LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1979, Page 177

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RESOLUTIONS 151

To Commend and Encourage Work
Among Mentally Retarded

RESOLUTION 7-07
Report 7-04 (CW, pp. 217—218)

WHEREAS, Holy Scripture holds before us our Savior’s
command to preach the Gospel to everyone and reminds
us that under our Head, the Lord Jesus, we as members
of Christ’s body all need one another and that we are to
edify each other in the faith; and

WHEREAS, This year, A.D. 1979, marks the 75th
anniversary of our Synod’s ministry to mentally retar-
ded persons and their families; therefore be it

Resolved, That we commend those in residential
facilities affiliated with our Synod (Bethesda Lutheran
Home, Watertown, Wis.; Good Shepherd Lutheran Home
of the West, Terra Bella, Calif.; Good Samaritan Luther-
an Home, Cypress, Tex.; and Cedar Lake Lodge, La
Grange, Ky.) as well as those congregations and indivi-
duals who are ministering to mentally retarded indivi-
duals and their families; and be it further

Resolved, That we encourage other congregations to
sensitize their members and adults by offering religious
education programs either by including them in already
organized classes or by starting special classes and by
other caring activities, such as parish advocacy pro-
grams, alternative living situations (e.g., group homes),
etc.; and be it finally

Resolved, That we encourage congregations in those
36 states east of the Rocky Mountains served by Bethes-
da Lutheran Home, Watertown, Wis., to use the printed
order of service available in bulk quantities and other
worship aids offered free of charge by the Bethesda
Lutheran Home to offer thanks and prayers of interces-
sion at a special service marking the 75th anniversary
of our Synod’s many-phased ministries to mentally
retarded people and their families, while also encour-
aging congregations in the West to use materials being
prepared by Good Shepherd Lutheran Home of the West
to celebrate the 25th anniversary of that residential
facility.

Action: Adopted (9).
(The committee changed “30” to “36.’’)

To Encourage Continued Use
of “That We May Grow’”’ Materials

RESOLUTION 7-08
Overture 7-20 (CW, pp. 224—225)

WHEREAS, The Synod, through the Board of Parish
Education and in cooperation with the Commission on
Theology and Church Relations, produced and released
an effective Christian education series, “That We May
Grow,” especially in the study of the Lutheran Confes-
sions; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Synod, with humble thanks to the

Lord’s Spirit for equipping His church with gifts and
keeping her in the truth of Scripture and the centrality
of the Gospel of Jesus, recognize and commend the
Board of Parish Education, the Commission on Theo-
logy and Church Relations, and those responsible for
the production of the series “That We May Grow”; and
be it further

Resolved, That congregations of the Synod be encour-
aged to use these materials more fully.

Action: Adopted (9).

To Encourage Observance
of 200th Anniversary
of the Sunday School

RESOLUTION 7-09

Report 7-01 (CW, p. 212); Overture 7-16 (CW, p.
224)

WHEREAS, 1980 marks the 200th anniversary of the
organized Sunday school movement in the world; and

WHEREAS, The Sunday school has developed to be
the major agency in The Lutheran Church—Missouri
Synod for the formal Christian education of adults,
youth, and children; and

WHEREAS, The Sunday school promises to continue
to be the most widely used agency for the Christian
education of members and for evangelism outreach to
the unchurched; therefore be it

Resolved, That every congregation be encouraged to
observe in 1980 the 200th anniversary of the Sunday
school—

1) to celebrate God’s grace upon Sunday schools for
200 years;

2) to strengthen its ministry of Sunday school staff
selection, training, and support;

3) to strengthen the administration and supervision
of its Sunday school;

4) to evaluate its Sunday school curriculum and
seek improvements that will more effectively meet the
needs of its people;

5) to evaluate and strengthen its ministry with
parents and families;

6) to study and improve the teaching-learning
process in its Sunday school;

7) to explore creatively and implement changes that
will make its Sunday school as effective and interesting
as possible in accordance with its own individual
situation and resources;

8) to consider ways to involve people often neglected
in Sunday morning learning experiences, such as youth,
adults, and people with learning difficulties;

9) to expand the Sunday morning ministry of
Christian education by establishing and continuing to
conduct weekday programs of Christian education,
vacation Bible schools, and where feasible, Lutheran
elementary and secondary schools;