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LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2023, Page 263

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

NATIONAL WITNESS
WHEREAS, The results of a Barna research poll conducted in
March of 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/pastorsquitting-ministry, April 27, 2022); and
WHEREAS, The October 22, 2021 edition of the 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, 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 all church workers on the roster of Synod be
encouraged to use the Concordia Plans Employee Assistance
Program, or another program available to them, to obtain an annual
mental health check-up; and be it further
Resolved, That the congregations of the Synod 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
renewal which is not counted against their vacation time; and be it
finally
Resolved, That the congregations of the Synod be encouraged to
support their called church workers in times of mental distress.
Circuit 12 (Kokomo)
Indiana District

263

Ov. 1-14

To Encourage Production, Promotion,
and Use of Online Resources
WHEREAS, The Lutheran church has a rich history of using
emerging media for the sake of spreading the Gospel and training
lay persons and professional church workers, as evidenced by such
things as Luther’s Small Catechism and the Lutheran Hour
Ministries (LHM) radio ministry; and
WHEREAS, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod and
Concordia Publishing House (CPH) are to be commended for their
use of print media throughout the history of Synod for the training
and support of many; and
WHEREAS, CPH and LHM are to be commended for their
production of video materials in recent years; and
WHEREAS, The emergence of the COVID-19 lockdown has
pushed many ministries to gain the ability to produce video and
emerging media resources in their local congregations; and
WHEREAS, Recognizing that, due to the time and effort put into
these endeavors, organizations such as CPH and LHM may not be
able to keep up with the demand of congregations; and
WHEREAS, “The Board for National Mission is charged with
developing and determining policies for the coordination of and in
support of district ministries which support congregations and
schools” (Bylaw 3.8.2); and
WHEREAS, “Policies determined by the board (implemented by
staff) may include but not be limited to:
• strong national mission leadership
• Lutheran school ministries and accreditation
• human care and domestic mercy efforts
• stewardship
• evangelism
• church planting and revitalization
• youth ministry” (Bylaw 3.8.2)
therefore be it
Resolved, That the Board for National Mission (BNM) be
charged with an additional responsibility of the development and
determination of policies that will aid districts in the task of creation
and curation of Gospel proclamation using new and emerging
media; and be it further
Resolved, That the BNM oversee the creation of a synodwide
online database of online training and Gospel proclamation tools
made by local congregations and districts for use by Synod
congregations; and be it further
Resolved, That the BNM seek to provide these resources under
Creative Commons licensing or other licensing that allows for
congregational use without copyright infringements; and be it
finally
Resolved, That local congregations and districts of the Synod be
equipped and encouraged to engage in the task of content creation
in new and emerging media that may be shared with all the
congregations of the Synod.
Board of Directors
Florida-Georgia District

2023 Convention Workbook