LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1975, Page 111

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Sie hima tea SP Ned Sti es aT anti ease

RESOLUTIONS 111

(The committee replaced its tentative Res. 4-02 with Res.
4-02A. Attention was also called to a minority proposal prepared
by seven members of the floor committee. Mr. Philip Draheim,
legal counsel for the Synod, read a position paper of the Board of
Directors outlining a suggested procedure in solving any disa-
greement which might occur if the convention should adopt the
resolution for the dissolution of the English District and the
English District should feel compelled to oppose this action of
the convention. Because of the procedures that would be _in-
volved the target date was changed by formal motion from Jan.
15, 1976, to July 15, 1976. The delegates formally approved the
distribution of this position paper to the convention. A state-
ment of the English District Had also been distributed earlier by
permission of the chair. English District president Harold Hecht
addressed the convention. A motion to consider Overture 4-31 as
a substitute for Res. 4-02A was declined by the floor. A motion
to consider the Minority Proposal as a subsitute for Res. 4-02A
was declined by a standing vote of 473 to 517. Time for debate
was extended for another 30 minutes. When the question was
successfully called during that time, the chair placed the ques-
tion for a voice vote and then declared that Res. 4-02A had
failed to carry. There was no request for a division of the house
or for a count.)

To Combat Racism

RESOLUTION 4-03A
(Replacing Resolution 4-03)
Overture 4-78 (CW, p. 200)

Wuereas, The church is in mission and ministry to
man and his totality; and

Wuereas, Pastors are called into parishes to equip
the church and its people through the Word for every
work that is good; and

Wuereas, Racism is a sin, completely contrary to
God’s Word; and

Wuereas, Our Lord challenges His people to love one
another even as He has loved us; and

Wuereas, Many positive actions have been taken in
the Synod, Districts, and on local levels to sensitize our
members to the continuing racist attitudes and behavior,
and

Wuereas, At New Orleans the Synod approved the
promotion of an equal opportunity policy which was to be
implemented by an affirmative action effort in its em-
ployment and business practices in all its departments,
its Districts, and in all synodically controlled agencies
and institutions; and

Wuereas, In spite of all our Christian resolves and
attempts to combat racism the church has fallen short of
its objectives; therefore be it

Resolved, That we take to heart the reality of the
situation and determine to make things happen in this
atea in the following manner:

1. That each pastor in the Synod:search his heart and
mind to determine his innate prejudices toward other
races, especially since he may be unaware of his own
racial attitudes; ;

2. That he confess this sin before God and seek His
forgiveness and that under the guidance of God’s Holy
Spirit in his sermonizing and by leadership predicated on
the Word, he equip God’s people to affirm the worth and
the value of people of all races; and

3. That he himself, together with the equipped people

of his parish, construct and implement Christ-centered
creative interpersonal programs for attitudinal changes
in an effort to banish racism from the church and society;
and be it further

Resolved, That the Board of Social Ministry and
World Relief be commended for its commitment to up-
date its outreach, and to seek to incorporate projected
advances within the limits of existing budgetary alloca-
tions; and be it finally

Resolved, That we commend the Board of Directors
for its commitment to affirmative action and acknowl-
edge its appointment of the Director of Personnel as the
Affirmative Action Officer.

Action: Referred back to the committee (3).

To Combat Racism
RESOLUTION 4-03B
(Replacing Resolution 4-03A)
Overture 4-78 (CW, p. 200)

Jesus Christ, who is Lord, challenges His people to
love one another even as He loves them, and through His
loving presence in His church through Word and sacra-
ment He empowers His people to meet this challenge.
Christ’s church calls pastors, teachers, and other full-
time workers to equip God’s saints for their ministry and
witness to Christ. This is especially important in the
living of the Christian life of love as it affects relation-
ships with other people both within and without racial
and ethnic groups. Many positive actions have been
taken in Synod, Districts, and congregations to sensitize
God’s people to the continued existence of racist attitudes
and behavior. The New Orleans convention approved an
equal-opportunity policy to be implemented by an af-
firmative-action effort in its employment and business
practices in all its departments, its Districts, and all
synodically controlled agencies and institutions. Peni-
tently, God’s people admit that the desired objectives
have not all been met, in spite of signs of progress under
the blessing of God’s Spirit. So that serious efforts to
make things happen in combatting racist attitudes can
be put forth; therefore be it

Resolved, That each pastor, teacher, or other full-time
worker of the Synod seek by God’s grace to determine his
innate prejudices and become more keenly aware of his
own racial attitudes, confess this sin, and seek God’s
forgiveness; and be it further

Resolved, That under God’s Spirit in ministering to
God’s people he equip himself to equip them to affirm the
worth and value of people of all races; and be it further

Resolved, That the Board of Social Ministry be urged
to develop a program for regional workshops to equip
pastors and teachers and other full-time workers for
leadership in effecting attitudinal and programatic
changes in their parishes and communities; and be it
further

Resolved, That the Board of Directors be urged to