LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1971, Page 183

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RESOLUTIONS 188

and professions dealing with hunger or other social
and environmental concerns and make such information
available to those who seek it; and be it also

Resolved, That congregations be urged to encourage
young people with interests in these careers by provid-
ing assistance where necessary in securing scholarships
for training for these careers and professions.

Action: Adopted (12).

To Resolve Certain Concerns Regarding
Walther League and Board of Youth
Ministry
RESOLUTION 7-18

Overtures 7-16, 7-17, 7-18, 7-20, 7-21, 7-24 (CW, pp.
371—376)

The Floor Committee on Parish Services and Youth
noted certain areas of concern which need to be re-
solved. The committee specifically calls the attention
of the convention to the following:

a. Concern for the present program content and
direction of the Walther League.

b. Concern that the Walther League is serving only
a small minority of the youth of our congregations.

c. Concern that the primary goal of the Walther
League should be a Gospel-oriented program of evan-
gelization.

d. Concern for use, in the Walther League, of ma-
terials regarded by some as humanistic and secularistic.

e. Concern for the indiscriminate listing and offer-
ing of materials by the Board of Youth Ministry.
Therefore be it

Resolved, That to these concerns the convention
direct the following responses:

a. We ask that the Walther League staff and council
be open and responsive to the guidance and experience
of the Synod’s Board of Youth Ministry.

b. We reaffirm that it is the responsibility of the
Board of Youth Ministry to “provide guidance for all
forms of interparish ministry among youth developed
within the Synod, such as the Walther League, youth-
adult groups, and other youth-led movements and asso-
ciations.” (Handbook, 7.73 e)

c. We urge the Walther League in the development
of its ministry to be mindful of its objectives as stated
in the Walther League’s statement of purpose, Article
II, 2.01a: “To provide opportunities and support for
youth-led voluntary services in carrying on the mission
of the Christian church among mankind,” and 2.01le:
“To serve The Lutheran Church as a youth-led ministry
within its membership and supportive of its objectives.”

d. With reference to materials offered by the Wal-
ther League:

1. We express dissatisfaction with the approach
taken in the newspaper, Bridge. In its efforts to call
attention to the issues of the day as youth see them,

Bridge evidences an attitude of smugness and self-
righteousness that is inconsistent with the Christian
spirit and with the Walther League’s own call for
honesty.

2. We remind the Walther League that the privilege
of auxiliary relationship which the league seeks to
retain with the church imposes a responsibility on the
league for the type of materials it offers and promotes.

e. With reference to materials offered by the Board
of Youth Ministry:

1. We recognize that Board of Youth Ministry ma-
terials cited have been offered only as possible resources,
to be used with sanctified judgment. We, however,
recommend that in the listing of resource materials, an
evaluation be included.

2. We recognize the difficulty of providing material
for the whole scope of youth interests and concerns, and
we recognize that much of the new material has been
addressed to new emphases and styles, but we encourage
the Board of Youth Ministry now to restudy the range
of its resources and to increase its offering of Christ-
centered and Bible-oriented materials.

3. We encourage the Board of Youth Ministry to
include in its resources packet a catalog and review
of materials and programs developed by various boards
of the Synod and its Districts that pertain to youth
ministry. (Handbook, 7.73 d)

f. We encourage the congregations of the Synod to
communicate to the Board of Youth Ministry the type
of help, materials, and resources desired to enable them
to foster a responsible ministry with youth.

Action: Adopted (14).

(In Session 12 an amendment was voted down to change
d, 1 to read: “We express concern with the approach taken
in the newspaper Bridge. In its efforts to call attention to
the crucial issues of the day as youth see them, Bridge some-
times uses expressions and forms of communication which
are misunderstood and even interpreted as contrary to the
Christian purpose of this newspaper.”

In Session 14 another amendment was offered: “Be it
finally resolved, that the Synodical President appoint an in-
dependent ad hoc committee with equal representation of
youth and adults to recommend to the Synod those Walther
League forms and functions that will be compatible with the
results of the study.” This failed to carry.

Finally the assembly defeated, 330 to 366, a motion to
amend d, 1 to read: “We express dissatisfaction with the
tone of moral superiority we detect in some of the articles
which appear in the newspaper Bridge. At the same time
we express appreciation for the many articles which probe
a Christian response to the evils of hunger, racism, and
war.”)

To Accept the Report of the Board
of Parish Education
RESOLUTION 7-19
Report 7-01 (CW, pp. 341—363)

Resolved, That the convention accept the report of
the Board of Parish Education, commending the board
for its continued assistance to parishes, and urging
congregations to accept challenges and responsibilities
set before them.

Action: Adopted (16).