# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_1998_S149 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) CONGREGATIONAL SERVICES 149 Wuereas, the 1995 convention passed a resolution that directed that “all plenary and workshop speakers, preachers, and officiants be approved by the synodical/District President,” and WHEREAS, the District President has responsibility for supervis- ing the rostered members in his District, and WHEREAS, 1995 Res. 2-11B was used by the synodical Presi- dent to approve and then disapprove an LCMS rostered pastor, Vic- tor Belton, as a speaker for the National Youth Gathering in At- lanta when he was under no discipline from his theological supervisor, the President of the Florida-Georgia District, therefore be it Resolved, that 1995 Res. 2-11B be clarified so that all synodi- cally rostered workshop and plenary speakers, preachers, or offi- ciants for national gatherings be approved by their respective Dis- trict President. Zion Anaheim, CA 2-80 To Amend 1995 Res. 2-11B re National and District Youth Gatherings WHEREAS, National and District youth gatherings are effective, exciting opportunities to promote the development of Christian faith in our young people as they boldly confess Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior; and WHEREAS, Such gatherings promote unity of the Spirit through the proper use of Word and Sacrament and provide opportunities for Christian service and leadership training for youth; and WHEREAS, The 1995 synodical convention passed a resolution (2-11B) that directed that for only national youth gatherings “all plenary and workshop speakers, preachers, and officiants be ap- proved by the synodical/District President”; and Wuereas, 1995 Res. 2-11B was used by the synodical Presi- dent’s office to rescind approval of an LCMS rostered pastor as a speaker for the national youth gathering in Atlanta, Ga.; and Wuereas, The LCMS pastor is a member in good standing and under no discipline from the District President, his ecclesiastical supervisor; therefore be it Resolved, That the 1995 Res. 2-11B be amended so that ap- proval of all plenary and workshop speakers, preachers, or offi- ciants for national youth gatherings who are members of LCMS congregations be transferred to their respective District Presidents. Our Father Littleton, CO 2-81 To Increase Support of Concordia Historical Institute WHEREAS, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod has cele- brated a history of 150 years of God’s grace among the members of our church body; and WHEREAS, Concordia Historical Institute is commissioned with the task of documenting the history of The Lutheran Church—Mis- souri Synod and making available for research and study all mate- rials pertinent to this history; and WHEREAS, Concordia Historical Institute, as the Synod’s De- partment of Archives and History, is responsible for receiving and preserving the minutes, files, records, and reports of officers, boards, and commissions of the Synod; and WHEREAS, Concordia Historical Institute is required by the By- laws of the Synod to “promote interest in the history of the Lutheran Church in America, particularly of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod” and to “stimulate historical research and to publish its results”; and WHEREAS, The vast majority of the materials contained at Con- cordia Historical Institute are not arranged and described in a way which makes their contents readily accessible to the members of our church body; and WHEREAS, Concordia Historical Institute does not have the funds necessary for the staff needed to accomplish such arrange- ment and description; and WHEREAS, Every donation of materials made to Concordia Historical Institute places additional financial requirements upon Concordia Historical Institute, which must then provide for the arrangement, storage, and preservation of these materials, thus compounding the institute’s financial burden; and WHEREAS, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, as a conse- quence of its recent celebration of 150 years of God’s grace and goodness upon the members of this Synod, wishes to recognize the importance of preserving and proclaiming to future generations the record of God’s wonderful acts among us; therefore be it Resolved, That The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod in con- vention encourage all of its member congregations to support the mission and work of Concordia Historical Institute by becoming members of the institute or by providing for the needs of the insti- tute in their annual congregational budget; and be it further Resolved, That the Board of Directors of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod give serious consideration to these press- ing needs of Concordia Historical Institute, which is the synodical Department of Archives and History and seek to provide for the staffing needs necessary for the systematic arrangement and de- scription of the synodical Archives collections and for their con- tinued preservation. Board of Governors Concordia Historical Institute 2-82 To Take Corrective Action re Inequity in Compensation Due to Roster Status Preamble Through the years God has blessed our Synod through the min- istry of our Lutheran schools. Well-trained and dedicated teachers have made our schools one of the best outreach tools our Synod enjoys as well as a training for our own young. We owe a great deal of thanks to the many teachers who have served in this ministry over the history of our church. Our church has recognized their special contribution to the ministry of the church by granting to those with the appropriate qualifications the roster status of “Commissioned Minister.” This status is given to those who have the important training to conduct their classrooms in a way which reflects our understanding of Scripture and a proper division of Law and Gospel. Teachers who have this recognition are for the purposes of So- cial Security tax considered self-employed. That means that they must pay the full 15.3% Social Security tax on their own. Teachers who do not have the roster status pay 7.65% and the church (or local governing body) must also pay 7.65%. Many teachers on ros- ter are not reimbursed for the additional tax that they must pay. The result is that there is a financial penalty for being on the synodical roster. Those without roster status are in reality paid more than those with that status. This has led some to leave the roster for fi- nancial reasons. This also becomes a financial disincentive for nonrostered teachers to pursue synodical training through the PELT or colloquy programs. This same type of financial inequity may also exist with rostered workers in other institutions. There are some that argue that there are tax advantages to being on the roster that outweigh this tax penalty. That is only true if de- ductions are itemized and any advantage is completely wiped out for one when both spouses are on roster. ; Resolved, That The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod ex- presses its expectation that no synodically rostered worker should be financially penalized for his or her roster status; and be it further