# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1977_S150 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) 150 RESOLUTIONS tion by our triune God, which dignity and worth is not diminished by advancing years or by becoming 65 years of age; therefore be it Resolved, 1. That the corporate church and its membership voice disapproval of the arbitrary practice of man- datory retirement at age 65 when the persons affected are still able to serve effectively; and 2. That Bylaw 2.105 on retirement policies, paragraph a, subparagraph 1, be amended to provide: PRESENT WORDING 2.105 Retirement Policies a. The following retirement policies shall apply to salaried nonelective personnel of the Synod except as otherwise provided for in these Bylaws: 1. Each such person may retire at age 65, but shall be retired on the first day of the month following the month in which his 70th birthday occurs. PROPOSED WORDING 2.105 Retirement Policies a. The following retirement policies shall apply to salaried nonelective personnel of the Synod except as otherwise provided for in these Bylaws: 1. Each such person may request early retirement under the applicable provisions of the Concordia Retirement Plan, but he shall be eligible at the end of the calendar year in which his 65th birthday occurs for reappointment on a contract basis, which reappointment shall be for one calendar year ata time. Such request for reappointment shall be accompanied by satisfactory medical evaluations. No extension shall be granted beyond the year in which the employee attains the age of 70 as provided in the Concordia Retirement Plan. (The additional paragraphs in the Handbook re Bylaw 2.105 remain unchanged.) 3. That the Synod through the witness of its retirement policies indicate to the world that arbitrary retirement at age 65 may be impractical, unwise, dehumanizing, and a form of discrimination; and 4. That the members of the Synod’s congregations by their attitudes and practices regarding older persons reflect Christ’s response to the plea: “Cast me not offin the time of old age; forsake me not when my strength faileth”; and 5. That the Board of Social Ministry and World Relief, together with the Board of Parish Education, sensitize through the Reporter, the Synod’s parish leadership, and through The Lutheran Witness its constituency to a deeper Christian concern for its older members and thereby enhance the image and sense of self-worth of the older person; and 6. That the Board of Social Ministry and World Relief encourage persons facing retirement to avail themselves of preretirement counseling from the Synod or other organizations; and 7. That congregations be encouraged to involve persons of retirement age in such programs as Project Compassion, meals-on-wheels, telephone reassurance, evangelism visits, administrative assistance, and the like. Action: Adopted (13). _ _ (An amendment to remove the entire second resolve in the interest of consistency failed to carry.) To Approve the Change of Name— California and Nevada District RESOLUTION 4-21 Overture 4-23 (CW, p. 150) WHEREAS, The California and Nevada District requests that its District name be changed in order to more fully describe the geographical area it embraces; therefore be it Resolved, That the name of the California and Nevada District be, and it is hereby, changed to the California-Nevada-Hawaii District. Action: Adopted (13). To Hold Council of Presidents Meetings at Locations Beneficial to the Synod RESOLUTION 4-22 Overture 4-57 (CW, p. 161) WHEREAS, The Council of Presidents may wish to schedule meetings in various locations for the benefit of the Synod; therefore be it Resolved, That we encourage the Council of Presidents to practice good stewardship and schedule meetings at locations beneficial to the entire Synod. Action: Adopted (13). To Amend Method of Selecting Representatives on Board of Parish Education RESOLUTION 4-23 Overture 7-15 (CW, p. 288) WHEREAS, Bylaw 7.23 specifies that the Board of Parish Education shall include “a representative from each of the seminaries and each of the teachers colleges appointed by the President of the Synod on recommen- dation of the Board of Parish Education”; and WHEREAS, The Board of Parish Education best knows its specific needs and the presidents of the institutions best know their personnel; therefore be it Resolved, That Bylaw 7.23 be amended to read: PRESENT WORDING 7.23 Membership The Board of Parish Education shall consist of three parish pastors, three teachers, and three laymen elected by the Synod, plus a representative from each of the seminaries and each of the teachers colleges appointed by the President of the Synod on recommendation of the Board of Parish Education.