Collection › LCMS Convention Workbook (St. Louis, Missouri) › 1969 · 48th Convention › Page 475
LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1969, Page 475

Scan: The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
Transcription machine transcription, uncorrected

475 STEWARDSHIP AND FINANCES; RETIREMENT AND BENEFITS

(12-13)

To Refund Pension Fund Payments

Wuereas, The resolution of the 1966 convention (66-
09) directing “the officers of the Pension Fund or its
legal successor to remit to workers their and their con-
gregation’s payments” was not brought directly to the
floor of the 1967 synodical convention (New York) and
was declined by Resolution 10-08 of the Floor Commit-
tee with the directive that the “Board of Support and
Pensions study the legal, tax, and actuarial ramifications
of permitting the payment of the commuted value of
annuity when requested in writing and report back
to the next convention”: and

Wuereas, The federal government subsequently has
substantially raised Social Security benefits, alleviating
for many workers the need for two synodical pension
funds; and

Wuereas, The increased Social Security benefits have
demanded an increased payment solely by the worker
and thus created a new financial burden for the worker;
and

Wuereas, Essentially all clergy are now by statute
required to participate in the Social Security program:
and

WHEREAS, The Board of Support and Pensions
through its executive secretary advised pastors and
students to partake of both the old plan and Social
Security and these workers are now bound to three
retirement plans by the unilateral action of the Synod
in adding the Concordia Plan without providing for
a present return of assets under the old Pension Fund;
therefore be it

Resolved, That the District reiterate to the Synod
the obligation to return to the workers the said funds
as described in our previous Resolution 66-09 by send-
ing a copy of this present resolution immediately to
the Board of Support and Pensions and by directing
this present resolution to the 1969 synodical conven-
tion: and be it further

Resolved, That we encourage the Board of Support
and Pensions to act favorably to the intent of Resolu-
tion 66-09 and to petition the 1969 synodical convention
to permit the return of said funds.

CENTRAL ILLINoIs District
Lewis C, NIEMOELLER, President
H, E. ZIMMERMANN, Secretary

(12-14)

To Permit Release of Retirement F unds

Wuereas, The Pension and Retirement Funds repre-
sent the accumulated contributions of individuals and
their employers; and

Wuereas, This fund represents the hope of individual
workers for their years of retirement if God should
graciously grant it to them: and

Wuereas, Present movements within The Lutheran

Church — Missouri Synod may or may not be to the
workers’ expectations; and

WueEreas, Some workers may feel compelled by con-
viction to sever connections with the Synod to join an-
other Lutheran synod because of difficulties either in
doctrine or practice or both: therefore be it

Resolved:

1. That such workers may apply for the funds ac-
cumulated to their accounts in the Pension and/or Re-
tirement Funds;

2. That such funds be released without penalty upon
the request of workers planning or desiring to leave
the Synod;

3. That thereafter such workers may not look to
The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod for financial

assistance in their retirement.
Rev. Donatp F. GINKEL

West Des Moines, Iowa
(12-15)

To Release Retirement Funds Without Penalty

Wuereas, The Pension and Retirement Funds repre-
sent the accumulated contributions of individuals and
their employers; and

Wuereas, This fund represents the hope of individual
workers for their golden years of retirement if God be
so gracious as to give them: and

WueREas, Present movements within The Lutheran
Church — Missouri Synod may or may not be to the
workers’ expectations: and

Wuereas, Some of the more forward-looking work-
ers may wish to sever connections with the Synod be-
cause they do not feel that it is in conformity with
their conscience: therefore be it

Resolved:

1. That such workers may apply for the funds ac-
cumulated to their accounts in the Pension and/or Re-
tirement Funds;

2. That such funds be released without penalty upon
the request of workers planning or desiring to leave
the Synod;

3. That thereafter such workers may not look to
The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod for financial
assistance in their retirement as long as they remain in
the state of separation from them;

4. That, if the Synod would realign themselves with
their position or vice-versa the worker may be re-
instated by a statement to that effect if the Synod will
accept him once more, Rev. Donatp C. ILLIAN

Ankeny, Iowa
(12-16)

To Seek Less Discriminatory Base
for Pensions

Wuereas, Workers covered by the Synod’s Concordia
Retirement Plan and/or by the former Board of Sup-
port and Pensions plan could be penalized, possibly even