LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1973, Page 200

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200 RESOLUTIONS

Wuereas, The Synod has recognized social ministry
and world relief to be an integral, legitimate, and valid
part of the work of the church at large, and of the local
congregation; and

Wuereas, The various Districts of Synod are the
arm of Synod through which much of Synod’s ministry
is performed; and

Wuereas, Adequate funding is vital to the efficient
execution and fulfillment of almost any program or
ministry; therefore be it

Resolved, That Synod reaffirm the place of social
ministry and world relief as a part of our ministry of
the church to our world; and be it further

Resolved, That the Districts of the Synod be re-
minded that the social ministry programs and resolu-
tions, which may originate on the synodical level, are
the responsibility of each District; and be it finally

Resolved, That each District of Synod avoid giving
merely token support to these needs, and instead pro-
vide adequate funding.

Action: Adopted (13).

To Adopt New Bylaws for Board
of Social Ministry and World Relief

RESOLUTION 9-05
Overture 9-28 (CW, pp. 326—327)

Wuereas, The Bylaws for the Consolidated Board of
Social Ministry and World Relief were approved by
the Board of Social Ministry and World Relief as well
as the Board of Directors of Synod in 1971, but were
not acted upon by the Milwaukee convention; and

Wuereas, Both the Board of Directors and the Board
of Social Ministry and World Relief concur with the
Bylaw revisions which spell out the regulations of this
board which was merged in 1969; therefore be it

Resolved, That the following Bylaws be approved
by the convention:

A. BOARD OF SOCIAL MINISTRY
AND WORLD RELIEF

13.01 Personnel and Appointment

A Board of Social Ministry and World Relief
consisting of seven members, at least four of whom
shall be lay members, shall be appointed by the
Board of Directors of the Synod upon the recom-
mendation of the President of the Synod.

13.02 Duties and Functions

The board shall serve as the administrative,
programmatic, and evaluative agency for social
ministry interests of, within, and in behalf of the
Synod, both within the United States and abroad.

Each District shall provide for a Board of Social
Ministry and World Relief to assist in the imple-
mentation of the program.

a. Within the United States

1. The board shall stimulate and encourage
Christian social ministry within congregations and
groups of congregations; establish and maintain
standards of social ministry activities and promote
related research; give assistance to Districts re-
garding the implementation of social ministry pro-

grams; conduct or arrange for studies of social min-
istry needs prior to the establishment of health and
welfare agencies and programs so that good stew-
ardship of the church’s efforts might prevail; give
counsel to the Board of Directors of the Synod re-
garding social ministry concerns; arrange for insti-
tutes and seminars on social ministry concerns na-
tionally and regionally; participate in social educa-
tion and encourage endeavors to remove or allevi-
ate human suffering, enlisting where possible, and
in keeping with the adopted policies of the church,
national, state, and municipal services; maintain
liaison with the Division of Welfare Services of
LCUSA as well as other religious or secular agen-
cies that may have a bearing on Synod’s program
of social ministry.

2. The board shall accredit health, social service,
and chaplaincy agencies, upon the recommendation
of the staff, as an assurance that the agencies meet
and maintain acceptable standards of performance
in meeting demonstrated needs and have achieved
a responsible relationship with the Synod and its
jurisdictional units according to the approved Polity
Statement.

3. The board shall give guidance to and coordi-
nate the efforts of Districts and agencies within the
Districts that plan or conduct institutional chap-
laincy services in the following areas:

aa. arrange for studies regarding new or ex-
isting programs;

bb. encourage adherence to approved stan-
dards and procedures for institutional chaplaincy
programs;

ce. give counsel regarding calls, appoint-
ments, and training of chaplains;

dd. provide for regular liaison with institu-
tional chaplains to maintain a responsible rela-
tionship of the chaplain with the church and of
the church with the chaplain;

ee. stimulate concern within congregations
and Districts for increased volunteer involve-
ment of pastors and lay people in the ministry
to institutionalized people.

4. The board shall administer scholarships for
social workers, administrative personnel in agen-
cies, and institutional chaplains.

5. The board shall endeavor to identify emerg-
ing social problems, and provide counsel so that the
church might respond as a healing instrument of
Jesus Christ for the broken as well as be a con-
cerned Christian force in the prevention of injus-
tices, inhumanities, and other evils within society.

6. The board shall give assistance to congrega-
tions or through them to their members, or to oth-
ers, in dire emergencies or disaster situations re-
sulting from floods, famines, fires, earthquakes,
wars, and related situations, for rehabilitation and
refugee service with limited assistance as an incen-
tive to develop self-help programs in underdevel-
oped communities. Assistance may take the form
of cash grants, loans without interest, distribution
of food, clothing, medical or other supplies, or
whatever other means best suit the need.

7. The board shall advise individuals, congrega-
tions, or Districts in instances of disaster. Emer-
gency needs which cannot be met with gifts from
congregations in the area or District, shall, upon
endorsement by the District Board of Social Minis-
try, be considered eligible for assistance.

b. Outside the United States

1. The board shall serve as a channel for the
love and compassion of the church and its members
by helping the homeless, persecuted, sick, and
needy throughout the world as a witness to our
faith in Jesus Christ.

2. The board shall give wholehearted assistance
to the suffering and needy of the world through its