# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1995_S143 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) HUMAN CARE 143 they seek to fulfill the mission of the Concordia Plans to provide service to those in His service. Action: Adopted as amended (8). (By common consent the words instruct and encourage were added to the title. A motion to substitute the word reduce for con- trol in the fourth resolve was declined.) To Address Health Care Coverage for Full-Time Church-Work Students, ' Vicars, and Interns RESOLUTION 6-05 Overtures 6-26-28 (CW, p. 225) Rationale: As God’s people we are called upon to “do good to all peo- ple, especially to those who are of the household of faith” (Gal. 6:10). The years of preparation for full-time ministry often involve economic sacrifice and financial hardship for students and their families. The continuing concern for our seminaries and other schools is to provide adequate health- care coverage for full-time church-work students and their dependents, both while in school and while on internship or vicarage. Many of the students find that the cost of pro- viding adequate health-care coverage is prohibitive, leav- ing them in extremely vulnerable positions in the event of major medical problems. This is an issue that we need to address together. Resolved, That the convention instruct the chairman of the Board of Directors of the Synod to convene a task force immediately following this convention consisting of repre- sentatives of the Board of Managers of the Concordia Plans, the Board of Regents of our seminariés, the Board for Higher Education, and the Board of Directors of the Synod to immediately address the issue of providing adequate and affordable insurance coverage for our full-time church-work students and their dependents, while in college/seminary and on vicarage/internship. Action: Adopted (10). To Encourage Fair and Adequate Compensation for Workers in the Church _ RESOLUTION 6-06A Overture 6-19 (CW, p. 223) WuerEas, Our Lord in sending out the 70 disciples pro- vided for their care and compensation stating the laborer deserves his wages (Luke 10:7); and. WHEREAS, The Synod today sends forth many laborers, both men and women, to carry on the work of the kingdom; therefore be it’ , . Resolved, That congregations and institutions of the Synod be encouraged to ensure that all workers are fairly and adequately compensated on the principle of equal pay for equal work regardless of gender; and be it further Resolved, That all congregations and institutions of the Synod be encouraged to review and appropriately adjust the worker’s compensation on an annual basis. Action: Adopted (11). To Strengthen Synod’s Ministry among Mentally Ill RESOLUTION 6-07A Overture 6-34 (CW, p. 227) WHEREAS, Approximately 40 million adult Americans suffer from one or more mental disorders, and of these as many as 10 million are afflicted with chronic or prolonged mental illness; and ; WHEREAS, As many as 12 million children suffer from some form of mental disorder, approximately 3 million of whom have a serious mental illness; and WHEREAS, Persons with severe mental illness account for between 49 and 50 percent of the nation’s homeless and oc- cupy 25 percent of all the hospital beds in the country; and WHEREAS, Because of ignorance, fear, and the perpetua- tion of myths, mentally ill persons are often stigmatized and discriminated against in housing, medical insurance, and employment opportunities and are denied adequately funded community treatment and support services; and | WHEREAS, The families of mentally ill persons are fre- quently burdened by these illnesses.and often serve as the primary caretakers of their loved ones, needing the support and love of friends and church and yet often feeling aban- doned and shunned; and WHEREAS, The church is called to engage in Christ’s min- istry of healing and intercession for those who are ill in body, mind, and spirit and those who are discriminated against, lonely, unaccepted, and neglected; therefore be it Resolved, That congregations and professional church workers recognize that serious mental illness exists within the family of faith; and be it further Resolved, That the Districts of The Lutheran Church— Missouri Synod identify individuals and/or establish a Task Force on Mental Illness within each District to address the concerns/needs of persons with serious mental illness and the concerns/needs of families; and be it further Resolved, That individuals or task forces within each District be recognized as resources for training and equip- ping congregations and professional church workers to min- ister effectively to persons with mental illness and their families; and be it further Resolved, That the individuals or task forces within each District be supported with prayers, publicity, and appro- priate funding; and be it further Resolved, That congregations and professional church workers encourage and enable persons with mental illness to participate fully in the life and the ministry of the con- gregation; and be it further , Resolved, That the Board for Human Care Ministries be encouraged to identify and/or develop resource materials which would be helpful in ministering to the mentally ill; and be it finally Resolved, That congregations recognize and support Mental IlIness Awareness Week (first week of October) by utilizing materials approved by the Districts/Synod and publicly praying for persons with serious mental illness. Action: Adopted (11).