# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_1973_S401 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) 388 STEWARDSHIP AND FINANCE 12-11 To Improve Retirement Arrangements for Transferees WuereEas, The Synod _ has said, “The Pension Plan for Pastors and Teachers should not be an economic weapon to keep workers or their widows in the fold of The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod,” Res. 10-05, New York; and Wuereas, The plan may indeed be so in the event that a member desires to join the Wisconsin Ev. Lutheran Synod, i.e. he loses his subsidy payments, which would not happen if he joined the American Lutheran Church; therefore be it Resolved, That the Pension and Retirement plans of the Synod be developed so that they truly reflect the desire of the Synod that they “not be an economic weapon to keep workers or their widows in the fold of The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod.” St. Pauu’s Ev. LuTHeran Cuurcu Brookfield, Ill. Mr. Warren Fletter, Secretary 12-12 To Open Enrollment to Welfare Plan for a Limited Time Whereas, The Concordia Welfare Plan states, “A worker who has attained age forty (40) on his eligibility date may not become a member after attaining age forty-two (42) ,” Section II 2.1b; and Wuerras, Secular plans and federal government (Social Security) have frequently opened their membership to in- clude people who did not or could not join previously; and Wuereas, The Concordia Welfare Plan, among others, is designed to help the workers of the church and to show love and concern for those needing help; therefore be it Resolved, That for a short time all workers over age forty-two (42) be offered the opportunity to join the Con- cordia Welfare Plan; and be it further Resolved, That since a period of open enrollment might subject the Concordia Plan to adverse selection by workers in ill health, that any clinic or doctors that the Concordia Welfare Plan managers might select be used to overcome this problem of ill selection of workers by giving an exam- ination; and be it finally Resolved, That workers over forty-two (42) and their families who are given a clean bill of health be eligible for enrollment in the Concordia Welfare Plan for a limited time. Zion Ev. LUTHERAN CHURCH Bethel, Minn. Lyle Schleif, Chairman Dale Stoeckel, Secretary Eugene E. Larrabee, Pastor 12-13 To Extend Maternity Benefits Wuereas, The Concordia Welfare Plan now offers ma- ternity benefits only for workers who have been enrolled in the plan for more than nine (9) months; and Wuereas, This limitation may work great hardship on the family of a new worker who is denied maternity benefits because a birth occurs before the time limits set by Con- cordia Welfare Plan; and Wuereas, Such a worker is unable to enroll in the Con- cordia Welfare Plan before his ordination, although he may have been married for many months and therefore in need of maternity benefits coverage soon after ordination; and Wuereas, The Concordia Welfare Plan is designed to serve professional church workers by helping relieve them of the burdensome expenses of medical care and was estab- lished for service, not profit; therefore be it Resolved, That the Gulf States Pastoral Conference re- spectfully petition the Concordia Plans Managers to study the possibility of extending maternity benefits coverage to any worker enrolled in the Concordia Welfare Plan when such coverage is needed, without regard to the number of months the worker has been enrolled in the plan. Gutr States PastoraL CONFERENCE SOUTHERN DIsTtrIctT Thomas J. Benedum, Secretary 12-14 To Extend Welfare Plan Benefits for Adoption Costs Wuereas, The Synod’s Welfare Plan covers a variety of physical ills including dental care; and WuereaS, The Plan contains maternity benefit provisions; and WHEREAS, Employees of Synod enrolled in the plan re- ceive no benefits to assist in paying the agency and legal fees involved in adoption proceedings, although in many in- stances these costs exceed the amount expended in maternity cases; therefore be it Resolved, That the Synod request the Board of Managers to make a feasibility study on providing benefit coverage to employees in the plan who adopt a child through a legally certified adoption agency. Facutty Concorpia TEACHERS COLLEGE River Forest, Ill. To Involve and Support Retired Church Workers Wuereas, The Holy Scriptures admonish us to: “Hearken to your father who begot you, and do not despise your mother when she is old” (Prov. 23:22), “Let them learn to make some return to their parents; for this is acceptable in the sight of God” (1 Tim. 9:4). “You shall rise up before the hoary head, and honor the face of the old man” (Lev. 19:32). “And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labor among you—to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake” (1 Thess. 5:12, 13); and Wuereas, Retired church workers need to be informed as to the current activities in the church; and Wuereas, The economic status of most retired church workers is very low; and Wuereas, The church, as a corporate body, has a re- sponsibility to these faithful workers in its church, because of their past years of service: therefore be it Resolved, That Synod encourage Districts to pay the registration and travel (wherever possible) to District, Synod, and regular conferences conducted by the Districts; and be it further Resolved, That Synod make a systematic effort to inform church workers who are in retirement and who are reaching retirement age, of the benefits they may have coming in retirement, and keep them informed as to developing fed- eral and church programs which would also be of benefit to them: and be it finally Resolved, That Synod, together with Districts, study and Suggest models that can be used to involve retired church workers in the active years of their retirement. Boarp OF Socia. MINISTRY AND Wortp RELIEF Leslie F. Weber, Executive Secretary 12-16 To Affirm Policy Regarding Appeals from Agencies and Institutions to Synod and Districts WHEREAS, It is an accepted fact that all things should be done decently and in order; and WHEREAS, Previous conventions of Synod have adopted