LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1971, Page 196

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106 RESOLUTIONS

couraged to recognize the honorable position God has
assigned to women in society; and be it further

Resolved, That the Synod ask those who are respon-
sible for its publications to screen all materials so that
proper perspectives on the role of women in society and
the church are presented and so that stereotypes that
demean or exaggerate the position of women are
avoided; and be it finally

Resolved, That the counsel and advice of women be
sought and used in the screening process.

Action: Adopted as amended (13).

(The resolution was introduced in Session 7. In Session
11 discussion was deferred to permit a presentation on the
problems of Indian Americans. In Session 13 the resolution
was adopted after the second resolved had been added by
amendment.)

To Approve the Report of the Commission
on World Hunger

RESOLUTION 9-23
Report 9-03 (CW, pp. 384—386)

Wuereas, The Report of the Commission on World
Hunger shows that this commission has worked faith-
fully and well to fulfill its assignment in the ministry
of Jesus Christ; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Report of the Commission on
World Hunger be accepted; and be it also

Resolved, That the Synod thank the members of the
commission for its decisive leadership and dedicated
service.

Action: Adopted (13).

To Emphasize and Expand “Project
Compassion”

RESOLUTION 9-24
Overture 9-36 (CW, p. 397)

Wuereas, “Project Compassion” came into being at
the Denver convention for the purpose of training 5,000
volunteer workers to assist full-time chaplains in min-
istering to persons in nursing homes, hospitals, and
other institutions; and

Whereas, An increasing number of our parish pas-
tors are anxious to utilize the information and goals of
Project Compassion for assisting them in ministering
to local nursing homes, hospitals, and the homebound
in their own areas; and

Wuereas, Project Compassion has just begun to be
implemented in some areas of the church; and

Wuereas, There are countless additional opportuni-
ties for Christian volunteers in noninstitutional areas
of social ministry and welfare; therefore be it

Resolved, That District Boards of Social Ministry

increasingly challenge the parishes and auxiliaries of
the Synod to procure the volunteers and/or the super-
visors kits for Project Compassion; and be it further

Resolved, That the District boards urge their pastors
to challenge an ever-greater number of their parish-
ioners to participate in the Project Compassion training
program; and be it further

Resolved, That the Synod during the next biennium
provide the funds necessary to conduct four regional
training workshops at a total cost of no more than
$5,000, at which workshops those who are to provide
leadership training to Project Compassion volunteers
in the Districts will be included; and be it further

Resolved, That the Synod provide the funds neces-
sary to underwrite the cost of providing Project Com-
passion training kits in quantity to all Districts; and
be it further

Resolved, That the program Project Compassion seek
to increase the number of trained volunteer visitors
from 5,000 to 10,000 by our next national convention;
and be it finally

Resolved, That we instruct the Board of Socia] Min-
istry and World Relief to determine other areas where
the training of volunteers would be helpful for more
effective service.

Action: Adopted (13).

To Be Concerned About Prison Reform
RESOLUTION 9-25
Report 9-01 (CW, pp. 379—383)

Wuereas, The Board of Social Ministry and World
Relief in its report encourages our people to “serve the
imprisoned,” “counsel with ex-prisoners,” and “support
such action that leads to justice and fairness to all”; and

Wuereas, Conditions in many of our places of de-
tention (jails, lockups, prisons) are unfit for human
occupancy, being schools for increased criminal activity
and places of sexual violence, often staffed by insuffi-
cient and unqualified custodial officials; and

Wuereas, Our overcrowded court dockets unjustly
extend the period between arrest and trial, resulting in
a dehumanizing and brutalizing especially of poor peo-
ple, this in spite of the fact that under our American
judicial system the accused is presumed innocent until
proven guilty; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Board of Social Ministry and
World Relief encourage our Districts and congregations
to promote an informed awareness of the injustices
wherever they have developed in our judicial and cor-
rectional systems and that we further urge our members
to address themselves to the matter of prison reform,
establishment of public defender systems, and reform
of our bail system.

Action: Adopted (13).