LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1986, Page 210

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210 RESOLUTIONS

To Provide Ministry During
Agri-Community Crisis

RESOLUTION 7-03A
Overtures 7-50A—7-55D (CW, pp. 366-68)

WueErEas, Many factors have contributed to the agri-
community crisis in North America; and

Wuereas, In spite of God’s abundant blessings in ag-
ricultural production, the economic difficulties of farmers,
and in turn small-town businesses and agri-industries,
have resulted in the experience of emotional, spiritual, and
physical distress; dislocation of families; and feelings of
heartache, hopelessness, and despair; and

WuEREAS, Christians are people of hope, convinced that
God’s Word means what it says, “God is able to provide
you with every blessing in abundance, so that you may
always have enough of everything and may provide in
abundance for every good work” (2 Cor. 9:8 RSV); and

Wuereas, Christians are called to care for each other
in deed and truth: “Let each of you look not only to his
own interests, but also to the interests of others” (Phil. 2:4
RSV); and

Wuereas, The agri-community crisis is a matter of
prayerful concern for all the congregations of our Synod;
and

Wuenreas, The church ought to provide positive and con-
structive responses to this crisis; and

Wuereas, The Synod’s Task Force on the Agri-Com-
munity Crisis is providing materials which can be used
effectively in a variety of settings; therefore be it

Resolved, That the members of the congregations of The
Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod be encouraged to be
alert and ready to minister to people experiencing crisis
as a result of the present farm economy; give spiritual,
emotional, and physical counsel and support; and share
other available resources, such as those available from the
U.S. Department of Agriculture, land-grant colleges, and
others, with those in need; and be it further

Resolved, That pastors and other church leaders
throughout the Synod be encouraged to attend informa-
tional and training seminars whenever possible so that
they understand and have resources to respond to the crisis
as it affects their congregations and communities; and be
it further

Resolved, That districts and individual congregations
be urged to make fuller use of the fine resources that are
available through the Agri-Community Crisis Task Force
(such as the video “Our New Life Begins Today,” the Bible
study “Hope for a Time of Crisis,” and other resources);
and be it further

Resolved, That we urge the Board of Directors to provide
the funding necessary for the Agri-Community Crisis Task
Force to continue its ministry; and be it finally

Resolved, That all congregations in our Synod be en-
couraged to offer prayers to God, thanking Him for the
abundance of His blessings and for His readiness to help
in time of need, asking Him to move and direct His people
in their ministry during this crisis, and calling upon Him

to comfort and bless all those who have suffered as a result
of this crisis.

Action: Adopted as amended (6).

(By common consent the words “in North America” were sub-
stituted for “of our nation.” Several minor changes were also
made, including the substitution of the word “provide” for the
words “be the leader in providing.”)

To Encourage and Support Commission
on Ministerial Health

RESOLUTION 7-04
Overture 7-68 (CW, p. 370)

WHEREAS, Scripture tells us that human life in all its
aspects is created by God and given as a gift to be used in
His service; and

Wuereas, The promotion of the physical and emotional
health and wellness of individual church workers and their
families is a practical, promising, and beneficial means to
enhance the quality of life and the ability of professional
church workers to serve God and their fellow human
beings, as well as to curb rising health care costs; and

Wuereas, The Commission on Ministerial Health has
made laudable progress in promoting wellness among
church workers and their families (e.g., the Peace in the
Parish program); therefore be it

Resolved, That the Synod through its Commission on
Ministerial Health, continue to demonstrate a concern for
personal health among professional church workers and
their families and foster a balanced approach through at-
tention to the spiritual, intellectual, physical, psychologi-
cal, and social well-being among them; and be it further

Resolved, That the Synod in convention commend the
Commission on Ministerial Health for its excellent work
and that it be encouraged and supported in its task of
promoting and facilitating programs for the personal well-
ness among the professional church workers of the Synod
and their families.

Action: Adopted (12).

To Amend Bylaw Relating to Commission
on Ministerial Health

RESOLUTION 7-05
Report 7-03 (CW, p. 354)

Wuereas, The Commission on Ministerial Health has
transferred all responsibility for therapy to the districts;
and

WHEREAS, There is a need to differentiate between the
responsibility of districts and the synodical commission;
therefore be it

Resolved, That Bylaw 2.563 be amended to read:

PRESENT WORDING

1. The synodical commission shal] develop standards
and procedural guidelines.

2. The District commission shall be charged with the
responsibility of receiving, investigating, and consid-
ering petitions from or complaints concerning the al-
leged disability of a professional church worker. These
requests may be initiated in writing by the worker, by