LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2023, Page 261

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NATIONAL WITNESS
6,000 to 3,000 pastors in the next 15 years” and these statistics do
not include pastors resigning from their call due to mental health
concerns (Cheryl Magness, “‘Set Apart to Serve’: Church Worker
Recruitment Initiative gets new name,” Reporter Online, October
22,
2021,
reporter.lcms.org/2021/set-apart-to-serve-churchworker-recruitment-initiative-gets-new-name); and
WHEREAS, Our called church workers are encouraged to obtain
a physical exam each year; and
WHEREAS, The brain is also an organ in the body; and
WHEREAS, The world is in a fallen state (Genesis 3) and sin
separates us from God (Isa. 59:2), corrupting creation as it groans
for freedom from its state of decay (Rom. 8:21–22); and
WHEREAS, The fall of mankind has had physical ramifications
for the body and spiritual effects on the soul and mental health is
not guaranteed any more than physical health is, and, like the body,
the mind can get sick or injured; and
WHEREAS, Constitution Article III 8 states that “The Synod,
under the Scriptures and the Lutheran Confessions, shall…provide
evangelical supervision, counsel, and care for pastors, teachers, and
other professional church workers of the Synod in the performance
of their official duties”; and
WHEREAS, It would be beneficial to their work for pastors and
other called church workers to be mindful of their mental health;
and
WHEREAS, Pastors and other called workers can be instrumental
in removing the stigma associated with mental health by seeing to
their own mental health and informing their congregation; therefore
be it
Resolved, That circuit visitors encourage the church workers
within their respective circuits on the roster of the Synod to use the
Concordia Plans Employee Assistance Program, or another
program available to them, to obtain an annual mental health checkup; and be it further
Resolved, That district presidents and circuit visitors encourage
the congregations of the Synod to support the mental well-being of
their called church workers and allow them paid time away from the
congregation for respite and renewal which is not counted against
their vacation time; and be it further
Resolved, That district presidents and circuit visitors encourage
and work with the congregations of their district and circuit to
support their called church workers in times of mental distress; and
be it finally
Resolved, That the Office of National Mission encourage the
board of directors of each district to work towards a goal of creating
a position of mental health advocate, which can be paid or
voluntary, to provide the called church workers of each district
support and encouragement in addressing mental health concerns—
with the provision that the mental health advocate shall not report
confidential mental health information to the district and its
officers—and to communicate mental health related educational
opportunities, resources, and grant opportunities for the support of
mental well-being to the church workers and congregations of the
district.
Pastors’ Conference
Indiana District

261

Ov. 1-11

To Address Mental Health
among Called Church Workers
WHEREAS, According to Barna research conducted in 2021,
when asked to rate their emotional well-being choosing between
excellent, good, average, below average, and poor, 40 percent of
America’s pastors rated themselves as average and below in
emotional
well-being
(Barna
Group,
www.barna.com/research/pastors-well-being,
November
16,
2021); and
WHEREAS, The results of a Barna research poll conducted in
March 2022 found that 42 percent of American pastors have “given
real, serious consideration to quitting being in full-time ministry
within the last year,” which is a 13 percent increase from January
2021, (Barna Group, www.barna.com/research/pastors-quittingministry, April 27, 2022); and
WHEREAS, The results of a Barna research poll conducted in
March 2022 found that “Over half of pastors who have considered
quitting full-time ministry, 56 percent say ‘the immense stress of
the job’ has factored into their thoughts on leaving” (Barna Group,
www.barna.com/research/pastors-quitting-ministry, April 27,
2022); and
WHEREAS, The October 22, 2021 edition of the Lutheran
Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) Reporter stated that “50 percent
of the Synod’s current, active pastors are 55 years or older” and
predicts that “if seminary enrollment and pastor retirements
continue at their current rates, the Synod could go from 6,000 to
3,000 pastors in the next 15 years” and these statistics do not include
pastors resigning from their call due to mental health concerns
(Cheryl Magness, “‘Set Apart to Serve’: Church Worker
Recruitment Initiative gets new name,” Reporter Online, October
22,
2021,
reporter.lcms.org/2021/set-apart-to-serve-churchworker-recruitment-initiative-gets-new-name); and
WHEREAS, Our called church workers are encouraged to obtain
a physical exam each year; and
WHEREAS, The brain is also an organ in the body; and
WHEREAS, Constitution Article III 8 states that “The Synod,
under the Scriptures and the Lutheran Confessions, shall…provide
evangelical supervision, counsel, and care for pastors, teachers, and
other professional church workers of the Synod in the performance
of their official duties”; and
WHEREAS, It would be beneficial to their work for pastors and
other called church workers to be mindful of their mental health;
and
WHEREAS, Pastors and other called workers can be instrumental
in removing the stigma associated with mental health by seeing to
their own mental health and informing their congregation; therefore
be it
Resolved, That all church workers on the roster of the LCMS be
encouraged to use the Concordia Plan Services Employee
Assistance Program, or another LCMS doctrinally approved
program available to them to obtain an annual mental health checkup; and be it further
Resolved, That the congregations of the LCMS be encouraged to
support the mental well-being of their called church workers and
allow them paid time away from the congregation for respite and

2023 Convention Workbook