LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2007, Page 227

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6. HUMAN CARE

6-01

To Receive Thanks for Katrina Care and Support

WHEREAS, Hurricanes Katrina and Rita brought with them hor-
rific damage and devastation, and the failure of the levee systems to
protect the city of New Orleans brought unprecedented disruption
and loss to the city; and

WuerEas, The people of New Orleans were displaced across
the country and welcomed into the churches, homes, and lives of
their hosts; and

WHEREAS, When people returned to the city they often found
massive flood damage, wind damage, along with loss of employ-
ment, schools, and stability in the region: and

WHEREAS, The people of God in the LCMS across the country
rose up and gave from their hearts to help the people of New Or-
leans; and

WHEREAS, The people of God in the LCMS have opened their
hearts and have come to the city to assist in mucking out homes,
in carrying out the treasures of people, in demolition work, and in
rebuilding uncounted numbers of homes and lives in the city; there-
fore be it

Resolved, That the people of The Lutheran Church—Missouri
Synod receive our thanks from the people of St. Paul for their care
of us in our time of need; and be it further

Resolved, That it be known that we continue to give thanks to
God for all of His people from across the world who have offered
us up in prayer, have given of their resources, and have given of
themselves to assist us in rebuilding New Orleans.

St. Paul
New Orleans, LA

6-02

To Assist Congregations to Respond
to Undocumented Immigrants

WHEREAS, The President of The Lutheran Church—Missouri
Synod, Dr. Gerald B. Kieschnick, and the Executive Director of
LCMS World Relief and Human Care, Matthew Harrison, have is-
sued a joint statement (June 2, 2006) urging compassionate mercy
on undocumented immigrants living in our communities, accord-
ing to our scriptural conviction to love one another as God, in Jesus
Christ, loves us (1 John 4:22); and .

WHEREAS, An increasing number of our LCMS congregations
are being set Ablaze! by the power of the Holy Spirit to reach out to
‘documented and undocumented immigrant souls living in their re-
spective geographical areas in the clear and powerful name of Jesus
Christ; and

WHEREAS, Our LCMS congregations, compelled by vibrant
faith in the reconciling love of Christ for all sinners (Ephesians
2:8-9; 13-17, 2 Cor. 5:18-20) have included, in their outreach
ministries, a concern for both body and soul, assisting documented
and undocumented immigrants with legal and counseling services,
helping them to become residents and citizens; and

WHEREAS, Our LCMS pastors and congregations, as a matter of
conscience and conviction, take seriously the scriptural mandate to
welcome the stranger in our midst:

Deuteronomy 10:18—19: “He defends the cause of the fatherless and
the widow, and loves the alien, giving him food and clothing. And you
are to love those who are alien, for you yourselves were aliens in Egypt.”

Leviticus 19:33—34: “When an alien lives with you in your land, do
not mistreat him. The alien living with you must be treated as one of
your native-born. Love him as yourself, for you were aliens in Egypt. 1
am the Lord your God.”

Hebrews 13:2: “Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing
some people have entertained angels without knowing it.”

‘Matthew 25:40: “The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever
you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did it for

997

me.
and

227

WHEREAS, comprehensive immigration reform, one of the leg-
islative priorities now in the Congress of the United States, will
open opportunities for our LCMS congregations, in partnership
with Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Services Affiliate agen-
cies, to assist undocumented immigrants to become residents and
citizens; and

WHEREAS, Legal documentation will open opportunities for im-
migrants and their families, now living in our communities, to en-
hance their God-given dignity and self-respect, becoming increas-
ingly productive and vital participants in our American society and
LCMS congregations; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Synod in convention:

1, Thank President Gerald Kieschnick and Rev. Matthew Har«
rison for their joint statement urging the church’s compas-
sionate mercy on documented and undocumented immi-
grants.

2. Encourage our LCMS members to pray for the resolution of
this issue facing our nation and local congregations, and as
conscience and faith conviction leads them, to contact their
congressmen and senators encouraging them to address this
issue with compassionate mercy.

3. Assist congregations, in the wake of comprehensive immi-
gration reform, through an initial grant pool of $1 million ad-
ministered by LCMS World Relief and Human Care, to
provide legal and counseling services to undocumented im-
migrants responding to legislation enabling them to become
residents and citizens.

St. Paul, San Antonio, TX; St. Peter, Brooklyn, NY;
EI Calvario, Brownsville, TX

6-03

To State LCMS Position on Stem Cell Research

WHEREAS, Medical research continues to generate new ad-
vances, which sometimes brings ethical questions that prior gener-
ations didn’t have to face; and

WHEREAS, Stem cell research, in particular, offers the promise
of delivering cures to debilitating diseases; and

Wuereas, The pro-life position supports adult stem cell re-
search, which does not involve the destruction of human life and
has been successful on human persons in treating various maladies
such as multiple sclerosis, Crohn’s disease, rheumatoid arthritis,
sickle cell anemia, stroke, limb gangrene, corneal regeneration,
heart damage, Parkinson’s disease, and spinal cord injury; and

WHEREAS, The pro-life position opposes embryonic stem cell
research (ESCR), which destroys human life in order to obtain em-
bryonic stem cells for research and has so far shown no success for
treatment in humans even though touted in the media as the source
of great cures in the future; and

WHEREAS, There are calls across the nation by many for state
and federal funding of ESCR; and

WHEREAS, Voters in the state of Missouri faced such a cam-
paign in the November 2006 election, which passed by a narrow
margin in support of ESCR, now allowing this type of research in
that state; and

WHEREAS, The Scriptures are replete with references showing
that God cares for and defends the weak and the fatherless (Deut.
10:18; Ps. 68:5; Ps. 10:14) and, furthermore, that we are to “speak
up for those who cannot speak for themselves” (Prov. 31:8-9 NIV);
and

WHEREAS, Christians are to let their light shine in this dark
world regarding this type of ethical dilemma, and since the LCMS
takes a strong and clear pro-life position; therefore be it

Resolved, That in our preaching and teaching we emphasize that
it is God alone who gives life and who is to take human life; and be
it further