Collection › LCMS Convention Workbook (St. Louis, Missouri) › 1973 · 50th Convention › Page 323
LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1973, Page 323

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

SOCIAL MINISTRY 321

application of church monies to public institutions and af-
fairs, cf. the Synod’s Pension Plan investment schedule.

CHURCH oF ST. JOHN THE EVANGELIST
Brooklyn, N.Y.
Jesse Greenlow, Secretary

Similar:
9-06B

Board of Social Ministry and World Relief, Leslie Weber,
Executive Secretary.

9-07

To Establish Commission on Housing
for the Aged

Wuereas, Adequate housing for the aged and senior
citizens continues to be a basic physical need; and

Wuereas, Housing assistance is a valid form of ministry;
therefore be it

Resolved, That our Synod establish and fund a commis-
sion on Housing for the Aged; and be it further

Resolved, That this commission shall propose studies,
guidelines, and solutions for the Synod; and be it finally

Resolved, That this commission shall coordinate all ac-
tivities with the Lutheran Housing Coalition.

EASTERN REGIONAL PASTORAL CONFERENCE
ENGLISH DISTRICT
Erich H. Wildgrube Jr., Chairman

9-08

To Demonstrate Greater Concern
for the Aging

Wuereas, Every tenth person in America is over the age
of 65; and of the 20 million Americans beyond 65, more than
300,000 are a part of the LCMS; and

Wuereas, Aging people in the church and especially those
outside the church, face serious problems such as loneliness,
loss of status, failing health, social isolation, dwindling finan-
ces, and spiritual frustration; and

Wuereas, We hold that the dignity and worth of every
person derives from his creation, redemption, and sanctifica-
tion by the Triune God; and

Wuereas, This dignity and worth are not affected by a
person’s ability to contribute to society and do not diminish
because of advancing age; and

Wuereas, Aging and mature Christians must have an op-
portunity to share as active participants in the mission and
ministry of the church; therefore be it

Resolved, That the LCMS affirm the importance of our
older people by

1. Instructing the Board of Social Ministry and World Re-
lief to develop a department of services to the aging;

2. Creating a special committee which will give attention
to opportunities and needs of the aging;

3. Sensitizing our congregations to the importance of the
contributions that can be made by our older people in the
mission and ministry of their church;

4. Developing a religious ceremony or rite in consultation
with the Commission on Worship, which will give recog-
nition to our older members as they reach retirement age,
thereby affirming their valued service and membership with-
in the church;

5. Encouraging congregations to reach out into their com-
munities with programs such as Project Compassion, meals-
on-wheels, telephone assurance, etc., that will include older
persons who may not be part of our church; and finally

6. Asking Synod and Districts to include on all boards,
men and women of 65 or more.

Boarp oF SociaL MINISTRY Wortp RELIEF
Leslie F. Weber, Executive Secretary

9-09

To Implement Project Compassion

WHEREAS, Project Compassion came into being at the Den-
ver convention for the purpose of training 5,000 volunteer
workers to assist full-time chaplains in ministering to per-
sons in nursing homes, hospitals, and other institutions; and

Wuereas, The Milwaukee convention authorized the ex-
pansion of Project Compassion so that the number of trained
volunteer visitors could be increased from 5,000 to 10,000;
an

Wuereas, The church is now beginning to enjoy the bene-
fits of Project Compassion, which enables Christian people
to demonstrate their faith by visiting lonely people; there-
fore be it

Resolved, That the Synod during the next biennium pro-
vide $20,000 in order that the Board of Social Ministry and
World Relief can continue

a. to coordinate Project Compassion throughout the
Synod,

b. to provide training and publicity materials, and

c. to conduct training workshops for District leaders of
Project Compassion; and be it further

Resolved, That the District boards of Social Ministry urge
their congregations to challenge an ever greater number of
their members to participate in Project Compassion; and be
it finally

Resolved, That the program Project Compassion seek both
to strengthen the skills of the volunteer visitors who have
already been trained and also to increase the number of
trained volunteer visitors from 10,000 to 15,000 by our next

national convention. Boarp oF DIRECTORS
SouTHERN ILLINoIs DISTRICT
Williard E. Mueller, Secretary

9-10

To Continue Project Compassion

Wuereas, There are thousands of desperately lonely per-
sons within hospitals, nursing homes, correctional institu-
tions, community health centers, in the various communities
of our country; and

Wuereas, Our church has 161 full-time chaplains, many
part-time chaplains, parish pastors, deaconesses, social work-
ers, physicians, nurses, and other lay persons serving in such
places who have established excellent relationships with staff
and administration of these human service institutions; and

Wuereas, The chaplain of other Christian professionals
within the institution need the willing heart and time of
volunteers to assist them; and

Wuereas, Most institutions are eager to have trained,
trustworthy, and dependable volunteers to establish sus-
tained “one-to-one” special-friend relationships with peo-
ple who are residing within the institutions, as well as vol-
unteers who will provide group activities such as birthday
parties, sing-alongs, chapel services, etc.; and

Wuereas, The Gospel of Jesus Christ “constrains” us
(leaves us with no choice but to want) to “show compas-
sion,” “visit the sick and imprisoned”; and

Wuereas, Our church has already launched “an extended
ministry of the Institutional Chaplaincy through trained and
supervised lay volunteers,” called “Project Compassion’
(Denver 1969), with the goal to recruit and train 5,000
volunteer workers, and in 1971, at Milwaukee, doubled this
thrust; and

Wuereas, Most Districts have already begun successful
Project Compassion programs, and other areas of our church
are just beginning to become aware of Project Compassion;
therefore be it

Resolved, That District Boards of Social Ministry, with
the assistance of our institutional chaplains and other leaders
within their Districts, increasingly inform, challenge, and
encourage circuits, parishes, youth groups and auxiliaries of