# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_2019_S402
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

402

MERCY

mental illness/disorder; that because mental illness carries with it an
undesirable regard, there is indecision among the mentally ill to get
help; that mental illness is different from a physical illness in the
way it is treated and understood; that due to reasons like stigma and
lack of access to the mental health system, the average delay
between experiencing symptoms and seeking help is 10 years (the
executive director of NAMI, Mary Giliberti); that mental illnesses
and mental disorders present both challenges and problems for
pastors and congregations because of the stigma connected with the
illness and/or disorder from the one suffering from it to the ones
ministering to them, attempting to provide care and compassion to
their members; and
WHEREAS, In general, our pastors and congregations may be illequipped to provide ministry and compassionate care to those
suffering from a mental illness/disorder—to more fully understand
the plight of human need regarding those suffering mental illness
and to draw from Scripture that which is needed to provide them
with compassionate, caring, knowledgeable, effective ministry;
therefore be it
Resolved, That Synod, districts, seminaries, and congregations
advocate for the mentally ill, including pastors themselves, in The
Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod congregations to the end that
they receive pastoral care and Christ-centered ministry that brings
peace to the troubled mind; and be it further
Resolved, That our pastors, churches, and districts actively
advocate for mental health and wellness today in their churches,
among their people, and provide Christ-centered compassion and
ministerial supportive care to those in need; and be it finally
Resolved, That our seminaries and schools of higher learning
more adequately provide sufficient training to those studying to be
pastors and church leaders to the end result that pastoral care is
provided to the mentally ill; that pastors learn to recognize and seek
appropriate care for their own mental illness; that those in training
come to understand the symptoms, nature of, and needs of the
mentally ill and are able to advocate for professional assistance that
leads to diagnosis and treatment that follows to overcoming the
illness/disorder or the ability to manage it successfully; to the end
that the pastor and his congregation will effectively minister to the
spiritual needs of those suffering from a mental illness and mental
disorder, and especially proclaim that Jesus is our brother and
defender even in the depths of life—to comfort them with the
promise that God is love and He rescues and restores those who call
upon Him.
Augsburg
Shawnee, KS
Ov. 3-04

To Encourage Adequate Training
of Our Pastors and Congregations to Recognize
and Provide Pastoral Care for Those Suffering
from Clinical Depression, Mental Illnesses, and
Other Mental Disorders
WHEREAS, Our Lord commands us to love our neighbor as
ourselves (Mark 12:31); and
WHEREAS, Our Lord also calls us to “bear one another’s
burdens” (Gal. 6:2) and because clinical depression, mental illness,

2019 Convention Workbook

and other mental disorders are a great burden for those who suffer
from them; and
WHEREAS, Paul, the apostle, reminds us, “If one part [of the Body
of Christ] suffers, every part with it; if one part is honored, every
part rejoices with it” (1 Cor. 12:26); and
WHEREAS, Jesus, in fulfilling the Scripture, quoted Isaiah saying,
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to
proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty
to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty
those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor”
(Luke 4:18–19); and
WHEREAS, According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness
(NAMI), an estimated 22.1 percent of Americans ages 18 and older,
about one out of five adults, suffer from an array of diagnosable
mental disorders in a given year—that one of our churches with a
membership of 100 has an estimated 20 persons with a mental
illness; that 10 percent of children aged 5–16 have a clinically
diagnosable mental health problem and 70 percent have not had
appropriate interventions to treat them (National Mental Health
Foundation); that diagnosable mental disorders range from
traumatic brain injury, post-traumatic stress, bi-polar disorder,
depression, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and
schizophrenia and include addictions and eating disorders like
bulimia and anorexia with other disorders on the increase that
include autism and Alzheimer’s Disease; and
WHEREAS, Mental illness or a mental disorder has a downward
spiral effect in families and among people that may include
behavioral malfunctions, addictions, marital problems leading to
divorce, loss of job, incarceration, and suicide; that its estimated
that 90 percent of people committing suicide suffer from a
diagnosable mental illness (American Foundation for Suicide
Prevention); and
WHEREAS, There is a stigma among the mentally ill to
understand their illness and a fear of be identified with a mental
illness/disorder; that because mental illness carries with it an
undesirable regard, there is indecision among the mentally ill to get
help; that mental illness is different from a physical illness in the
way it is treated and understood; that due to reasons like stigma and
lack of access to the mental health system, the average delay
between experiencing symptoms and seeking help is 10 years (the
executive director of NAMI, Mary Giliberti); that mental illnesses
and mental disorders present both challenges and problems for
pastors and congregations because of the stigma connected with the
illness and/or disorder from the one suffering from it to the ones
ministering to them, attempting to provide care and compassion to
their members; and
WHEREAS, In general, our pastors and congregations may be illequipped to provide ministry and compassionate care to those
suffering from a mental illness/disorder—to more fully understand
the plight of human need regarding those suffering mental illness
and to draw from Scripture that which is needed to provide them
with compassionate, caring, knowledgeable, effective ministry;
therefore be it
Resolved, That Synod, districts, and congregations advocate for
the mentally ill in our congregations to the end that they receive
pastoral care and Christ-centered ministry that brings peace to the
troubled mind and so bear one another’s burdens; and be it further
Resolved, That our pastors and churches actively advocate for
mental health and wellness today in their churches, among their