LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1969, Page 144

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144 RESOLUTIONS

Resolved, That the Board of Directors of our Synod
be instructed to reinstate the deleted allocation to cover
the basic administrative costs of our Board of World
Relief into the synodical budget; and be it further

Resolved, That the Board of Directors of The Lu-
theran Church — Missouri Synod be directed to divert
$100,000 to the Board of World Relief, to be used as
judiciously as possible to feed at least a few of the
hungry of this world now; and be it further

Resolved, That all congregations of our Synod and
all their members be challenged to change the past and
present practice of “token giving” to “sacrificial giving”
for this critical need; and be it further

Resolved, That our congregations be requested to
appeal to their youth to prepare themselves for service
in careers such-as food research, agricultural develop-
ment, and food distribution, to the end of placing their
knowledge and ability at the disposal of people that
need and would welcome such qualified persons to help
them triumph over poverty, hunger, and starvation;
and be it further

Resolved, That this convention commend the cur-
rent interest of our young people in their attempt to
alleviate the problem of world hunger and encourage
and urge them to continue this interest until this prob-
lem is solved; and be it further

Resolved, That we as a church body and as Christian
citizens strive to arouse the national conscience on
world hunger by urging our governmental officials to
reassess our national values and priorities in order to
deal more effectively with this serious and heartless
problem of world hunger; and be it further

Resolved, That our congregations be directed to re-
mind their members of the great value of periodically
writing “personal” letters to their representatives in
Congress of their concern for the genuine needs of
others in our own country and in the world; and be it
finally

Resolved, That, since the problem of world hunger
is so monumental and complex and cannot be solved
overnight, the President of The Lutheran Church —
Missouri Synod be, and hereby is, empowered to ap-
point a commission to gather and analyze the per-
tinent data of experts in this or related fields of world
hunger and translate this information into a set of
responses for the future guidance of our church, her
agencies and members in helping them in their God-
pleasing attempt to wipe out hunger, with the help of
Almighty God, from the face of the earth.

Action: Adopted as amended (15).

(The committee accepted in Session 13 a change in the
first resolved which had read: “That The Lutheran Church —
Missouri Synod, a corporate body of redeemed Christians,
through an appropriate board or committee immediately in-
tensify its present program to alleviate world hunger,” and
also a change in the third resolved, which had read: “. .. to
study the possibility of the realignment of its budget priori-
ties.

The fifth resolved was inserted by amendment in Ses-
sion 13.

Another amendment was made, seconded, and discussed
to allocate at least 40% of projected expenditures for the next

2 years for self-help ministries. In Session 15 the assembly
gave the mover formal permission to withdraw the proposed
amendment. The resolution was then adopted in the form
given above.)

To Commend Commission for Services
to the Mentally Retarded
RESOLUTION 9-12
Report 9-03 (CW, pp. 385—387)

Wuereas, The Commission for Services to the Men-
tally Retarded, although only in its sixth year and hav-
ing had an executive secretary for only 2 years, has
nevertheless rendered significant service to the mentally
retarded by way of materials, instruction programs,
institutes, curricula, etc.; therefore be it

Resolved, That the commission be commended for
such service, leadership, and initiative; and be it further

Resolved, That the Synod encourage the commission
to continue to alert and arouse the members of the
Synod to the needs of the mentally retarded and to
encourage active involvement in a ministry to the same;
and be it finally

Resolved, That we as a church do all in our power
to help these our brothers and sisters in every way pos-
sible, but above all to bring them into the fellowship of
God’s love and saving grace.

Action: Adopted (16).

To Commend Commission on Social Action
RESOLUTION 9-13
Report 9-01 (CW, pp. 377—379)

Wuereas, The report of the Commission on Social
Action informs the Synod that a significant number of
study documents and position papers have been pre-
pared since the commission’s organization in 1962; and

Wuereas, An increasing number of social problems
call for further studies and for continued exploration
in the light of God’s Word of the theology of Christian
social action; and

WuerEas, The studies have not always been given the
attention they deserve; therefore be it

Resolved, That we commend the commission for the
publication of the guidelines and studies; and be it also

Resolved, That congregations study the documents
carefully and respond to them with responsible action
according to the insight, ability, and opportunity which
God gives.

Action: Adopted (6).

To Commend Board of Social ‘Ministry
RESOLUTION 9-14
Report 9-02 (CW, pp. 379—385)

WuereEas, The convention committee has reviewed
the report of the Board of Social Ministry and found it
to be a significant document on the relation of the Holy
Scriptures to the social ministry of the church; and