Collection › LCMS Convention Workbook (St. Louis, Missouri) › 1973 · 50th Convention › Page 328
LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1973, Page 328

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

326 SOCIAL MINISTRY

Resolved, That The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod
in convention at New Orleans encourage Synod, Districts,
circuits, congregations, and individual Christians to sup-
port community and economic development programs with
seed money in the form of grants and loans; and be it
further

Resolved, That the Social Ministry Committee of the
LCMS be instructed to implement this resolution and in-
form member Districts and congregations of specific oppor-

tunities for such action. Cross LurHeran Cuurcy

Milwaukee, Wis.
Paulette Barr, Secretary
Cardell Willis, President

9-27

To Fund Adequately Social Ministry

Whereas, Scripture clearly teaches that the Christian is
to be concerned with the material needs of our fellowmen as
well as his spiritual needs (James 2:14-17: 1 John 3:16-18;
Luke 10: 24-37); and

Wuereas, The Synod has recognized Social Ministry to
be an integral, legitimate, and valid part of the work of the
church at large, and of the local congregation; and

Whereas, The various Districts of Synod are the arm of
Synod through which much of Synod’s ministry is per-
formed; and

Wuereas, It is a truth that adequate funding is vital to
the efficient execution and fulfillment of almost any program
or ministry; therefore be it

Resolved, That Synod again reaffirm the place of Social
Ministry as a part of our ministry of the church to our world;
and be it further

Resolved, That the Districts of Synod again be reminded
that the Social Ministry programs and resolutions, which
may originate on the synodical level, are the responsibility
of each District; and be it finally

Resolved, That each District of Synod provide adequate
funding for its Social Ministry responsibilities on the District

level.
e Boarp oF Soctau MINISTRY AND Wortp RELIEF

Leslie F. Weber, Executive Secretary

9-28

To Adopt New Bylaws for Board of Social
Ministry and World Relief

Wuereas, The Bylaws for the Consolidated Board of
Social Ministry and World Relief were approved by the
Board of Social Ministry and World Relief as well as the
Board of Directors of Synod in 1971, but were not acted
upon by the Milwaukee convention; and

Wuereas, Both the Board of Directors and the Board of
Social Ministry and World Relief concur with the Bylaw
revisions which spell out the regulations of this board which
was merged in 1969; therefore be it

Resolved, That the following Bylaws be approved by the
convention:

A. BOARD OF SOCIAL MINISTRY
AND WORLD RELIEF

13.01 Personnel and Appointment

A Board of Social Ministry and World Relief
consisting of seven members, at least four of whom
shall be lay members, shall be appointed by the
Board of Directors of the Synod upon the recom-
mendation of the President of the Synod.

13.02 Duties and Functions

The board shall serve as the administrative,
programmatic, and evaluative agency for social min-
istry interests of, within, and in behalf of the
Synod, both within the United States and abroad.

Each District shall provide for a Board of Social
Ministry and World Relief to assist in the imple-
mentation of the program.

a. Within the United States

1. The board shall stimulate and encourage
Christian social ministry within congregations and
groups of congregations: establish and maintain
standards of social ministry activities and promote
related research; give assistance to Districts re-
garding the implementation of social ministry pro-
grams; conduct or arrange for studies of social
ministry needs prior to the establishment of health
and welfare agencies and programs so that good
stewardship of the church's efforts might prevail;
give counsel to the Board of Directors of the Synod
regarding social ministry concerns; arrange for in-
stitutes and seminars on social ministry concerns
nationally and regionally; Participate in social edu-
cation and encourage endeavors to remove or al-
leviate human suffering, enlisting where possible
and in keeping with the adopted policies of the
church, national, State, and municipal services;
maintain liaison with the Division of Welfare Ser-
vices of LCUSA as well as other religious or secu-
lar agencies that may have a bearing on Synod's
program of social ministry.

2, The board shall accredit health, social ser-
vice, and chaplaincy agencies, upon the recom-
mendation of the staff, as an assurance that the
agencies meet and maintain acceptable standards
of performance in meeting demonstrated needs and
have achieved a responsible relationship with the
Synod and its jurisdictional units according to the
approved Polity Statement.

3. The board shall give guidance to and co-
ordinate the efforts of Districts and agencies within
the Districts that plan or conduct institutional
chaplaincy services in the following areas:

aa. arrange for studies regarding new or exist-
ing programs;

bb. encourage adherence to approved standards
and procedures for institutional chaplaincy pro-
grams;

ce. give counsel regarding calls, appointments,
and training of chaplains;

dd. provide for regular liaison with institutional
chaplains to maintain a responsible relationship of
the chaplain with the church and of the church
with the chaplain;

ee. stimulate concern within congregations and
Districts for increased volunteer involvement of
pastors and lay people in the ministry to insti-
tutionalized people.

4. The board shall administer scholarships for
social workers, administrative personnel in agen-
cies, and institutional chaplains.

5. The board shall endeavor to identify emerg-
ing social problems, and provide counsel so that
the church might respond as a healing instrument
of Jesus Christ for the broken as well as be a con-
cerned Christian force in the prevention of injus-
tices, inhumanities, and other evils within society.

6. The board shall give assistance to congrega-
tions or through them to their members, or to
others, in dire emergencies or disaster situations re-
sulting from floods, famines, fires, earthquakes,
wars, and related situations, for rehabilitation and
refugee service with limited assistance as an in-
centive to develop self-help programs in under-
developed communities, Assistance may take the
form of cash grants, loans without interest, distri-
bution of food, clothing, medical or other supplies,
or whatever other means best suit the need.

7. The board shall advise individuals, congrega-
tions, or Districts in instances of disaster. Emer-
gency needs which cannot be met with gifts from