Collection › LCMS Convention Workbook (St. Louis, Missouri) › 1973 · 50th Convention › Page 325
LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1973, Page 325

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

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SOCIAL MINISTRY 323

Resolved, That Synod continue to work through the Lu-
theran Council in the U.S.A. in joint social ministry plan-
ning development and consultation; and be it finally

Resolved, That Synod commend those who study and
work to develop models of Christian cooperation in social
ministry consistent with the Scriptures and the Confessions.

Sr. PauL LUTHERAN CHURCH
Mount Prospect, Ill.

Raymond Avischious, Chairman
Esther S. Busse, Secretary

Identical:

9-14B

Faith Lutheran Church, Westchester, Ill,
Bruhnke, President; La Verne Meifert, Secretary.

Edward

9-15

To Espouse Prison Reform

Wuereas, Prisons are institutions to reform and rehabili-
tate persons, an

Wuereas, The Christian religion is an essential part in
the rehabilitating process; and

Wuereas, Christian church members are better equipped
to provide assistance for this purpose than others; therefore
be it

Resolved:

(1) That The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod be en-
couraged to enter into programs for the reform and re-
habilitation of prisoners, and

(2) That monies be made available by the Synod to use
for the above-named cause.

[LUTHERAN CHURCH OF THE COovENANT
Maple Heights, Ohio

Albert Zimmerman, President
Norman Lisy, Secretary

Omar Stuenkel, Pastor

9-16

To Work Toward Prison Reform

We call upon The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod to
both strengthen, through its Districts, its prison chaplaincy
program, and to exert whatever influence it can in the public
sector toward responsible prison reform throughout the
country.

Reasons:

1. The mandate to come to the side of those in prison
is clear from Jesus and from the Scriptures,

2. The great majority of the prisons in our country are
overcrowded, ill-managed, and grossly in need of general

reform. Cuurcu oF St. JoHN THE EVANGELIST

Brooklyn, N. Y.
Jesse Greenlow, Secretary

9-17

To Support Capital Punishment

Wuereas, Both the Holy Scriptures and the Lutheran
Confessions approve capital punishment by the government
for just cause: and

Wuereas, Many liberal churches are urging the abolition
of capital punishment, therefore be it

Resolved, That we ask The Lutheran Church — Missouri
Synod to declare that capital punishment by the government
for just cause is in harmony with the Holy Scriptures and

the Lutheran Confessions. Trinity LUTHERAN CHURCH

New Haven, Mo.
Larry Scheer, Secretary

9-18
To Reinstate Capital Punishment

Wuereas, A number of states and all of Canada no longer
use capital punishment for murder: and

Wuereas. It seems that murder and hi-jacking are on the
inerease: and

Wuereas, The Bible states, “Whoso sheddeth man’s blood
by man shall his blood be shed” (Gen. 9:6a), and “All they
that take the sword shall perish with the sword” (Matt.
26:52b); therefore be it

Resolved. That this convention go on record as speaking
in favor of reinstating the death penalty for murder; and
be it further

Resolved, That this stand be publicized on radio, TV,
and in the leading newspapers of both Canada and the
United States; and be it finally

Resolved, That we ask the governing authorities in both
Ottawa and Washington seriously to consider reinstating
capital punishment for murder and other crimes against the

public. Trinity LUTHERAN CHURCH
Neudorf, Sask.
Leander Arndt, Pastor

9-19
To Recognize Problems of Indian Americans

Wuereas, Problems facing the Indian American and his
acculturation in 20th-century society are not well-known
to the members of the LCMS; and

Wuerras, We have the Christian obligation “to help and
befriend our neighbor in every bodily need,” and to worship
our Lord with deeds as well as with words; therefore be it

Resolved, That we seek to make our church construc-
tively aware of problems facing the Indian American, and
knowledgeable in regard to Indian needs, spiritual and
physical; and be it further

Resolved, That to this end materials be developed in co-
operation with the National Indian Lutheran Board for an
Indian Concerns Program designed to help Indian Amer-
jcans; and be it finally

Resolved, That we encourage our congregations and their
members to initiate, promote, and support such programs
which may give Indian Americans the opportunities and the
benefits that are the right of all our citizens.

Minnesota SOUTH DISTRICT
Victor H. Marxhausen, Secretary

Similar:

9-19B

Church of St. John the Evangelist, Brooklyn, N.Y., Jesse
Greenlow, Secretary.

9-20
To Have an Indian Concerns Sunday

Wuereas, The churches of America, and particularly Lu-
theran churches, have an unimpressive record of being help-
ful, neighborly, or brotherly toward the American Indian;
and

WuereEas. The needs of Indian people are immeasurably
great and for the most part unattended; and

Wuereas, Our church is committed by its resolutions to
assist victims of prejudice and injustice “in combating any
social, political, and economic evils that harm people and
bring about the denial of many of the good things God in
His creation intended for all mankind”; and

Wuereas, Our church is furthermore committed in its
confessional stance to view as sinful that which does not
serve to help and befriend our neighbor in every bodily
need; and

Wuereas, Our church desires to find itself in accord with