LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1977, Page 191

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SS hi od RAR a a EEE ETE sai AREA RR Te NEDO Ie a A TEE Ns lA ESOC HEAD RE

RESOLUTIONS 191

WHEREAS, The lives of all people are intimately
involved with this crisis, so that our style of living is
unalterably changing; and

WHEREAS, This crisis will produce severe hardships
especially to the disadvantaged people of our land; and

WHEREAS, Our children may find a devastating
hardship placed upon them if energy is not conserved;
therefore be it

Resolved, That the people of our Synod be urged to
individually resolve to conserve our precious and
limited physical resources; and be it further

Resolved, That each member be encouraged to
determine to follow the suggestions of our local and
national government in this critical area and also help
distribute energy conservation information; and be it
further

Resolved, That congregations be strongly en-
couraged to show special concern for increased energy
cost to the disadvantaged in their community and to
those on fixed incomes; and be it finally

Resolved, That congregations be encouraged to plan
their activities in such a way that they conserve energy
and cooperate with national energy conservation
guidelines.

Action: Adopted (7).

(“Be urged to,” “be encouraged to,” and “be strongly
encouraged to” were added by mutual consent.)

To Expand Project Compassion
RESOLUTION 8-07
Overture 8-12 (CW, p. 304)

WHEREAS, Project Compassion has captured the
imagination and inspired the enthusiastic support of a
large segment of our membership; and

WHEREAS, Project Compassion has trained more
than 20,000 volunteers since 1970, 12,000 of whom are
ministering to persons in nursing homes, hospitals,
and among the homebound; and

WHEREAS, The National Voluntary Organization for
Independent Living for the Aging, through the
National Council on Aging, has presented The
Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod with a citation
commending it for expanding its objectives to include
those vulnerable older (beyond 85) persons most
threatened by premature or unnecessary in-
stitutionalization; and

WHEREAS, This focus includes the creation of a
supportive link between the community and older
persons to be discharged from the hospital; and

WHEREAS, The creation of such linkage requires the
Board of Social Ministry and World Relief to provide
information for recruitment, training, and supervising
volunteers with material which will include basic,
minimal assistance for home visitations, information
about referral to public and private helping agencies,
and telephone reassurance for as long as needed;
therefore be it

Resolved, That District Boards of Social Ministry
challenge their parishes and auxiliaries to become
involved with expanded opportunities for service
offered through Project Compassion; and be it further

Resolved, That District Boards of Social Ministry
urge their pastors to challenge more of their
parishioners to participate in the Project Compassion
training courses, which assure that “Every Project
Compassion Volunteer Is a Trained Volunteer”
equipped for meaningful Christian witness and service
to the institutionalized or homebound; and be it finally

Resolved, That the Synod set as a goal 25,000
trained Project Compassion volunteers in the field by
1980.

Action: Adopted (7).
(The committee updated the figures in the second whereas.)

To Grow in Social Ministry
RESOLUTION 8-08

Overtures 8-13, 8-16, 3-109 (CW, pp. 301, 304—
305, 101)

WHEREAS, The Sacred Scriptures clearly teach that
we as Christians are to be concerned with the material
needs of our fellowmen as well as their spiritual needs
(Luke 10:25-37; James 2:14-17; 1 John 3:16-18); and

WHEREAS, Our Lord Jesus Christ has included total
concern for His people in the promise: “I am come that
they might have life, life in all its fullness” (John
10:10); and

WHEREAS, The Synod has recognized Social
Ministry and World Relief to be an integral and valid
part of the work of the church at large and of the local
congregation; and

WHEREAS, The implementation of these respon-
sibilities on the District and congregational level can
more effectively be accomplished where there is specific
structure to manage and accomplish these functions on
those levels; and

WHEREAS, There is a continuing necessity for
growth in providing new insights into people’s needs
and the techniques that are helpful and beneficial for
meeting these needs; and

WHEREAS, Workshops and other informational and
educational opportunities sharpen the skills of the
professional church workers and lay workers and
provide new insights for meeting people’s concerns;
therefore be it

Resolved, That the Districts and congregations be
strongly urged to establish a board or committee which
shall be concerned with social ministry among its own
people and people in the area it serves, and provide
guidance and help which will enable the District and
congregation to effectively meet these needs presented
to them; and be it further

Resolved, That each congregation be encouraged to
formalize these Social Ministry boards or committees in
their constitution and bylaws; and be it finally