LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1973, Page 326

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SO SSS

324 SOCIAL MINISTRY

Scripture that calls upon Christians to love their neighbors
not merely “with words and with speech but in deed and
in truth”; and

Whereas, The National Indian Lutheran Board has served
the church well in identifying those particular instances in
Indian life where help is needed, evaluating comparative
needs, and assisting in allocation of funds, especially in self-
help programs; and

WHEREAS, The convention of the ALC has recognized the
value of NILB services and has twice set aside an “Indian
Concerns Sunday”; therefore be it

Resolved, That the President of Synod designate an Indian
Concerns Sunday, both in 1973 and 1974, urging all congre-

gations and institutions of the church to utilize the occasion

ple, interpreting the unique needs of Indian people, and
gathering an offering which shall, through the Board of
World Relief, be distributed to Indian Projects designated

for funding by NILB. Norty Wisconsin District
Lloyd H. Goetz, President
Paul G. Mueller, Secretary

9-21
To Participate in Rebuilding Vietnam

Resolved, That the LCMS in convention instruct its Board
of Directors to arrange for a special peace thankoffering in
all congregations of the Synod to be used for the purpose of
alleviating the sufferings of the people of North and South
Vietnam, particularly orphans and wounded civilians: and
be it further

Resolved, That the Board of Directors specify in advance
the relief efforts to be supported by means of the special
thankoffering,

Reasons:
1. The Indo-China War caused immense suffering,

2. Many victims of the war do not have any expectation
of assistance except from private sources,

3. The gift of peace should prompt from Christians a re-
sponse of gratitude and love.

4. Aid to Indo-China would hasten the process of recon-
ciliation between peoples and nations and express the spirit
of Christ. IMMANUEL LUTHERAN CHURCH

Amherst. Mass.
Charles Cole, President
Mrs. James Terrill, Secretary

9-22A

To Grant Amnesty

Wuereas, The California and Nevada District has adopted
the report of the Lutheran Council in the U.S.A. entitled
“Toward Reconciliation,” adopted at its annual meeting on
Feb. 29, 1972, and has urged its study by congregations with-
in the District; therefore be it

Resolved, That the LCMS in convention at New Orleans
adopt the following statement of LCUSA and commend it
to all congregations of the Synod for study and action:

Both the events leading to war and the consequences of war

remind us humbly of man’s sinful nature and of God's call for
man's repentance. As a nation we have become deeply divided
by our Participation in the Vietnam War, We pray fora speedy
end of that war. However, since human memory tends to nurse
old wounds, the division in our land may not be healed simply
by an end to the fighting.
_. We affirm that reconciliation is fundamental to the Christian
life and that forgiveness js central to the meaning of Christ's
life, death and resurrection. The concern of the churches must
be for understanding, acceptance and reconciliation among
Americans who disagree about the war,

We cannot claim fully to know God's mind and judgment,
but we can appeal to Him for Suidance in resolving the division
among us. We believe it is in the interest of furthering our
national healing that the following particulars are offered:

1. We call for acts of reconciliation between those who be-
lieve they served their nation by supporting this war and those
who believe they served their nation by refusing to support this
war.

2. We urge loving concern for those who conscientiously
Participated and now return to a society which may forget their
service or give it only a negative meaning. We express our ap-
Proval of new initiative from both government and private
agencies in job training and placement. drug rehabilitation, and
other helps toward re-entry to civilian life,

3. We urge loving concern also for those who refused lo
Participate for reasons of conscience, including those who chose
to face prosecution or to leave our land and seek refuge in
another. We express our approval of new initiative from: both
government and private services, in order to facilitate re-entry
into the life of our nation.

4. We transmit this Statement to the Participating church
bedies with the hope that they will commend it to their con~
8regations for a response in study, prayer, acts of reconciliation,

relationships, the recommitment to faith in God's desire that
this healing come to all men, and the trust that through God's
guidance mankind may find peace and the means for its main-
lenance,

CALIFORNIA AND NEVADA District
Theo. A. Iverson, Secretary

To Urge Amnesty

Wuereas, The Synod in Res. 2-28 of the Denver conven-
tion (Proceedings, 1969, p. 91) recognized the right of the
individual not to participate in a war which the person be-
lieves to be unjust; and

WHereas, There are many Americans who for reasons of
conscience opposed American involvement in the war in
Indochina; and

Wuereas, Many of these Americans, in following their
convictions, refused to participate in military service and
now live as exiles outside the U.S. or as prisoners or
former prisoners in the U. S.; and

Wuereas, There has as yet been no reconciliation between
these Americans and their government and fellow citizens
of the U.S. even though American involvement in the war
has ended: and

WHEREAS, The proclamation of amnesty has followed many
previous American conflicts and served as a reconciliation
between those who believed they served their nation by
supporting the war and those who believed they served
their nation by refusing to support the war; and

Wuereas, The Lord of the church has sent His people to
be ministers of reconciliation: therefore be it

Resolved, That the Synod reaffirm its position of selective

conscientious objection as stated in Res. 2-28 of the Denver
convention: and be it further

Resolved, That the Synod encourage its people to be
actively involved in reconciling those who believe they
served their nation by supporting this war and those who
believe they served ‘their nation by refusing to support
this war: and be it finally

Resolved. That the Synod urge the President or Congress
of the U.S. to promote this reconciliation by granting am-
nesty in a review of individual cases for those who for
reasons of conscience resisted the draft or deserted from
military service. University LUTHERAN CHURCH

Lawrence, Kans.
Mike Brondos, President
Elwood May, Secretary

Similar:

9-22C

Cross Lutheran Church, Milwaukee, Wis., Cardell Willis.
President; Paulette Barr, Secretary.
9-22D

The Church of St. John the Evangelist, Brooklyn, N.Y...
Jesse Greenlow, Secretary,
9-22E

Hyde Park Lutheran Church, Chicago, ll., William Gru-
now. President: Susan Shemitis, Secretary.