LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1973, Page 199

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9. SOCIAL MINISTRY

To Give Serious Consideration to Priorities
in Social Ministry and World Relief

RESOLUTION 9-01
Report 9-01 (CW, pp. 313—317)
Wuereas, The Board of Social Ministry and World

Relief has presented an informative and thorough report
of its activities and projected goals; therefore be it

Resolved, That we commend the Board for emphasiz-
ing the “In Jesus’ Name” motivation for its important
work; and be it further

Resolved, That we urge all of our congregations and
members to give serious consideration to the 7 priorities
referred to in the report, namely,

1. We must do a better job of combating racism and
developing wholesome Christian relationships
among all people.

2. We must provide concern for the 6 million Viet-
nam-era veterans.

3. We must face realistically the seriousness of alco-
holism and drug dependency.

4. We must continue our involvement in housing for
low and moderate income families.

5. We must give growing attention to the increasing
number of older persons.

6. We must take more aggressive steps to help the
poor and hungry throughout the world.

7. We must help our nation to show greater concern
for our environment and the world that God has
given to us.

Action: Adopted (3).

(In presenting this resolution for action the committee
withdrew from the title and from the first resolve the refer-
ence to “receiving the report of the Board.”)

To Encourage the Commission
on Social Concerns. . .

RESOLUTION 9-02
Report 9-02 (CW, pp. 317—318)

Wuereas, The Commission on Social Concerns has
given a very precise report of its work; and

Wuereas, The Commission’s studies on current social
issues, and the position papers and study documents
which it has produced, have been helpful to many mem-
bers in the Synod; therefore be it

Resolved, That we encourage the Commission on
Social Concerns to continue to make their position
papers and study documents available to the Synod.

Action: Adopted (3).
(Also in this instance the committee suggested a change

in wording which originally had provided “that we receive
the report of the commission.”

To Sensitize the Synod’s Members
to World Hunger

RESOLUTION 9-03
Report 9-03; Overtures 9-04, 9-05 (CW, pp. 318—320)

Wuereas, The Commission on World Hunger has
been active since it began 4 years ago, and its task is
far from completed; and

Whereas, More than half of the people on earth are
hungry, hungry because they are poor; and

Whereas, We as Christians approach this situation
from the point of view that God loves and cares for all
His creatures; and

Whereas, It is imperative that we do not content
ourselves with mere words, but take concrete steps to
help where help is needed; therefore be it

Resolved, That we sensitize the congregations and
members of the Synod to the hunger problem, using
the Synod’s publication and education resources to
achieve this goal; and be it further

Resolved, That we give increasing support to the
Synod’s Board of Social Ministry and World Relief,
both for emergency feeding operations and for more
comprehensive efforts aimed at long-range alleviation
of hunger; and be it further

Resolved, That we ask each congregation and mem-
ber within the Synod to be active in their help to the
poor by serving as their advocates, taking determined
steps in their behalf, and that wherever feasible they
cooperate with government and other agencies to
achieve these goals; and be it further

Resolved, That the Board of Social Ministry and
World Relief be asked to submit budget requirements
for this purpose to the Board of Directors of the Synod;
and be it finally

Resolved, That The Lutheran Church — Missouri
Synod establish a goal of $1 million over the next 2
years to meet the needs in India, Africa, Central Amer-
ica, and other parts of the world and that this be done
through the Board of Social Ministry and World Relief.

Action: Adopted as amended (9).

(Discussed in sessions 3 and 9. The amendment adding
the last resolved was adopted, 401 to 322. It was then further
amended to establish a goal of $1 million instead of commit-
ting the Synod to contribute $1 million.)

To Fund Adequately Social Ministry
and World Relicf

RESOLUTION 9-04
Overture 9-27 (CW, p. 326)

Wuereas, Scripture clearly teaches that the Chris-
tian is to be concerned with the material needs of our
fellowmen as well as his spiritual needs (James 2: 14-17;
1 John 3:16-18; Luke 10: 24-37); and

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