LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1979, Page 155

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8. SOCIAL MINISTRY

To Consider Needs of Older Persons
RESOLUTION 8-01

Overture 8-08 (CW, p. 235) Report 8-01 (CW, p.
232)

WHEREAS, Older persons form the fastest-growing
group within our population as indicated by the predic-
tion of the Bureau of Census that within 20 years 16
percent will be 60 or over, 12 percent will be past 65, 5'4
percent will be 75 and older, and 1.4 percent will be 85
and older; and

WHEREAS, Older people must be a concern of the
church if itis to fulfill its ministry “to every creature” in
the years that lie ahead; and

WHEREAS, All of the elderly, including the “frail
elderly,” who are able to maintain varying degrees of
independent living in the community, can benefit by the
ministry of the church, even as they can participate in
advancing that ministry; and

WHEREAS, The concern for older persons is so impor-
tant that it must be shared by all of the program boards
of our church as well as the Board of Social Ministry and
World Relief; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Executive Secretary of the Board
of Social Ministry and World Relief convene representa-
tives of all the Synod’s program boards to devise and
plan a comprehensive approach to the overall needs of
older persons in the church and community; and be it
further

Resolved, That the results of the meeting(s) be
reported to the Board of Directors with recommenda-
tions for implementation.

Action: Adopted (8).

To Continue Sponsorship
of Refugee Families

RESOLUTION 8-02

Overture 8-11 (CW, p. 235) Report 8-01 (CW, p.
232)

WHEREAS, The Lord identifies a ministry to refugees
and strangers as a legitimate concern and activity for
His people (Matt. 7:21; 25:35; Luke 10:37); and

WHEREAS, The Lutheran response to refugee needs
dates back over several decades (Lutheran Witness,
September 1978); and

WHEREAS, The Lutheran Immigration and Refugee
Services (LIRS) is assisting in the resettlement of
refugees from Vietnam and other countries; and

WHEREAS, The nature of refugee problems makes it
impossible to predict the number of sponsors needed at
any particular time; however, at the present time 200,000
refugees are in camps in Thailand and Malaysia, and
hundreds of “boat people,” facing uncertain futures,

155

still are leaving their homes because of oppression and
persecution; therefore be it

Resolved, That our love for our Lord move us to share
His good gifts by sponsoring, singularly or in coopera-
tion with neighboring Lutheran parishes, families who
must flee their homeland because of oppression and
persecution; and be it further

Resolved, That we commend those congregations
who have sponsored a refugee family that they might
give consideration to sponsoring a second, third, or
fourth family; and be it further

Resolved, That District boards of social ministry in
concert with the district LWML and LLL groups develop
in each District a “bank of congregations” willing to
sponsor refugee families to meet the needs of current
and future crisis situations; and be it further ‘

Resolved, That the Board of Social Ministry and
World Relief continue to support Lutheran Immigration
and Refugee Services and to regularly communicate
these concerns to the congregations of the Synod; and
be it finally

Resolved, That the Board of Social Ministry and
World Relief be requested to investigate ministry to
Haitian refugees as well.

Action: Adopted as amended (8).

(Amendment: the final resolve was added.)

To Commend and Strengthen Work of
Commission on Ministerial Health

RESOLUTION 8-03
Report 8-02 (CW, p. 233)

WHEREAS, Physical, mental, and emotional health
are gifts of God, even as spiritual rebirth and growth are
His gifts; and

WHEREAS, Professional church workers need to be
physically, mentally, and emotionally healthy and
stable if they are to serve effectively in the church; and

WHEREAS, There is evidence that among the 12,000-
plus professionals and their families in our Synod an
increasing number for a variety of reasons need to be
ministered to and provided with some form of health
care; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Synod commend the Commission
on Ministerial Health for its continuing concern and
effort in providing resources for consultation and care
for professionals and their families; and be it further

Resolved, That because the sources of mental and
emotional deficiencies are many, necessitating a wide
variety of skilled evaluations, treatment, and follow-up
care, the Synod endorse the request of the commission
that a full-time, qualified staff person be authorized,
and urge the Board of Directors to engage such a