LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1977, Page 193

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RESOLUTIONS 193

and that we ask Him to continue to bless its concern for
justice and compassion in the name and spirit of
Christ; and be it further

Resolved, That we urge the Synod’s Districts,
congregations, and members to continue to pray for,
support, and utilize this ministry as a resource and
complement of their own.

Action: Adopted (11).

To Stand with Persecuted Christians
RESOLUTION 8-13
Overtures 8-08—8-10 (CW, p. 303)

WHEREAS, As Christians we are concerned about
injustice and oppression wherever these are to be found;
but toward our fellow Christians we have a special
obligation, particularly where they are experiencing
oppression in severe form; since it is well known that
Christians are being more severely persecuted in
territories under Communistic rule; therefore be it

Resolved, That we solemnly declare our solidarity
with the suffering, bleeding, yet confessing church
under oppression (1 Cor. 12:16); and be it further

Resolved, That we praise God for the inspiring,
victorious faith and love with which He has blest these
our persecuted brethren; and be it further

Resolved, That we thank our gracious God for
having hitherto preserved our nation and church from
the scourge of terror and persecution; and be it finally

Resolved, That we call on all Christians who enjoy
the privilege of political freedom to be well informed
about the fate of Christians under oppression, to pray
fervently for our persecuted fellow believers and for the
conversion of their tormentors, to support these
suffering Christians by every proper means, and to
imitate humbly their great zeal and self-sacrifice in the
service of the crucified and risen Savior; and be it
further

Resolved, That we call on all church leaders to keep
the cause of the oppressed Christians before world
opinion and not by silence to aid and abet their
persecution. We encourage them to use every proper
means to do this: through the United Nations
Organization, which has guaranteed the citizens basic
human rights (Articles 18 and 19 of the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights), urging these nations to
take all steps possible to secure compliance with these
declarations; through special national observances,
such as Captive Nations Week; through personal
leadership in their own areas to make people aware of
the need for such intercession; and be it finally

Resolved, That we call on all Christians to pray for
their fellow believers in the captive nations especially
as a reminder to us of their needs and struggles, the
same struggles with which we identify as fellow
members of the body of Christ (James 5:16).

Action: The committee withdrew this resolution
and added the overtures to Resolution B.

; To Involve Board of
Social Ministry and World Relief
with Commission on Black Ministry

RESOLUTION 8-14
Report 8-01, III, 2 (CW, p. 298)

WHEREAS, The Board of Social Ministry and World
Relief has been involved in efforts to combat racism for
the past years; and

WHEREAS, The concern and experience of this board
must not be lost by any new developments that occur in
the church; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Board of Social Ministry and
World Relief be encouraged to continue its concern and
to work together with the Commission on Black
Ministry.

Action: Adopted (14).

To Encourage Congregations
to Sponsor Refugee Families

RESOLUTION 8-15
Report 8-01, V (CW, p. 300)

WHEREAS, Many congregations of our Synod are
among the 4,000 Lutheran churches which, in the spirit
of Christ, have assisted in the resettlement in this
country of more than 18,000 refugees from all over the
world during the past 2 years; and

WHEREAS, There are still millions of refugees of
many races and nations who need attention and
assistance despite the heroic efforts of the past several
years; and

WHEREAS, United States government officials
predict that 17,000 refugees will be permitted to enter
the country in 1977 and even more in 1978; and

WHEREAS, Lutheran Immigration and Refugee
Service, a department of the Division of Mission and
Ministry of the Lutheran Council in the U.S.A., is
continuing to seek congregations willing to sponsor
refugee families whose entry into the United States
depends on having a sponsor; and

WHEREAS, No government agency can replace the
warmth and compassion extended through the loving
people of a Christian congregation; and

WHEREAS, Our gracious Lord has generously provid-
ed an abundance of spiritual and material resources to
the congregations of our Synod that they may share
with the less fortunate and thus fulfill the Savior’s
command to love one’s neighbor; therefore be it

Resolved, That we heartily commend those con-
gregations of the Synod who have extended the hand of
Christian love through sponsorship of refugee families
in the past; and be it further

Resolved, That we encourage such congregations to
consider sponsoring a second, third, or fourth family;
and be it further

Resolved, That we urge congregations who have not
as yet done so to consider sponsoring a refugee family