LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1989, Page 153

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7. Human Care

Introduction

The convention Floor Committee on Human Care did
what other floor committees are requested to do in prep-
aration for the convention, namely, to review thoroughly
the reports of those entities charged with responsibilities
in human care. Specifically, we reviewed the reports of the
Board for Social Ministry Services and the Board of Man-
agers, Worker Benefit Plans.

The Board for Social Ministry Services
A Time of Achievement

It is the joy of the Floor Committee on Human Care to
report to the convention that the Board for Social Ministry
Services and its staff have completed significant achieve-
ments in broad areas of responsibilities.

Substantive Actions on a Stage Set Three Years Ago

The Indianapolis convention of three years ago inau-
gurated the environment and platform for these advances
in the adoption of Res. 7-01A and 7-02A. Rather than place
before this convention a series of commendatory resolu-
tions, this floor committee briefly calls attention to the
following accomplishments:

e The creation of a clear statement of purpose to guide
the board and staff in their multifaceted ministry, to
wit, “The mission of the church in social ministry is re-
sponding to God’s love in Christ by expressing and dem-
onstrating His love in compassion in meeting humans
needs.”

© The initiation of the Standing Committee on Human
Care to focus for the Board for Social Ministry Services
that which damages or diminishes human life. This
standing committee has concentrated on two specific
areas: (1) continuing education in human care for profes-
sional church workers and (2) fostering layperson in-
volvement in caregiving.

e The creation of the convention-mandated Planning Unit
on Human Care bringing together all commissions and
task forces dealing with human care, as well as the ex-
ecutive director of the Board of Directors, three repre-
sentatives from the President’s office, three
representatives from Social Ministry Services, the ex-
ecutive director of the Worker Benefit Plans, and the
executive director of Human Resources.

@ The publication of a Social Ministry Planning Manual
for use by congregations, along with a District-oriented
plan of distribution, so that the supporting role of both
the Synod and its Districts for the congregation’s min-
istry of human care is clear.

@ The initiation of a new, enhanced program of evaluation
for Social Ministry Organizations around the country to
assume the role of the former Lutheran Social Services
Systems (LS3) and to assist congregations and Districts
in judging the effectiveness and viability of such
ministries.

@ The recent updating and completion of a document en-
titled Blueprint IT which
—- states concisely the theological basis for the church’s

153

Committee 7 Chairman Richard Hinz

holistic ministry among humans having the full
range of spiritual, relational, physical, emotional,
and mental needs;

charts the broad objectives for wide-ranging areas of
social ministry;

identifies specific and attainable goals for the board
and staff to address and against which to measure
progress; and

clarifies again the willingness of the board and staff
to keep themselves accountable to the commitment
to provide services in support of and in behalf of
congregations.

Items Your Floor Committee Commends

It is in the spirit of the document Blueprint II and its
content and directions that the floor committee offers a
series of nine resolutions to this convention, not as a way
of identifying items for correction or improvement, but as
a way of providing focus to issues which are current and
as a way of pointing to endeavors which require new ener-
gies on the part of the congregations and people of The
Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod.

The Board of Managers, Worker Benefit Plans
Prudent Policies

In the last triennium the board and its executive staff
have steered a very careful course in setting policies as
they dealt with several challenging realities: inflation, fed-
eral legislation, a volatile investment climate, an increas-
ing number of claims, and—a voracious enemy of us all—
escalating ‘medical costs!

Within extra, but limited resources, the board also
worked in a compassionate manner to assist the synodical