LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1977, Page 199

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199

10. ETHNIC CONCERNS

To Establish Administration
for Black Ministry

RESOLUTION 10-01A
Report 10-01, Rec. 1 (CW, p. 315)

WHEREAS, We are grateful for all that has been
accomplished in the past 100 years of our church’s
Black ministry; and

WHEREAS, The church seeks to advance the Gospel
of Jesus Christ everywhere and in every way to the
fullest possible extent; and

WHEREAS, We are confident that the Gospel can be
advanced and should be advanced through Black
ministry in the future; and

WHEREAS, Black ministry calls for renewed
emphasis and special planning; therefore be it

Resolved, That a Commission on Black Ministry of
at least nine members, composed of four pastors, one
teacher, and four lay persons, be established to plan, to
coordinate, and to expand Black ministry; and be it
further

Resolved, That a convocation of Black con-
gregations be convened, as soon as possible after this
convention, to present a slate of candidates for
appointment to the Commission on Black Ministry by
the President of the Synod (5 for 2 years and 4 for 4
years); and be it further

Resolved, That the Commission on Black Ministry
meet at least four times each year and be responsible to
the Board of Directors of the Synod and also subject to
the regular constitutional supervision exercised by the
President of the Synod; and be it further

Resolved, That the Black Centennial Committee, the
Black Mission Model Task Force, and the chairman of
Committee 10 be authorized to recommend to the Board
of Directors and the President candidates for the office
of full-time executive and necessary staff, for a 4-year
term, and with job description approved by the Board of
Directors; and be it further

Resolved, That the Convocation of Black Con-
gregations be convened every 2 years (prior to the
convention of the Synod) to evaluate and to promote
Black ministry and to present a slate of nominees for
the Commission on Black Ministry to the President of
the Synod for appointment to the commission for 4-year
terms; and be it further

Resolved, That each District in the Synod which is
involved in Black ministry shall work under the
direction of its District and in cooperation with the
Commission on Black Ministry of the Synod; and be it
finally

Resolved, That the Black Mission Models Task
Force remain active after this convention to convene
the first convocation.

Action: Adopted (4)

a

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Bryant Clancy, Chairman of Committee 10

To Reaffirm
Indian Ministry Commitments

RESOLUTION 10-02
Overture 10-14 (CW, p. 325)

WHEREAS, Scripture provides a foundation for the
recognition, respect, and celebration of ethnic and
racial diversity among all of God’s created and
redeemed peoples; and

WHEREAS, The one body of Jesus Christ is composed
of many different members who are differently and
uniquely gifted but equally important and valued; and

WHEREAS, Both certain peoples of the world and the
church’s work on earth have suffered from deliberate
and inadvertent human failure to observe equality and
justice for all because of differences we have despised;
and

WHEREAS, The church’s experience and the Spirit of
Christ repeatedly have constrained us to repent of an
amend all sinful ways; and

WHEREAS, Our church in recent years has
acknowledged American Indians as one of numerous
ethnic and racial communities despised, denied, and
oppressed; and

WHEREAS, Our church has cooperated in attempts to
change this through the Lutheran Church and Indian
people, the National Indian Lutheran Board, the
Lutheran Human Relations Association, a variety of
local and regional Indian Ministry and Mission
models, and most recently an LCMS Indian Ministries
Task Force; and

WHEREAS, Our temptation always is to relax and
retreat when the mission of Christ constrains us to be
more energetic and determined than ever to do what is
yet required; therefore be it

Resolved, That we reaffirm our Indian ministry