12.05 Functions

The department shall —

a. organize the public relations activities of the church
at synodical, District, and local levels into a well-integrated
and smoothly functioning unit;

b. train personnel in the philosophy and methodology
of the public relations program of the church;

c. produce and release materials such as news stories,
feature articles, and radio and television scripts;

d. develop stories for national papers, magazines, tele-
vision, and radio, and gain entree to these media for other
departments of the church;

e. open new avenues of contact between the church and
the public in order to insure a two-directional flow of in-
formation keeping the public abreast of thinking within the
church and the church abreast of thinking outside its own
communion;

f. research such data and materials as will help in en-
larging the scope and increasing the effectiveness of the
department;

g. advise appropriate officials and boards of the church
regarding possible internal and external public relations
implications of specific attitudes within the church and of
actions by the respective boards, either contemplated or
already taken;

h. report to officials and boards of the church with regard
to significant developments outside the church which might
affect their work;

i. evaluate continually the progress made by the de-
partment in achieving its stated objectives and discharging
its various functions.

12.07 Organization
The Department shall —

a. implement its program at the national and inter-
national levels through its executive staff;

b. direct and guide the activities of District departments