LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1979, Page 82

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82 GREETINGS OF THE ALC PRESIDENT

The church is made up of believers in the kindom of
our Lord Jesus Christ. The church gathers to share in
Christ’s victory over sin, death, and Satan and then
joins efforts to create an earthly society that is just,
humane, and compassionate, a reflection of the king-
dom of God.

Gathered here today are believers in God, believers
in Christ’s kingdom. We are also called to be believers in
and workers toward a free, responsible, just, moral
society. For us in this country it means we start with a
free, responsible, just, moral, American society. Our
heritage is great. We do not start from zero. Obviously,
however, our society has reached one of these points
where we need new beginnings. Or perhaps old begin-
nings revisited.

Americans need to recapture some of the elements of
moral greatness in American beginnings. We also need
to add some, the need for which has become especially
apparent in our day. I submit that Americans must
recognize anew that freedom requires responsibility or
it becomes chaos; that homely virtues must be reclaimed
from ridicule; that the very word “virtue” must again
become a word that evokes positive response. I speak of
virtues such as honesty, industry, civility, kindness,
marital fidelity, and neighborliness. Those are Biblical
virtues that are part of our national as well as Christian
heritage.

The people of God must take the lead in calling
American people to a rejection of the “me” generation,
with its selfish, self-indulgent, ever-increasing consum-
erism. It is time to laugh out of business the omnipresent
advertising that promises instant happiness if you
drive our newest car or our newest clothes; instant
security if you buy insurance or deposit in our bank;
instant beauty if you use our cosmetics; instant popu-
larity if you use our deodorant. Mindless self.
gratification has no virtue. It is self-destructive.

We Americans have made ourselves weak and de-
pendent in our race for instant gratification. We have
become accustomed to living beyond our needs, espe-

cially our energy needs. Now all kinds of people over
whom we exercise little or no control can make us dance
to their tune or the oil pumps go dry. The energy problem
is mainly a problem of American energy appetites run
amok. We will have to reclaim the virtue of frugality, of
exercising discipline over our desires. Actually, fru-
gality is too strong a word. Conservation is more
appropriate.

We have been flirting with conservation for many
years. Now it is time for deep seriousness. It is not just
this moment’s energy crisis that requires it. It is the
underlying fact that the sustainability of the earth and
its people requires a moral commitment to conservation
of all the earth’s resources. Our responsibility is not
only to this generation, else we will deserve the ugly title
“the un-generation.” Our responsibility is to this gener-
ation and to our children’s generation.

Last evening 10 Americans from church and syn-
agog spent the evening with President Carter at Camp
David. He did not tell us what he intends to do. He asked
questions of us and invited us to share our perceptions of
America’s needs. I went to that meeting and returned
with a conviction as to what will happen. President
Carter will come down from that mountain one of these
next days. He will bring no easy process for America or
the world. Neither will he come down wringing his
hands in despair. He will lay out before us a summons to
be a people of principle, a people of discipline, willing to
accept the challenge to meet the energy crisis or any
other crisis that comes along. He will ask us to lay anew
the foundations for a just, free, and responsible society
for all the people.

If he does, I hope the people of the LCMS and of the
ALC will say with words and deeds, with sturdy Lu-
theran confidence, “God has not changed. His kingdom
is secure. He has equipped us for this hour. Let’s get on
with the job!”

And I hope we will say it together, LCMS brothers
and sisters in Christ. Amen.

David W. Preus, D.D.

Greetings of the President of the Lutheran Church in America

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

It is a happy privilege which I have today to bring
you greetings on behalf of the Lutheran Church in
America. It is happy for me personally, for there are
important family ties that I have with you. At one time
our little congregation in east Tennessee was served by
the Missouri Synod. One of our pastors was the late Dr.
W. F. Arndt, who also was the schoolteacher in our little
community. To the day that he died, my father consid-
ered Dr. Arndt as a personal friend and as one of the
foremost spiritual leaders in his life. I have copies of
sermons which he wrote and then gave the hand-
written manuscript to my father. F urthermore, I have a
brother who is now a member of one of your eongre-

gations in Bristol, Tennessee. So I grew up in a family
and in a situation where there was high regard for the
Missouri Synod as a church and for individual pastors
in particular. I share that regard.

I also have valued highly for the last few years the
associations with your officers as we have worked
together in various settings. I have appreciated the
friendships that we have shared as we have been
together in official relationships.

Two particular ideas which we Lutherans value
highly are important to us in the Lutheran Church in
America just as they are to you in The Lutheran
Church—Missouri Synod. They are especially impor-
tant to me as president of the LCA.

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