Collection › LCMS Convention Workbook (St. Louis, Missouri) › 1969 · 48th Convention › Page 397
LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1969, Page 397

Scan: The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
Transcription machine transcription, uncorrected

SOCIAL ACTION AND WELFARE 307

Wuenreas, Present Selective Service laws and their
effect on our society confront also parents with the need
for greater wisdom and understanding: and

WHEREAS, Options for young people in terms of rights
and responsibilities have become increasingly complex.
calling often for motivation, courage, and decisions be-
yond their years; and

Wuereas, The church is called to minister to the
whole man; and

Wuereas, For such ministry there are available the
knowledgeable resources of both Christian and secular
servants; therefore be it

Resolved, That we urge individual pastors and con-
gregations to be sensitive to increasing pressures on our
youth and thus be more consciously supportive; and
be it further

Resolved, That pastors be encouraged to help their
teen-age parishioners make a decision about participa-
tion in military service which is based on individual
Christian conscience — one way or the other: and be
it further

Resolved, That where feasible congregations combine
to provide seminars or symposiums for the purpose of
providing information on the several dimensions of the
Selective Service laws; and be it finally

Resolved, That such gatherings utilize the gifts, con-
cerns, and sensitivities of such persons as have demon-
strated themselves informed on the Selective Service

system. Rev. Frep W. BEHRMANN JR.

Concord, Calif.

(9-20)
To Condemn All Violent Dissent
Not in Accord with Acts 5:29

Wuereas, Civil government is, as Scripture informs
us, an institution of God, which we are to honor (Rom-
ans 13), obey (Titus 3:1; 1 Peter 2:13). serve (Romans
13:7), and be subject to (Romans 13:1a,5): and

Whereas, All lawful authority, such as university ad-
ministrators, policemen, et al., have a right to expect
this same honor, obedience, service, and subjection; and

Whereas, Article XVI of the Augsburg Confession
states: “Christians are necessarily bound to obey their
own magistrates and laws, save only when commanded
to sin; for then they ought to obey God rather than
men, Acts 5:29” (Triglot. p.51); and

Wuereas, Many misguided persons have taken the
course of violent dissent with all levels of civil govern-
ment, in universities and high schools; and

WHEREAS, Young people in The Lutheran Church —
Missouri Synod are exposed to those who advocate this
kind of violent action; therefore be it

Resolved, That The Lutheran Church — Missouri
Synod denounces and repudiates all forms of violent
dissent which are not clearly in accordance with Acts
5:29: and be it further

Resolved, That all Districts and congregations be

strongly urged to apply discipline to synodical mem-
bers in their jurisdiction who engage in this activity or
who advocate it; and be it finally
Resolved, That all violent dissent not in accordance
with Acts 5:29 receive the condemnation it deserves in
the official publications of our Synod.
Rev C. L. RHoapbes
Chicago, Il.

(9-21)
To Develop Common Strategy for
National Crisis

Wuereas, We are living in difficult days which have
been marked by widespread rebellion, resistance to tra-
ditional practices, social revolution and general unrest,
and turmoil in which the dominant factor is change
and which has been defined as a “national crisis”; and

Wuereas, This “national crisis” includes but is more
than racial problems, urban or rural difficulties. con-
ditions of poverty or plenty; and

Wuereas, Many of our Lutheran churches have been
endeavoring to respond to the “national crisis” with
insufficient coordination or ineffective planning: and

WuereEas, Long-term strategies must be devised on
national, regional, District, state, and local levels with
each pastor involved in the planning and each plan a
part of the total strategy: and

WHEREAS, Strategy planning must be done across
department or division lines so that the total mission
of the church is affected; and

WHEREAS, Social action as part of social ministry must
not ignore the resources of social-welfare agencies and
institutions: and

WHEREAS, Long-term strategies can best be done
on an inter-Lutheran basis if maximum benefits are
to result, and the Lutheran Council in the U.S.A. is
an existing structure of the Lutheran churches by which
common planning can be done; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Board of Social Ministry in con-
junction with the other boards and commissions of our
Synod that are involved (Missions, Stewardship, Par-
ish Education) and in consultation with the appropriate
boards of the other Lutheran bodies in the Lutheran
Council in the U.S.A. be charged to create a com-
mon strategy so that a meaningful response might be
made over against the national crisis: and be it further

Resolved, That all service programs developed to
meet the national crisis be conducted wherever possible
by existing social-ministry and social-action agencies
and be funded by the Synod in cooperation with the
Districts and associations of congregations: and be it
further

Resolved, That social-witness efforts and ministry
be conducted at congregational, intercongregational,
county, state, District, and national levels, utilizing the
competence and expertise of our social-ministry agen-
cies for the training and organization of workers and
personnel; and be it finally