# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1986_S211
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

HUMAN CARE 211

an adult member of his family, by the board of elders
or the church council of his congregation, or by the syn-
odical or District board which is his ecclesiastical em-
ployer.

3. The District commission shal! be authorized to use
the professional consultative services needed to estab-
lish the facts in the situation. Subject to prevailing legal
limitations regarding the necessary consent of a party
to comprehensive or special medical examinations, the
commission may secure a prognosis and recommend a
program of remedial or supportive care. The commission
may propose vocational redirection or guidance into a
more suitable work situation.

4. The District commission shall have the authority
to recommend to the District President specific courses
of action. The District President shall have authority to
place a disabled church worker temporarily on a c.r.m.
or leave of absence status.

5. The Board of Managers of Concordia Plans and
the Board of World Relief, respectively, may be asked
to offer assistance and support in the care of the worker
and the dependents in an individual case.

6. Reports on individual cases shall be made an-
nually to the synodical President, who shall also refer
cases of appeal from the decision of a District commis-
sion to the synodical Commission on Ministerial Health.

PROPOSED WORDING

a. The commission shall—

1. Develop health programs for professional church
workers;

2. Assist districts in establishing and maintaining
commissions on ministerial health;

3. Make available qualified persons and materials
for conducting seminars on ministering to conflict.

b. The district commission shall—

1. Be charged with the responsibility of receiving,
investigating, and considering petitions from or com-
plaints concerning the alleged disability of a profes-
sional church worker. These requests may be initiated
in writing by the worker, by a member of his family, by
the board of elders or the church council of his congre-
gation, or by the synodical or district board that is his
employer.

2. Be authorized to use the professional consultative
services needed to establish the facts in the situation.
Subject to prevailing legal limitations regarding the
necessary consent of a party to comprehensive or special
medical examinations, the commission may secure a
prognosis and recommend a program of remedial or sup-
portive care. The commission may propose vocational
redirection or guidance into a more suitable work sit-
uation.

3. Shall have the authority to recommend to the dis-
trict president specific courses of action. The district
president shall have authority to place a disabled
church worker temporarily on candidate status, grant
a leave of absence, or place the worker on restricted
status.

c. The Board of Managers of the Concordia Plans and
the Board of World Relief, respectively, may be asked
to offer assistance and support in the care of the worker
and the dependents in an individual case.

Action: Adopted (12).

(During discussion, the word “adult” before “member” in Bylaw
2.653 b 1 was deleted by common consent.)

To Address Ministry to and by the Aged
RESOLUTION 7-06
Overtures 7-33—7-38 (CW, pp. 362-63)

WHEREAS, With increased life span, the church can ex-
pect challenges not experienced by previous generations;
and

WHEREAS, Statistics suggest that the church is aging
faster than the general population with 40-50% of Sunday
church attendees over the age of 55; and

Wuereas, The elderly present unique opportunities to
serve the church and to be served by the church; therefore
be it

Resolved, That the Synod reaffirm its commitment to
this area of human need and ministry by the creation and
immediate implementation of a department on aging
within the Board for Social Ministry Services as recom-
mended by the board in its 1981 convention report (“The
Board of Social Ministry and World Relief believes that
our church must recognize the potential for increased min-
istry by and to older persons, and must create a depart-
ment within the board to give attention to this needed area
of work” (CW, p. 303); and be it further

Resolved, That the Board for Social Ministry Services
through its Chaplaincy Services and Task Force on Aging
explore the full potential of chaplaincy ministries among
the institutionalized frail elderly and develop a model and
standard for such ministry; and be it finally

Resolved, That the board offer modified versions of this
model for ministry in smaller institutions.

Action: Adopted (12).
To Affirm Investment Policies
RESOLUTION 7-07
Overtures 7-19, 7-21, 7-23 (CW, pp. 359-60)

Wuereas, Scripture urges all Christians to be con-
cerned about using their God-given resources to His glory;
and

Wuereas, The investment policy of The Lutheran
Church—Missouri Synod includes limitations with regard
to companies which foster discrimination or who produce
tobacco or alcoholic products; and

WHEREAS, The investment policy of the synodical boards
with regard to U.S. firms operating in South Africa is to
invest funds only with those companies subscribing to the
Sullivan Principles; therefore be it

Resolved, That The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
in convention affirm the present synodical investment pol-
icies in regard to discrimination and other moral issues
and commend the boards responsible for investing syn-
odical funds in a way that gives attention to Christian
ethics through their investment policies; and be it finally

Resolved, That all Christians be encouraged to review
their investment practices to provide a Christian witness
by the way in which they invest their funds.

Action: Adopted (13).

(In session 12 an amendment stating “WHEREAS, The Lu-
theran Church—Missouri Synod finds repugnant all nations that
promote racial or ethnic discrimination, state terrorism, or de-
tention for political reasons” was declined. When discussion re-
sumed in session 13 a motion was made to substitute the words
“that divest” for “subscribing to the Sullivan Principles” in the
third whereas. No action was taken when it was pointed out that
the whereas was a statement of fact and so could not be altered.
When an amendment was introduced stating “Resolved, That the
members of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod congrega-