Collection › LCMS Convention Workbook (St. Louis, Missouri) › 1975 · 51st Convention › Page 400
LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1975, Page 400

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

400 SOCIAL MINISTRY

WHEREAS, There is an obvious return to the pagan devalua-
tion of human life in the persons of those who are old and those
not yet born, so that their economic value to a family or a society
determines whether they will live or be done away with; there-
fore be it

Resolved. That the Christian men and women assembled to-
gether at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Wichita Falls, Tex., on
Jan. 31, 1975, raise their voices as one in calling on all other
Christians, whosoever they be and wheresoever they be, to
raise the voice of God against all such devaluation of life and to
set an obvious and public example of Christian integrity and the
Christian value of God-given life; and be it further

Resolved. That we direct our secretary to memorialize the
Synod —which will be in assembly at Anaheim, Calif., in July
this year—to speak with a louder voice to the church and to the
world regarding the sanctity and preciousness of life.

Pastors-Teachers Conference No. 1
Texas District
Timothy Koenig, Secretary

8-11
To Be Concerned About Unemployment

WHEREAS, Unemployment has reached a most serious high
figure, 8.5%: and

WHEREAS, Unemployment brings with it debilitating societal
problems in all areas of life: increase in criminal activities,
deterioration of mental and/or physical well-being; and

WHEREAS, Unemployment also can effect a reduction in the
mission and ministry of the church; therefore be it

Resolved. That the church support the efforts of government
to provide employment opportunities and welfare assistance
and services on a national and local scale, which will help to
reduce the harsh realities of unemployment; and be it further

Resolved. That the Board of Social Ministry and World Relief
develop suggestions designed to assist a parish and its pastor to
become centers of healing for the ills related to unemployment;
and be it finally

Resolved. That the more than 6,000 parishes of our church
become centers of concern to assist with employment oppor-
tunities and the welfare assistance available in the private
and public sector for individuals and families adversely affected
by unemployment.

Board of Social Ministry and World Relief
Leslie F. Weber, Executive Secretary

8-12A

To Emphasize Concern
for Mental Health

WHEREAS, Emotional crises and stress are a significant part
of our present culture; and

WHEREAS, Approximately 45 percent of those who suffer
from emotional disorders seek a clergyman for initial counsel;
and

WHEREAS, Mental health programs are now decentralizing
from state mental hospitals to community mental health centers;
and

WHEREAS, Mental health services have for the most part now
become the responsibility of the community, which includes the
congregation and its pastor(s); and

WHEREAS, The ministry of pastors and lay people would be
strengthened by familiarization with community mental health

programs and consultation from mental health professionals;
therefore be it

Resolved. That the Synod encourage both pastors and lay
members to serve as arms of the community mental health
healing efforts and utilize and support the services available
to them for referral, consultation, and education.

Board of Social Ministry and World Relief
Leslie F. Weber, Executive Secretary

Identical or similar:

8-12B

St. Luke’s, Westminster, Calif. P. C. Gehlhar

8-13

To Expand Project Compassion

WHEREAS, Project Compassion has captured the imagination
and attention of more people in and outside of the Synod than
many activities designed and promoted by Synod; and

WHEREAS, The volunteers of Project Compassion are active
in prisons, nursing homes, mental health institutions, homes
for the aging, and general hospitals and are being utilized by
parishes for friendly visiting to homebound elderly, handi-
capped, and chronically ill in the communities of which our
parishes are a part; and

WHEREAS, In Canada and in the United States more than
12,000 volunteers are currently involved in various forms of
volunteer activity directly or indirectly related to Project
Compassion; and

WHEREAS, Project Compassion activities have the endorse-
ment of secular and church volunteer agencies: and

WHEREAS, Project Compassion volunteers could be trained
for service to people in other areas of our church and secular
society; therefore be it

Resolved. That a staff person from Evangelism, Missions, and
Youth together with a staff person from Social Ministry explore
new areas where Project Compassion volunteers’ skills could
be utilized; and be it further

Resolved. That after specific areas for new activities by Proj-
ect Compassion volunteers have been determined, training
materials be designed and one or more pilots under the direction
and supervision of the Board of Social Ministry be held in areas
of greater need.

Board of Social Ministry and World Relief
Leslie F. Weber, Executive Secretary

8-14

To Support Brothers and Sisters
in Namibia
WHEREAS, The International Court of Justice at the Hague
handed down the decision on June 21, 1971, that South Africa

has no legal right to administer Namibia (South-West Africa):
and

WHEREAS, 650,000 of the 750,000 inhabitants of Namibia are
black and suffering severe oppression under the apartheid
(segregationist) rule of South Africa; and

WHEREAS, 340,000 of the 650,000 black inhabitants of Namibia
are members of the Ovambokavanga Evangelical Lutheran
Church and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in South-West
Africa; and

WHEREAS, Rev. Leonard Auala, bishop of the Ovambo-
kavanga Evangelical Lutheran Church, and other members of
the two Namibian Lutheran Churches are struggling to lead
their people to fulfill their role as Christians in the freedom
movement; and

WHEREAS, President J. A. O. Preus and other members of
the Executive Committee of the Lutheran Council in the U.S. A.
in an open letter dated Nov. 20, 1974, called upon President
Ford, Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, and U.N. Ambas-
sador John Scali to take strong, specific steps toward support
of Namibian independence; therefore be it

Resolved, That The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod sup-
port their brothers and sisters in Christ in their struggle for
justice and freedom in Namibia, remembering God's call to us
“to do justice, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with Him”
(Micah 6:8); and be it further

Resolved. That the Anaheim convention send Christian greet-
ings to Rev. Leonard Auala, bishop of the Ovambokavanga
Evangelical Lutheran Church, and to Rev. Johannes deVries,