LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1981, Page 201

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RESOLUTIONS

F limited resources of personnel, and the limited market
F for publication of a series of Christian textbooks make it
: impractical to consider this program at this time; and
; WHEREAS, Some Christian textbooks produced by
- our Board of Christian Education are available; there-
F fore be it

Resolved, That Overture 7-15 be declined.

Action: Adopted (14).

To Defend Our Parochial Schools
from Public Encroachment

RESOLUTION 7-15
Overtures 7-11A—B (CW, p. 295)

WHEREAS, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
has from its beginning emphasized the importance of
its Christian day schools as vital agencies of the church
in transmitting the faith and establishing religious
values; and

WHEREAS, The Constitution of The Lutheran
Church—Missouri Synod (Article III, 5) stresses as
one of the major objectives of the Synod the establish-
ment and maintenance of parochial schools; and

WHEREAS, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
in 1965 urged its congregations and members to engage
in a more active public role in the discussion and
formation of public policy related to Christian educa-
tion; and

WHEREAS, Christian day schools have been faced
with increasing cost burdens; efforts to deny minimal
assistance and support; allegations that the main-
tenance of parochial schools may not be in the public
interest; repeated confrontations on such important
safety and welfare services as busing, remedial instruc-
tion, testing, and counseling services; and

WHEREAS, In the past biennium proposed changes in
Internal Revenue Service regulations have arisen involv-
ing tax exemptions of contributions by parents to
parochial schoiols and an effort to impose on parochial
schools new burdens of proof that recently established
parochial schools do not engage in racial discrimina-
tion; and

WHEREAS, The United States Congress has withheld
funding for the implementation of such newly proposed
IRS regulations but has not established as policy a
commitment to sustain the current tax status of paro-
chial education; therefore be it

Resolved, That The Lutheran Church—Missouri
Synod reaffirm the commitment to the important reli-

201

gious role played by its parochial schools in the lives of
its youth, its homes, and its churches; and be it further

Resolved, That the Synod—

1) continue its emphasis on parochial schools as
religious institutions;

2) clarify its position that parochial schools are
engaged in training children for Christian citizenship;

3) urgeits pastors, teachers, boards, and members to
witness publicly regarding the goals, values, and nature
of its parochial schools;

4) urge its pastors, teachers, boards, and members to
communicate these views to elected and appointed
public officials who are charged with making and
administering public policy related to parochial
education;

5) urgeits pastors, teachers, boards, and members to
inform their elected public officials of their personal
support for those public policies and laws that en-
courage and permit the church to carry on its mission of
religious education without fiscal and/or administra-
tive policy restrictions; and

6) request its Board of Parish Education to provide
current information immediately and also summary
reports at the next convention of the Synod on progress
made to sustain and protect our parochial schools from
encroachment by the enactment of new public policies.

Action: Adopted (14).

To Encourage Teaching of Creation
RESOLUTION 7-16
Overture 7-12 (CW, pp. 295—296)

WHEREAS, The concept of evolution is being taught
in many public schools as being factual and as the only
possible origin of the universe; and

WHEREAS, Many Christian people of our nation
accept the concept of a special creation as the origin of
the universe including all plant life, animal life, and
human life (Gen. 1—2, Heb. 11:3); and

WHEREAS, The Board of Parish Education sent a
copy of the 1979 convention Res. 9-02A (To Allow
Concept of Special Creation to Be Taught in Public
Schools) to all state boards of education; therefore be it

Resolved, That each congregation of The Lutheran
Church—Missouri Synod study the 1979 convention
resolution as it applies to its own parish situation and
also emphasize the Biblical doctrine of creation on all
levels of parish education.

Action: Adopted (14).