# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_2019_S407
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

MERCY
Resolved, That the Synod in convention encourage all our
pastors to seek father confessors for themselves and to make
themselves available as father confessors to church workers near
their ministries; and be it further
Resolved, That the Synod in convention reaffirm the absolute
confidentiality of the seal of the confessional, so that church
workers are not afraid to seek guidance from God’s Word and the
strength and comfort for their troubled consciences that the
absolution affords; and be it further
Resolved, That the Synod in convention reaffirm the need to
cultivate trustworthiness in all matters of pastoral care; and be it
further
Resolved, That all congregations and recognized service
organizations (RSO) consider ways they can support the well-being
of their church workers and their families; and be it further
Resolved, That congregations and RSOs be encouraged to make
use of the growing treasury of resources available at
lcms.org/wellness, on the websites of Synod’s partners (Concordia
Plan Services, Lutheran Church Extension Fund, Lutheran Federal
Credit Union, Concordia University System, and Pastoral
Education) and from those ministries organized with God-given
intention of caring for workers and families: Grace Place Wellness,
DOXOLOGY, Shepherd’s Canyon, Soldiers of the Cross, and
others; and be it further
Resolved, That district executives and/or circuit visitors aid
congregations and RSOs to become more aware of and attentive to
the well-being of church workers on their staffs as well as more
informed about the available resources and services; and be it
finally
Resolved, That the ONM and Synod’s partners work with
districts to help them provide resources for church workers and their
families that provide appropriate and proper pastoral and spiritual
care that is distinct from and properly coordinated with
ecclesiastical supervision.

407

Resolved, That Synod also give thanks to God for the creation of
the new worker wellness Web page at lcms.org/wellness and for the
laborers who have invested themselves in the construction and
resourcing of the Web page; and be it finally
Resolved, That districts and circuits encourage grassroots worker
wellness action groups to be formed to make use of the Synodidentified and other vetted resources in service to church workers
and their families in nearby churches and recognized service
organizations.
Board for National Mission

Board for National Mission
Ov. 3-12

To Encourage District and Circuit Action
toward Worker Wellness
WHEREAS, The 2016 Synod convention resolved that the Board
for National Mission through its Office of National Mission assess
wellness needs among church workers, promote well-being through
Synod publications, and facilitate the sharing and use of wellness
resources in service of all church workers; and
WHEREAS, By God’s grace and blessing, significant progress has
been made with the Office of National Mission, Council of
Presidents, Concordia Plan Services, Lutheran Church Extension
Fund, Concordia University System, Lutheran Federal Credit
Union, and Pastoral Education joining together to create the “2017
LCMS Church Worker Wellness Survey” and the Worker Wellness
Action Group for sharing ideas, creating new resources, and
improving service to our church workers and their families;
therefore be it
Resolved, That the Synod give thanks to God for Synod’s
research team and for the above-named partners who in their unique
and varied ways have invested in the wellbeing of our church
workers and their ministries; and be it further

2019 Convention Workbook