# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_2023_S260
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

260

NATIONAL WITNESS

provide a strategic and comprehensive plan for worker care as part
of their responsibility for ecclesiastical supervision; therefore be it
Resolved, That the COP prioritize the matter of wellness of
church workers and their families through the development of a
strategic and comprehensive plan of worker care that can be
disseminated to and replicated by the district presidents; and be it
further
Resolved, That the 2023 Synod in convention direct the district
presidents and district boards of directors to establish such plans for
care of workers and their families, utilizing the COP resources or
their equivalent; and be it finally
Resolved, That Texas District Board of Directors memorialize
the 2023 Synod in convention with this overture.
Board of Directors
Texas District
Ov. 1-09

To Address Mental Health
among Called Church Workers
WHEREAS, In the post COVID-19 world, stress, worker burnout
and other mental health issues have become an even greater issue
for professional church workers; and
WHEREAS, According to Barna research conducted in 2021, 40
percent of America’s pastors rated themselves as average and below
in
emotional
wellbeing
(Barna
Group,
www.barna.com/research/pastors-well-being,
November
16,
2021); and
WHEREAS, The results of a Barna research poll conducted in
March of 2022 (Barna Group, www.barna.com/research/pastorsquitting-ministry, April 27, 2022) found that 42 percent of
American pastors have “given real, serious consideration to quitting
being in full-time ministry within the last year,” which is a 13
percent increase from January 2021 (Barna Group,
www.barna.com/research/pastors-well-being,
November
16,
2021); and
WHEREAS, The results of a Barna research poll conducted in
March of 2022 found that “Over half of pastors who have
considered quitting full-time ministry (56 percent) say ‘the
immense stress of the job’ has factored into their thoughts on
leaving” (Barna Group, www.barna.com/research/pastors-quittingministry, April 27, 2022), a sentiment consistent with all
professional church workers; and
WHEREAS, As reported in the October 22, 2021 edition of The
Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) Reporter, “50 percent
of the Synod’s current, active pastors are 55 years or older” and
predicts that “if seminary enrollment and pastor retirements
continue at their current rates, the Synod could go from 6,000 to
3,000 pastors in the next 15 years,” a total that does not include
pastors resigning from their call due to mental health concerns or
“burnout” (Cheryl Magness, “‘Set Apart to Serve’: Church Worker
Recruitment Initiative gets new name,” Reporter Online, October
22,
2021,
reporter.lcms.org/2021/set-apart-to-serve-churchworker-recruitment-initiative-gets-new-name); and
WHEREAS, Our called church workers are encouraged to obtain
a physical exam each year and mental health should be a part of that
self-care, which is consistent with the eighth objective of the Synod
and the fifth mission priority of the Synod, as both are intended to

2023 Convention Workbook

promote the care and the well-being of pastors and professional
church workers; and
WHEREAS, With support and help, professional church workers
can help to remove some of the stigma associated with mental health
care by taking care of their own mental health and informing their
congregation of their needs; therefore be it
Resolved, That all church workers on the roster of the Synod be
encouraged to use the Concordia Plan Services Employee
Assistance Program, or other similar programs to obtain mental
health care as needed; and be it further
Resolved, That the congregations of the LCMS be encouraged to
support the mental well-being of their pastors and called church
workers and allow them paid time away from the congregation for
respite and renewal which is not counted against their vacation time;
and be it further
Resolved, That the congregations of the LCMS be encouraged to
support their pastors and called church workers in times of mental
distress; and be it finally
Resolved, That each district of the LCMS be encouraged to make
available a mental health advocate, for pastors and all professional
church workers, which can be a paid or a voluntary position, to
provide care, support and encouragement in addressing mental
health concerns and or to communicate mental health related
educational opportunities, resources, and grant opportunities for the
support of mental well-being to the pastors, church workers and
congregations of each district of the Synod.
Board of Directors
Nebraska District
Ov. 1-10

To Address Mental Health
among Called Church Workers
WHEREAS, According to Barna research conducted in 2021,
when asked to rate their emotional well-being choosing between
excellent, good, average, below average, and poor, 40 percent of
America’s pastors rated themselves as average and below in
emotional
well-being
(Barna
Group,
www.barna.com/research/pastors-well-being,
November
16,
2021); and
WHEREAS, The results of a Barna research poll conducted in
March of 2022 (Barna Group, www.barna.com/research/pastorsquitting-ministry, April 27, 2022) found that 42 percent of
American pastors have “given real, serious consideration to quitting
being in full-time ministry within the last year,” which is a 13
percent increase from January 2021 (Barna Group,
www.barna.com/research/pastors-well-being,
November
16,
2021); and
WHEREAS, The results of a Barna research poll conducted in
March of 2022 found that “Over half of pastors who have
considered quitting full-time ministry (56 percent) say ‘the
immense stress of the job’ has factored into their thoughts on
leaving.” (Barna Group, www.barna.com/research/pastorsquitting-ministry, April 27, 2022); and
WHEREAS, The October 22, 2021 edition of the Reporter stated
that “50 percent of the Synod’s current, active pastors are 55 years
or older” and predicts that “if seminary enrollment and pastor
retirements continue at their current rates, the Synod could go from