LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1969, Page 141

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RESOLUTIONS 141

Resolved, That our church continue to be alert to
these dangers and study objectively and conscientiously
the issues that are involved.

Action: Adopted (13).

To Refer to Augsburg Confession
on Dissent and Civil Disobedience
RESOLUTION 9-06
Overture 9-20 (CW, p.397)
Whereas, Article XVI of the Augsburg Confession

adequately covers the concern stated in this overture;
therefore be it

Resolved, That no further action be taken on this
matter.

Action: Adopted (13).

To Endorse “Project Equality”
RESOLUTION 9-07

Overture 9-35U (URO, pp. 74—75)

Wuereas, Past synodical conventions have sounded
a call for us to repent of our past sins of racial discrimi-
nation and encouraged us to engage in immediate and
affirmative action to right the wrongs of the past; and

Wuereas, In 1967 at New York the Synod directed
the Board of Social Ministry and District Boards of So-
cial Ministry to evaluate existing projects and agencies
in the field of fair employment that have programs of
education and action; and

Wuereas, The Board of Social Ministry in fulfillment
of this overture did in August 1968 endorse “Project
Equality,” notify the Districts of such endorsement, and
indicate that supportive action be taken on the District
level; therefore be it

Resolved, That we commend the Board of Social
Ministry for its action; and be it also

Resolved, That the Synod encourage the Board of
Social Ministry to continue its earnest efforts to evalu-
ate and recommend those agencies and projects that
will be helpful to our congregations to eliminate dis-
crimination in employment and business, rededicate
themselves in the struggle for racial equality and jus-
tice, and work and act positively in fulfilling their Chris-
tian witness with love for their neighbors.

Action: Adopted (10).

To Affirm Legitimacy of Black Power
and Black Separatism
RESOLUTION 9-08
Overture 9-12 (CW, p. 393)

Whereas, Black and white Christians together con-
stitute one body in Christ and share the dignity of
sonship and forgiveness, which no accusation of devils
or men can take from them, and thus live in a bond
of unity which works continually to break down all
divisions; and

Wuereas, God in His mercy knows also the need
and hunger of every man for that secular dignity, honor,
and capacity for self-respect which Luther lists as be-
longing to “daily bread”; and

WHEREAS, Many of our black brethren recognize that
the black element in American society needs to over-
come economic, social, and educational disadvantages,
not only for the sake of securing more adequate food
and housing but as a means of attaining a quality of
dignity and self-respect which will enable them to face
the challenges of life with the confidence of free men;
and

Wuereas, Our back brethren recognize also that
secular dignity, unlike the dignity that is ours in the
Gospel of Christ, cannot be conferred as a gift or by
mere legal action but must finally be achieved by the
black community for itself, and in that goal and en-
deavor see the legitimacy of the concept of black power;
therefore be it

Resolved, That the Synod encourage and bless its
black members, so minded, to return freely to that world
in which they have so unique an opportunity of service
and to use all wisdom and energy in love to help the
black man in America, regardless of creed, to achieve
the fulfillment of his hunger for dignity, identity, and
self-respect, which is so vital to his life; and be it
further

Resolved, That the Synod, white and black members
together, as well as all others, affirm that such a mission
of its black members to their own communities in no
way divides the church or separates them from one an-
other but only recognizes and uses the variety of the
gifts with which Christ has blessed the whole body in
its many members; and be it finally

Resolved, That the Synod ask its black members to
continue to share their special gift and insight for the
benefit of the whole church, to bring to the church any
specific special need toward which the church may make
a contribution without upsetting the principle of black
power as they define it, and to accept also every op-
portunity God gives them in their work in the world,
to offer to black men also the unique dignity of eternal
sonship which comes to them alone by the mercy of
God in Christ, and which gives them power to over-
come the world.

Action: Recommitted (10) and replaced by Res. 9-22.

To Adopt a Statement on Principles
of Social Action, with Special Reference
to Corporate Positions
RESOLUTION 9-09
Overtures 9-13 to 9-18 (CW, pp. 393—396)
A. Preface

A STATEMENT OF PRINCIPLE ON
SOCIAL ACTION

As a preface to all its resolutions, and stimulated in
particular by the concerns expressed in Overtures 9-