LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2023, Page 271

Transcription machine transcription, uncorrected

⤓ Download .txt · copy text

MERCY
electronic means (commenced and continuing), i.e., those
available at the Synod’s website:
• www.lcms.org/how-we-serve/mercy/church-workerwellness;
• www.lcms.org/how-we-serve/mercy/health-ministry;
• preparation of accessible reference tools pointing church
workers, congregations and congregation members to
additional useful resources pertaining to mental health and
mental illness (commenced and continuing); and
• an issue of The Lutheran Witness (February 2023) devoted
to the topic of mental health and mental illness.
In view of the still-applicable whereases of 2019 Res. 3-04A
(Proceedings, 130–1), which are entrusted to delegates to the 2023
Synod convention for additional reflection, and the ongoing
criticality of the work described above, this ad hoc task force is
hereby commending, through the Synod BNM, the following
overture to the 2023 Synod convention.
WHEREAS, Mental health issues are distressing, disabling,
common, and costly; and
WHEREAS, Mental health issues include diagnosable mental
illnesses and less severe but distressing and disabling mental health
problems; and
WHEREAS, Decades of research show that mental illness affects
one in five persons of all ages in any given year; and
WHEREAS, Many persons experience mental health problems that
are very distressing but are not serious enough to warrant diagnosis
of mental illness; and
WHEREAS, Families, spouses, siblings, children, and friends are
impacted by mental health issues of loved ones; and
WHEREAS, Mental health issues are similar to physical and
medical issues in that they affect Christians as likely as any other
person; and
WHEREAS, Research clearly shows that persons with mental
health issues are likely to seek help from their church; and
WHEREAS, Research shows that persons with mental health
issues have a preference to seek help from their church rather than
from a health professional; and
WHEREAS, Jesus Christ commands His followers to show mercy
to those in need and to carry one another’s burdens (Gal. 6:2); and
WHEREAS, The Synod’s church workers, congregations, schools,
and congregation members desire, appropriately from within their
respective abilities, to help persons located within our communities
and families to address mental health issues; and
WHEREAS, Those wanting to provide such help should never take
the place of mental health professionals but will desire to assist
through recognition of potential mental health problems, providing
mercy at every opportunity, and referral to mental health
professionals as necessary and appropriate; and
WHEREAS, The Synod’s church workers, congregations, schools
and congregation members have limited capacity and training to
help for reasons related to inadequate awareness and understanding
of mental health issues; therefore be it
Resolved, That the Synod give thanks to God and commend the
ONM, in particular the efforts to date of its ad hoc task force, to
address the broad spectrum of issues related to the fostering of
mental health and the recognition of mental illness among the
Synod’s church workers, congregations, schools, congregation

271

members, families, and communities, and to advance thorough
education concerning the same; and be it further
Resolved, That the Synod direct the continued furtherance of
such intentional efforts by leadership and coordination coming from
within the Health Ministry program unit (housed under the ONM’s
Human Care and Ministry Services area) under established policies
and oversight provided by the BNM; and be it further
Resolved, That these intentional efforts include the identification
of potential opportunities for easily-accessed and widely-available
mental health resources and programs already existing and the
development of new mental health resources and programs for use
by church workers, congregations, schools, congregation members,
families, communities, districts, and the Synod; and be it further
Resolved, That these intentional efforts be focused on the
overarching goal of our church workers, congregations, schools,
and congregation members to better help persons both within and
outside the Church who are directly and personally or indirectly,
through family and other connections, affected by mental health
problems or mental illness; and be it further
Resolved, That the ONM Health Ministry program unit, in
identifying and coordinating such intentional efforts and providing
such resources and programs, consider and employ all reasonable
means available to the Synod for the promotion of mental health,
including the provision of textual and audiovisual media distributed
by print and electronic means, conferences and other training
events, and closely coordinated collaboration within and between
the Synod’s agencies, auxiliaries, and recognized service
organizations; and be it finally
Resolved, That the ONM Health Ministry program unit provide
a standalone report on its progress against the above-listed
objectives over the 2023–2026 triennium to the 2026 Synod
convention.
Board for National Mission
Ov. 3-06

To Recognize and Thank the Synod
for Strengthened and Expanded “Soldiers
of the Cross” COVID-19 Response Initiative
WHEREAS, The pandemic of 2020 shuttered schools in the middle
of the school year, furloughed workers, caused many churches to
temporarily close, caused others to pivot towards a digital presence
for which they were unprepared, and created stress upon the
financial well-being of many churches and their workers; and
WHEREAS, Many of our teachers and school workers were
without the additional tuition or budget income needed to support
the immediate response to the transition and additional regulations
that were placed upon them through the Centers for Disease Control
and the Executive Orders of local, state, and national government;
and
WHEREAS, Many recognized service organizations (RSO) of our
Synod were also without the means to adapt to these additional
burdens and struggled financially; and
WHEREAS, Many of our pastors and other church workers bore a
great financial burden in adapting to new realities and maintaining
ongoing care for the members of our churches; and
WHEREAS, The need for compassionate support and financial
assistance was great; and
2023 Convention Workbook