Collection › LCMS Convention Workbook (St. Louis, Missouri) › 1973 · 50th Convention › Page 27
LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1973, Page 27

Scan: The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
Transcription machine transcription, uncorrected

MISSIONS 27

b. The Board may invite the full-time or part-
time advisory participation of individuals related to
ministries or organizations concerned with missions.

Curist LUTHERAN CHURCH
Troy, N.H.

Edwin G. Mattson, Chairman
Bradley Hongisto, Secretary

To Advise Board for Missions

Wuereas, Dr. Martin L. Kretzmann is a gifted and faith-
ful servant of the Lord and of the church; therefore be it

Resolved, That The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod
in convention urge the Board for Missions to renew its con-
tract with Dr. Martin L. Kretzmann.

Z10N LUTHERAN CHURCH
Decatur, Ind.

Morris Krueckeberg, President
Raymond Thieme, Secretary

To Make Loans Only Where Fair
Employment Contractors Are Involved

Wuereas, Christians are obliged to “do justice and love
mercy,” and

Wuereas, The Synod, its Districts, and many of its con-
gregations have found participation in Project Equality an
effective way to practice justice and mercy in our steward-
ship of our spending, and

Wuereas, Discrimination in the hiring of minority persons
is still a serious problem in our society, and

Wuereas, The Synod’s Church Extension funds create
many jobs in the construction trades, therefore be it

Resolved, That the Synod adopt the policy of lending its
Church Extension funds to finance only that construction
which is built with the labor of fair employment contractors,
and be it further

Resolved, That a contractor’s membership in Project
Equality shall be deemed proof of fair employment practice.

IMMANUEL LUTHERAN CHURCH
Cincinnati, Ohio

Mary Rozier, Secretary
Robert J. Grosch, Pastor

1-13

To Intensify Evangelistic Work Among Jews

Wuereas, The task of proclaiming the Gospel among all
peoples is a continuing one-——a task in which the Missouri
Synod has been engaged ever since its founding; and

Wuereas, Our Lord’s command to evangelize all peoples
certainly includes God’s original chosen people, the Jews:
and

Wuereas, The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod dare
not shrink back from difficult or unique ministries to minori-
ties and ethnic groups; therefore be it

Resolved, That The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod,
under the auspices of its Department of Evangelism, inten-
sify evangelistic work among the Jewish people; and be it
further

Resolved, That this work begin by making available to
congregations, guidelines and materials which treat the spe-
cial problems inherent to this work; and be it finally

Resolved. That any such work which is initiated not over-
look the possibility of joint efforts with Lutherans of other
denominational groupings.

LUTHERAN CHURCH OF St, LUKE
Philadelphia, Pa.
Bruce J. Lieske, Pastor

1-14

To Send Resource People into Mission Fields

Wuereas, Our Savior has directed us to go into all the
world to disciple all nations, and

Wuereas, We have spent several years retrenching our
mission forces in various areas of our world; an

Wuereas, It is easier to focus our attention upon closed
doors rather than to recognize that God is opening other
doors for us to enter. and

Whereas, A spirit of pessimism has made inroads into
our church which would deny us the thrill and joy of enter-
ing open doors in foreign lands; and

Wuereas, St. Paul urges us to “equip the saints” for their
task of ministry; and

Wuereas, Good stewardship would direct us to make the
best use of existing men and opportunities; an

Wuereas, We desire to give our missionaries the benefit
of training in effective techniques of evangelism and thereby
encourage them in a witness and ministry to people; there-
fore be it

Resolved, That we go forward with a positive mission
thrust and that the church send more men to enter doors
God is opening to us, and be it further

Resolved, That we direct the Board of Evangelism to
secure two full-time resource people who can work with
our world missionaries in the field in developing an exper-
tise in effective techniques of evangelism.

Boarp OF DIRECTORS
Towa District WEST
D. E. Weiss, Secretary

1-15

To Establish Missionary Medical Emergency
Reserve Fund

Wuereas, The Board for Missions in budgeting for the
health care needs of its expatriate missionaries and their
families (1.200 plus persons) finds it impossible to provide
adequately for unexpected major medical expenses; and

Wuereas, The Board for Missions has responsibility to
respond to missionary health emergencies when they occur
(e.g, serious and prolonged illness, accident, emergency
travel of patient and family —- sometimes with necessary
escort —- unexpected death while en route, etc.); and

WuereaS, The Board for Missions has a responsibility to
continue providing health care coverage to the missionary
who is required to terminate for medical reasons and who
has not yet been accepted by another plan for health care
coverage (e.g. lay workers who will not be in church-re-
lated work and who return with field-related uninsurable
conditions) ; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Synod authorize the establishment of
a $75,000 Emergency Reserve Fund for unexpected major
health expenses of foreign missionary personnel; and be it
further

Resolved, That the administration of this fund be in the
hands of the Board for Missions (through its Personnel Sec-
tion, Office of Medical Secretary, and the Executive Secre-
tary) which shall include in its annual budget request what-
ever amount is needed to bring the fund back to $75,000; and
be it finally

Resolved. That the continuing need for the maintenance
of such an emergency reserve fund be reevaluated if and
when Concordia Plans should expand medical coverage to
include expatriate missionary personnel.

COUNCIL FOR CHRISTIAN MepicaL WORK
Edward C. May, Secretary

(This Memorial was endorsed by the Board for Missions
at its meeting in April 1973.)