LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1977, Page 150

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150 RESOLUTIONS

tion by our triune God, which dignity and worth is not
diminished by advancing years or by becoming 65
years of age; therefore be it

Resolved,

1. That the corporate church and its membership
voice disapproval of the arbitrary practice of man-
datory retirement at age 65 when the persons affected
are still able to serve effectively; and

2. That Bylaw 2.105 on retirement policies,
paragraph a, subparagraph 1, be amended to provide:

PRESENT WORDING

2.105 Retirement Policies

a. The following retirement policies shall apply to
salaried nonelective personnel of the Synod except as
otherwise provided for in these Bylaws:

1. Each such person may retire at age 65, but
shall be retired on the first day of the month
following the month in which his 70th birthday
occurs.

PROPOSED WORDING

2.105 Retirement Policies

a. The following retirement policies shall apply to
salaried nonelective personnel of the Synod except as
otherwise provided for in these Bylaws:

1. Each such person may request early retirement
under the applicable provisions of the Concordia
Retirement Plan, but he shall be eligible at the end of
the calendar year in which his 65th birthday occurs
for reappointment on a contract basis, which
reappointment shall be for one calendar year ata
time. Such request for reappointment shall be
accompanied by satisfactory medical evaluations.
No extension shall be granted beyond the year in
which the employee attains the age of 70 as provided
in the Concordia Retirement Plan.

(The additional paragraphs in the Handbook re Bylaw
2.105 remain unchanged.)

3. That the Synod through the witness of its
retirement policies indicate to the world that arbitrary
retirement at age 65 may be impractical, unwise,
dehumanizing, and a form of discrimination; and

4. That the members of the Synod’s congregations
by their attitudes and practices regarding older persons
reflect Christ’s response to the plea: “Cast me not offin
the time of old age; forsake me not when my strength
faileth”; and

5. That the Board of Social Ministry and World
Relief, together with the Board of Parish Education,
sensitize through the Reporter, the Synod’s parish
leadership, and through The Lutheran Witness its
constituency to a deeper Christian concern for its older
members and thereby enhance the image and sense of
self-worth of the older person; and

6. That the Board of Social Ministry and World
Relief encourage persons facing retirement to avail
themselves of preretirement counseling from the Synod
or other organizations; and

7. That congregations be encouraged to involve
persons of retirement age in such programs as Project
Compassion, meals-on-wheels, telephone reassurance,

evangelism visits, administrative assistance, and the
like.

Action: Adopted (13).

_ _ (An amendment to remove the entire second resolve in the
interest of consistency failed to carry.)

To Approve the Change of Name—
California and Nevada District

RESOLUTION 4-21
Overture 4-23 (CW, p. 150)

WHEREAS, The California and Nevada District
requests that its District name be changed in order to
more fully describe the geographical area it embraces;
therefore be it

Resolved, That the name of the California and

Nevada District be, and it is hereby, changed to the
California-Nevada-Hawaii District.

Action: Adopted (13).

To Hold Council of Presidents
Meetings at Locations Beneficial
to the Synod

RESOLUTION 4-22
Overture 4-57 (CW, p. 161)

WHEREAS, The Council of Presidents may wish to
schedule meetings in various locations for the benefit of
the Synod; therefore be it

Resolved, That we encourage the Council of

Presidents to practice good stewardship and schedule
meetings at locations beneficial to the entire Synod.

Action: Adopted (13).

To Amend Method
of Selecting Representatives
on Board of Parish Education

RESOLUTION 4-23
Overture 7-15 (CW, p. 288)

WHEREAS, Bylaw 7.23 specifies that the Board of
Parish Education shall include “a representative from
each of the seminaries and each of the teachers colleges
appointed by the President of the Synod on recommen-
dation of the Board of Parish Education”; and

WHEREAS, The Board of Parish Education best
knows its specific needs and the presidents of the
institutions best know their personnel; therefore be it

Resolved, That Bylaw 7.23 be amended to read:

PRESENT WORDING

7.23 Membership

The Board of Parish Education shall consist of
three parish pastors, three teachers, and three
laymen elected by the Synod, plus a representative
from each of the seminaries and each of the teachers
colleges appointed by the President of the Synod on
recommendation of the Board of Parish Education.