LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1971, Page 198

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198 RESOLUTIONS

Wuereas, The continued suffering of these prisoners
is inconsistent with Christian ideals of compassion and
mercy; and

Wuereas, Dr. J. A. O. Preus, President of The Lu-
theran Church — Missouri Synod, has already sought
to secure the release of American prisoners; therefore
be it

Resolved, That The Lutheran Church — Missouri
Synod commend its President for his action; and be it
further

Resolved, That The Lutheran Church — Missouri
Synod urge all the congregations and individuals in its
membership to remember these prisoners and their
families in their prayers; and be it finally

Resolved, That the members of the Synod be en-
couraged to communicate their concerns to responsible
officials on both sides, within the bounds of government
policies.

Action: Adopted (18).

(The assembly itself ruled that a proposed amendment
[of substitution for the final resolved] that the LCMS petition
the President and Congress of the U.S. was not germane.)

To Evaluate and to Speak Out on Our
Cultural Standards and National Priorities

RESOLUTION 9-31
Overtures 9-29, 9-30 (CW, p. 395)

Wnereas, Christians are to be in the world but not
of the world; and

Wuereas, The sinful nature of man is constantly
endeavoring to formulate standards of society that will
enslave man; and

Wuereas, Christ came to set man free for a new life
of freedom and love; and

WHEREAS, Our nations are currently faced with criti-
cal domestic problems; and

Whereas, Scripture clearly directs us as Christians
to have a concern for the welfare of our neighbor;
therefore be it

Resolved, That The Lutheran Church — Missouri
Synod reaffirm its commitment to evaluating the cul-
tural standards and assumptions of our society in light
of Holy Scripture; and be it also

Resolved, That the Board of Social Ministry and
World Relief prepare materials to assist congregations
and individuals to evaluate the standards and priorities
of our culture and the assumptions of our society and
to speak out on their convictions.

Action: Adopted (18).
(At the request of a Canadian delegate, “nation” was

changed to “nations” in the fourth whereas by the com-
mittee.)

To Encourage Christian Action to Combat
Racism

RESOLUTION 9-32
Overture 9-12 (CW, p.390)

Whereas, All racism is contrary to the Word of God
because it regards certain people as inferior; and

Whereas, The Denver convention reaffirmed that all
racism is sin and therefore utterly inconsistent with
a Christ-centered style of living: and

Wuereas, Racism continues to be prevalent through-
out The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod, in spite
of the clear injunctions of Scripture; therefore be it

Resolved, That all of us search our hearts and minds
to determine our prejudices toward other races, espe-
cially since we are often not aware of our own racial
attitudes; and be it further

Resolved, That we individually and collectively con-
fess this sin before our just and merciful God, implor-
ing Him for forgiveness for this flagrant disobedience,
and that under the guidance of the Spirit we prayerfully
struggle to eradicate racism from our individual and
collective lives: and be it further

Resolved, That the Board of Social Ministry and
World Relief not only remind our people of this trans-
gression but that it also, with the assistance of mem-
bers of minority groups, be urged to construct and
implement Christ-centered creative interpersonal pro-
grams of action in a determined effort to wipe out this
blight on our church and land; and be it further

Resolved, That the Board of Directors of the Synod
be encouraged to provide for the Board of Social Min-
istry and World Relief $25,000 per year for the next
biennium for this program; and be it finally

Resolved, That our people be encouraged to become
active in programs of community stabilization and re-
newal through congregational and social structures.

Action: Adopted (13).

The Christian Church and World Hunger:
To Consider the Role of the Family

RESOLUTION 9-33 (replacing 9-13)
Overtures 7-04, 9-04 (CW, pp. 368, 387)

Wuereas, The rate of population growth is a major
cause of world hunger as well as of much domestic
hunger; and

Wuereas, The Christian family should be seriously

concerned as a family about this problem; therefore
be it

Resolved, That discussions on the Christian family
in regard to responsibility, size, and role in relation to
hunger in the community, the nation, and the world
be encouraged on the congregational level; and be it also

Resolved, That our members be encouraged to con-