LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1973, Page 319

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SOCIAL MINISTRY 317

that the 1,440 minutes in a day can be cherished and not
“stared at” in loneliness and fear. One of every ten persons
in America and in our church is 65 years of age or older.
These make up the 20 million individuals who have one
thing in common — they have passed their 65th birthday.
It is a changing group. In the course of a year, 1.4 million
are newcomers to this group. More than a million are 85
or over. In our own Synod, 300,000 persons have crossed
the line into what should be a good life. But so often older
people are lonely. depressed. and feel worthless. Society,
with its arbitrary conclusion, that a person cannot produce
or carry on his work because he has reached 65, has caused
much sorrow and discouragement among older people.

There are serious problems that older people face. such
as loss of status. loss of associates with whom he or she
worked, dwindling finances. and possible loss of health, All
of these factors, particularly if accompanied by a lack of
concern by the church, result in growing loneliness and
despair. Project Compassion volunteers have brought new
interests and revived new faith in the lives of many older
persons. “Thank you for speaking to me, was the comment
of a forgotten and lonely aging person when the volunteer
stopped at her bedside. We believe that we can do much
to “stamp out loneliness” in the lives of older people. We
must provide the supportive concern that will help the aging
to maintain their faith in the God of their salvation.

G. Unloved People

There are millions whose lives have not been touched by
the love of Jesus Christ and His people. Perhaps they
haven't desired that love. But perhaps they have never
really understood its nature because people they dealt with
didn't share it. This places a great responsibility upon every
Christian to be known not only for his words but for his
deeds. We are convinced that thousands of our tellow
Christians have not turned aside from the unloving and un-
loved. Some of these people may be handicapped, some may
be very contemptible, some may be very negative and
hostile. But maybe they are this way because they haven't
really experienced love. As Christians we must love even
our enemies. Social Ministry offers loving concern and con-
cerned love also to the unloved.

IV. The Helping Process

People helping people in Jesus’ name must be an on-
going process. A brief amount of interest. a casual bit of
helping won't accomplish much. It is only through continued
concern that we can help people to help themselves. Our
health and welfare agencies provide such ongoing assistance.

Special projects of self-help, rehabilitation, and relief
which are developed by Districts, congregations, or overseas
church groups. become the channel whereby our Synod and
its congregations may become involved in the helping
process.

Basic to any helping program must be the involvement
of the local congregation where the need exists. and the
District in which the situation occurs. Once this involve-
ment occurs, the helping process is underway and the help-
ing people are brought together with the people needing
help and the name of Jesus is glorified.

Communities and Government agencies frequently are
willing participants in helping programs in which our church
is involved. Many people have been helped by such a co-
operative activity without compromising the stand of the
church.

The helping process has been greatly enhanced by our
relationship with LCUSA. in regard to welfare services,
clinical pastoral education, Lutheran Selective Service In-
formation, and Lutheran Housing Coalition. Wheat Ridge
Foundation and Aid Association have provided funds for
CPE and Project Compassion. Lutheran Resources Commis-
sion — Washington has explored Government programs and
possible funding for projects. The American Association for
Homes for the Aging, the National Interfaith Coalition on
Aging, and the Steering Committee for National Organiza-
tions, have assisted with our work among older persons. The
National Social Welfare Conference. the Committee on So-
cial Welfare. and the Task Force on Alcohol and Drugs of
the National Council of Churches have provided us with re-
sources and help which have made the helping process to
people in need more effective.

V. More Helping Is Needed

Just as “love never ends.” so helping never ceases. When
the needs of one are met. there are always others to whom
we may turn. It isn't possible for our church to minister to
everyone in need. Others can join in helping. too. But after
we have helped to resolve the problem in a given area, we
find that many more people are looking to us for help.

In the months before us we shall have countless oppor-
tunities to be “people helping people in Jesus’ name.” These
opportunities which we face deal with the following seven
priorities:

(1) We must do a better job in combatting racism and
developing wholesome Christian relationships among all
people.

(2) We must provide concern for the 6 million Vietnam-
era veterans.

(3) We must face realistically the seriousness of alco-
holism and drug dependency.

(4) We must continue our involvement in housing for
low- and moderate-income families.

(5) We must give growing attention to the increasing
number of older persons.

(6) We must take more aggressive steps to help the poor
and hungry throughout the world.

(7) We must help our nation to show greater concern for
our environment and the world that God has given to us.

Yes, we are people — Christian people — helping people
in Jesus’ name. God help us:

Boarp OF SociaL MINISTRY AND Worip RELIEF
Julian G. Hoffmann, Chairman

Robert J. Riedel. Vice-Chairman

Arnold G. Deke. Secretary

Robert H. Mugge

James M. Ehlers

Dallas A. Martin

Howard A. Foard

Marie Sump

Audrey Gooch

Staff

Alfred Y. Armstead. MSW, ACSW
Secretary for Agencies and Institutions

Eugene C. Gunther, Secretary for District
and Parish Welfare Services

Melvin E. Witt. Secretary for World Relief

Leslie F. Weber, D. D., Executive Secretary

9-02

Report of Commission on Social Concerns

The Handbook of The Luthran Church — Missouri Synod,
1971 Edition, pp. 214 and 215 contains the following:

B. COMMISSION ON SOCIAL CONCERNS
13.11 Membership and Appointment

A Commission on Social Concerns shall be ap-
pointed by the President after consultation with
the Vice-Presidents. The Commission shall consist
of at least four members. including the following:
one pastor: two professors, one from each of the
two seminaries: and one layman.

13.13 Responsibilities

The Commission shall —

a. study current social issues:

b. secure “position papers” on subjects of critical
interest in these complex areas from those agen-
cies of Synod directly involved:

c. forward its findings and recommendations to
the President of the Synod. at whose direction they
will be referred back to the Commission. to the De-
partment of Public Relations, or to other agencies
for dissemination.