# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_1969_S390 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) 390 SOCIAL ACTION AND WELFARE To receive, investigate, and consider petitions or com- plaints concerning the alleged disability of workers. To engage professional assistance when indicated so that competent diagnosis, therapy, and prognosis may be obtained. To give competent and confidential advice to the Dis- trict President in special problem areas and cases. The synodical commission will continue to analyze the data obtained from the experiences and insights of the District commissions as these become operational. Procedures and standards will be developed and re- fined in cooperation with District commissions. At the same time attention will be centered on the develop- ment of suitable training material for the active promo- tion of ministerial health concerns. At this stage of the synodical commission's work in connection with minis- terial health, it is awaiting the establishment of the Dis- trict commissions and their initial comments and reports. COMMISSION ON MINISTERIAL HEALTH Rev. JOHN F, GAERTNER, Advisory Member (9-06) To Change “Handbook” Regulations for Commission for Services to the Mentally Retarded The Commission for Services to the Mentally Re- tarded shall be of service to the constituency of Synod through the: I. Dissemination of Information A. The official publication of the commission shall be The Star. The focus of this publication shall be the promotion of the spiritual welfare cf the mentally retarded in the church through the dissemination of information of general interest. B. Articles describing programs of work with the men- tally retarded in the church shall be solicited by the commis- sion. Selected manuscripts may be published in The Star and or recommended for other publication. C. News releases from this commission shall be sent by the Executive Secretary to local Lutheran newspapers, the Lutheran Layman, and the Lutheran Witness Reporter. At least one news release shall be submitted every 3 months. In addition. local news in a District may be channeled to the District Edition of the Lutheran Witness. D. The commission shall gather, classify, and make avail- able at its office, materials pertinent to specific areas of ser- vice to the mentally retarded in the church. These ma- terials, after approval by the commission, shall be furnished on request. E. The commission shall encourage institutes on services to the mentally retarded for the training of the pastors, teachers, and parents of the mentally retarded. 1. The commission shall sponsor or cosponsor institutes through — a. organizing and conducting the institute, b. supervising the program of the institute, ce. furnishing individual participants for the institute, or d. serving as advisers to institutes. 2. A Committee on Institutes, consisting of three mem- bers. shall be appointed by the commission to implement this policy. Involvement in institutes by the commission shall be at the discretion of the Executive Secretary. II. Development of Materials A. The commission shall cooperate with the Board of Parish Education in the production of religious materials for the education of the mentally retarded through the establish- ment of a joint committee. 1. The two executive secretaries shall be ex-officio mem- bers of the joint committee. 2. The commission and the Board of Parish Education, in consultation with each other, shall each appoint one half of the membership of the joint committee. B. The commission shall develop and produce materials in the various media to aid the work of the church in its service to the mentally retarded. HI. Maintenance of Organizational Relationship The commission shall — A. Assist the Synod’s Board of Social Ministry in render- ing services to the mentally retarded through its Secretary for Institutional Chaplaincy Services and the Secretary for District and Parish Social Ministry Services; B. Assist the District Boards of Social Ministry and/or the Boards of Parish Education in fulfilling their charge to serve the welfare and education of the church in the Dis- trict as it pertains to the mentally retarded. C. Enlist the efforts of other church-related organiza- tional units in rendering service to the mentally retarded. IV. Coordination of Services and Facilities A. The commission shall coordinate all inquiries. 1. Inquiries regarding services, establishment of residen- tial care facilities, and additions to existing facilities for the mentally retarded shall be directed to the commission for consideration, study, and survey. 2. The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod agencies, care facilities, as well as congregations, and Districts receiving or initiating such inquiries shall refer them to the Commis- sion on Services to the Mentally Retarded. 3. All findings or results cf studies conducted in response to inquiries shall be reported to the originator of the request and to the jurisdictional unit through its responsible com- mittee. 4. In light of our increasing demands on our church mem- bership dollar and in view of our responsibility of exercis- ing entrusted stewardship and in line with the best think- ing of professionals in the field of mental retardation, every caution should be exercised in the establishment of any new residential care facilities or additions to existing facilities. B. The commission shall assist in coordinating the work of synodically related residential care facilities for the men- tally retarded; serve as an exchange medium between 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. C. Any Synodwide appeal for funds to be used in the field of mental retardation shall be reviewed and evaluated by the commission, only at the request of the Board of Di- rectors of the Synod. D. Chaplaincy services for the mentally retarded in resi- dential care facilities shall be a concern of the commission in cooperation with the Board of Social Ministry. E. When feasible, an inter-Lutheran approach shall be exercised in carrying out these policies. COMMISSION FOR SERVICES TO THE MENTALLY RETARDED Kart Hovperte, Jr., Chairman FREDERICK MATZKE, Secretary MarsuaL_t R. NEtson, Executive Secretary (9-07) To Combat World Hunger I An already hungry world is on the verge of mass starvation. With the population boom gathering momen- tum and with production and distribution of food un- able to keep pace, a catastrophe of global proportions is fast approaching. Even in our own land of plenty,