1979-03 Resolution on Student to Student Ministries

79-1 RESOLUTION ON STUDENT-TO-STUDENT MINISTRIES

Background

A student’s call to service where he/she has taken on a greater complexity due to our culture becoming more diverse. Societal structures have failed to provide the framework for useful identities and roles. In this period of confusion, literally hundreds of thousands of students have entered the maze of conflicting values and demands alone, in isolation from family, church and friends.

Into this situation, numerous clubs, organizations and individuals have, in the Name of God, promised relief and sanctuary. Commonly referred to as “cults,” these organizations have developed highly effective student-to-student outreach techniques. An individual left to his/her own resources has little or no protection from the sometimes deceptive recruitment practices. Thousands of our fellow students are dwelling in what can be called a “Babylon Captivity,” where they have lost their rights to free self-expression and individual choice.

As students concerned with the quality of life of all people, we recognize this glaring need of our friends and neighbors in our institutions of higher education. We call upon ourselves and our church bodies to provide us with the resources to begin to reach out to our fellow students. In this manner we can begin responding to the call, reaching out to our sisters and brothers with whom we live and study.

Resolved

1) To issues a request to the Lutheran Council of the USA, Division of Campus Ministry and Educational Services, to form a Task Force to investigate, seek out and develop appropriate student-to-student peer ministry models. That these models be complied into a resource packet and distributed by the Task Force to all LSM affiliates.

2) That the national council of LSM-USA select and appoint student representatives to serve on the Task Force. The student representatives would be expected to prepare a report of the Task Force’s activities to the 11^th National Assembly.

3) That LSM-USA seek to promote the development of student-to-student ministries through the encouragement of Regional and National Training Events, in cooperation with LCUSA, NLCM and the Center for the Study of Campus Ministry.