LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1975, Page 167

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RESOLUTIONS 167

To Support Acts of Reconciliation
Regarding Amnesty

RESOLUTION 8-13A
(Replacing Res. 8-13)

Overture 8-16 (CW, p. 401)

WHEREAS, The question of amnesty in connection with
the Vietnam conflict is a contemporary Christian issue
and therefore a topic worthy of consideration on the
agenda of our church; and

Wuereas, Our own church body may be represented
by several hundred men among the many thousands of
men who

1. are conflict resisters residing outside the United

States, or

2. refused to register, accept induction, or comply in

other ways with Selective Service, or

3. were convicted of draft violations, are in prison, on

probation, or released, or

4. deserted from the military and now live in exile or

underground, or

5. received less-than-honorable discharges because of

conflict objection; therefore be it

Resolved, That The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
affirm that reconciliation is fundamental to the Christian
life; and be it further

Resolved, That the Synod call for acts of reconciliation
between those who believed they served their nation by
supporting this confiict and those who believe they
served their nation by refusing to support this conflict;
and be it further

Resolved, That we commend the Board of Social
Ministry and World Relief for its participation in the
Lutheran Ministry to Veterans, an inter-Lutheran agency;
and be it further

Resolved, That loving concern be urged for those who
conscientiously participated and now return to a society
which may forget their service or give it only a negative
meaning; and also that approval be expressed for initi-
ative from both government and private agencies in job
training and placement, drug rehabilitation and other
helps toward reentry into civilian life; and be it finally

Resolved, That loving concern also be urged for those
who refused to participate for reasons of conscience,

including those who chose to face prosecution or to leave
our land and seek refuge in another.

Action: This resolution died since it failed to receive
action before adjournment.

(The committee replaced its tentative Res. 8-13 with Res.
8-13A.)

To Assist in Resettlement of
Vietnamese People

RESOLUTION 8-14
Report 8-01 (CW, p. 395)

Wuereas, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
has consistently demonstrated compassion and concern
in the resettlement of refugees, e.g., the displaced persons
of Eastern Europe after World War II, the Hungarian
refugees in 1956, the Cuban refugees in 1962, and more
recently the Uganda Asians in 1974; and

WueERrEAS, The sudden ending of the Vietnam conflict
has led to the need to resettle approximately 130,000
persons who are seeking a home in the U.S. and Canada;
and

Wuereas, Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service,
an inter-Lutheran agency operating within the frame-
work of LCUSA has been approved by the U.S. govern-
ment as one of the official agencies of our land to resettle
these persons; and

Wuereas, The three Presidents of the Lutheran
churches have issued statements of support, calling on
Lutheran congregations to secure 2,000 sponsors who
will provide 11,000 persons with new opportunities for a
good life in our countries; therefore be it

Resolved, That we encourage our congregations to con-
sider seriously the possibility of sponsoring a family of
Vietnamese people; and be it further

Resolved, That we renew our commitment to assist
those families that have been resettled to adjust to life
in our countries; and be it further

Resolved, That we provide support to the program of
LIRS in resettling at least our share of the 11,000 refugees
who are seeking new life in the U.S. and Canada; and be
it finally

Resolved, That the Board of Social Ministry and World
Relief continue its activity in promoting these goals.

Action: Adopted (5).