# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_1969_S216
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

216 SYNODICAL ADMINISTRATION

ship of its board from five to seven members: and be it
further

Resolved, That this enlarged board be composed of
three pastors, three laymen, and one teachcr.

A, Lorenz GrumM, Stewardship Counselor
(4-15)

To Revise Regulations for Commission
for Services to the Mentally Retarded

WuHereas, The mentally retarded and their families
in the Synod present special needs which can be most
effectively and efficiently served by a special commis-
sion whose members are personally experienced with
the field of mental retardation; and

Wuereas, The families of the mentally retarded have
expressed their sincere appreciation and gratitude to
the Synod for having their special needs met by a sep-
arate commission as their spokesman in the Synod; and

Wuereas, The needs of publishing special materials
and coordinating the work of residential facilities can-
not be adequately served by being consolidated with
either the Board of Social Ministry or the Board of
Parish Education; and

Wuereas, Any special program needs some years of
experience in order to develop an effective service, and
this commission has been in existence for only 7 years
and has had the services of an executive secretary for
only 2 years; and

Wuereas, The incidence of mental retardation is
much greater than that of the deaf and blind combined;
and

Wuereas, The advisory services of qualified Luther-
ans in specialized disciplines of psychology, social work,
and education can be obtained cost free through the
service of the commission and since stewardship of time
and talents is vitally important to the work of the
church; therefore be it

Resolved, That Sections 13.31, 13.33, and 13.35 be
revised as follows:

13.31 Personnel and Appointment

A Commission on Services to the Mentally Retarded, con-
sisting of five members [formerly eight members]: a chap-
lain, a parish pastor, two lay or parochial teachers in the field
of mental retardation, and one layman, and to be attached to
the Division of Missions and Special Ministries, shall be ap-
pointed by the President of the Synod after consultation with
the Vice~Presidents.

13.33 Executive Secretary

The commission shall appoint an Executive Secretary sub-
ject to the approval of the President of the Synod. The Ex-
ecutive Secretary shall perform such duties as are assigned
to him by the commission.

13.35 Functions and Duties

The commission shall —

a. coordinate and unify the work among the mentally re-
tarded throughout the Synod;

b. gather, classify, and make available at its office, ma-
terials pertinent to specific areas of service to the mentally
retarded within the church;

c. disseminate information by an official publicaton of
the commission and any other mass media that are available:

d. cooperate with the Board of Parish Education in the
production of religious materials for the education of the
mentally retarded and develop and produce materials in the
various media to aid the work of the church in its service to
the mentally retarded;

e. encourage institutes on services to the mentally re-
tarded and sponsor or cosponsor such training institutes:

f. assist the District boards of social ministry and or
boards of parish education in fulfilling their charge to serve
the welfare and education of the church in their District as
it pertains to the mentally retarded and encourage their con-
gregations to establish full-time or part-time educational
agencies for the mentally retarded;

g. promote the provision of chaplaincy services for the
mentally retarded in residential care facilities and cooperate
with the Synod’s Board of Social Ministry in rendering ser-
vices to the mentally retarded through its Secretary of In-
stitutional Chaplaincy Services and Secretary for District
and Parish Welfare Services;

h. enlist the efforts of other church-related organizational
units in rendering service to the mentally retarded;

i, assist in coordinating the work of synodically related
residential care facilities, serve as an exchange medium be-
tween these facilities, and render counsel in such areas as,
for example, the best standards in state and community care
facilities, and apply these, where possible, to the church-
related agencies;

j. consider, study, and survey — where necessary, in con-
sultation with the Board of Social Ministry — inguiries re-
garding areas of opportunity preliminary to the establishment
of services, residential care facilities, and ‘or addition to
existing facilities for the mentally retarded;

k. review and evaluate. only at the request of the Board
of Directors, any Synodwide appeal for funds to be used in
the field of mental retardation:

l. keep the constituency of the Synod informed of its
activities and render a detailed report to the synodical con-
vention.

COMMISSION FOR SERVICES TO THE MENTALLY RETARDED
Kari Houperve Jr., Chairman

FREDERICK MATZKE, Secretary

MarsHa.i R. NEtson, Executive Secretary

(4-16)

To Retain Separate Identity of Commission
for Services to the Mentally Retarded

WHEREAS, The Commission for Services to the Men-
tally Retarded was authorized as recently as 1962 at ihe
Detroit convention: and

Wuereas, A full-time executive was obtained as re-
cently as 1967: and

WHEREAS, The commission’s work takes two direc-
tions: one, for publishing religious materials to meet
a serious need, and two, with responsibility for co-
operation, guidance, and strengthening of the two
church-related residential homes: and

Wuereas, Neither emphasis is assured under the pro-

posed “Restructure of Synodical Administrative Or-
ganization”; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Commission for Services to the
Mentally Retarded be retained as a separate commis-
sion under the reorganization.

First LUTHERAN CHURCH
Gainesville, Fla.
Rosert C. BESAusK1, Pastor