LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1995, Page 143

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HUMAN CARE 143

they seek to fulfill the mission of the Concordia Plans to
provide service to those in His service.

Action: Adopted as amended (8).

(By common consent the words instruct and encourage were
added to the title. A motion to substitute the word reduce for con-
trol in the fourth resolve was declined.)

To Address Health Care Coverage
for Full-Time Church-Work Students,
' Vicars, and Interns

RESOLUTION 6-05
Overtures 6-26-28 (CW, p. 225)

Rationale:

As God’s people we are called upon to “do good to all peo-
ple, especially to those who are of the household of faith”
(Gal. 6:10). The years of preparation for full-time ministry
often involve economic sacrifice and financial hardship for
students and their families. The continuing concern for our
seminaries and other schools is to provide adequate health-
care coverage for full-time church-work students and their
dependents, both while in school and while on internship
or vicarage. Many of the students find that the cost of pro-
viding adequate health-care coverage is prohibitive, leav-
ing them in extremely vulnerable positions in the event of
major medical problems. This is an issue that we need to
address together.

Resolved, That the convention instruct the chairman of
the Board of Directors of the Synod to convene a task force
immediately following this convention consisting of repre-
sentatives of the Board of Managers of the Concordia Plans,
the Board of Regents of our seminariés, the Board for
Higher Education, and the Board of Directors of the Synod
to immediately address the issue of providing adequate and
affordable insurance coverage for our full-time church-work
students and their dependents, while in college/seminary
and on vicarage/internship.

Action: Adopted (10).

To Encourage Fair
and Adequate Compensation
for Workers in the Church

_ RESOLUTION 6-06A
Overture 6-19 (CW, p. 223)

WuerEas, Our Lord in sending out the 70 disciples pro-
vided for their care and compensation stating the laborer
deserves his wages (Luke 10:7); and.

WHEREAS, The Synod today sends forth many laborers,
both men and women, to carry on the work of the kingdom;
therefore be it’ , .

Resolved, That congregations and institutions of the
Synod be encouraged to ensure that all workers are fairly
and adequately compensated on the principle of equal pay
for equal work regardless of gender; and be it further

Resolved, That all congregations and institutions of the
Synod be encouraged to review and appropriately adjust
the worker’s compensation on an annual basis.

Action: Adopted (11).

To Strengthen Synod’s Ministry
among Mentally Ill
RESOLUTION 6-07A
Overture 6-34 (CW, p. 227)

WHEREAS, Approximately 40 million adult Americans
suffer from one or more mental disorders, and of these as
many as 10 million are afflicted with chronic or prolonged
mental illness; and ;

WHEREAS, As many as 12 million children suffer from
some form of mental disorder, approximately 3 million of
whom have a serious mental illness; and

WHEREAS, Persons with severe mental illness account for
between 49 and 50 percent of the nation’s homeless and oc-
cupy 25 percent of all the hospital beds in the country; and

WHEREAS, Because of ignorance, fear, and the perpetua-
tion of myths, mentally ill persons are often stigmatized
and discriminated against in housing, medical insurance,
and employment opportunities and are denied adequately
funded community treatment and support services; and |

WHEREAS, The families of mentally ill persons are fre-
quently burdened by these illnesses.and often serve as the
primary caretakers of their loved ones, needing the support
and love of friends and church and yet often feeling aban-
doned and shunned; and

WHEREAS, The church is called to engage in Christ’s min-
istry of healing and intercession for those who are ill in
body, mind, and spirit and those who are discriminated
against, lonely, unaccepted, and neglected; therefore be it

Resolved, That congregations and professional church
workers recognize that serious mental illness exists within
the family of faith; and be it further

Resolved, That the Districts of The Lutheran Church—
Missouri Synod identify individuals and/or establish a Task
Force on Mental Illness within each District to address the
concerns/needs of persons with serious mental illness and
the concerns/needs of families; and be it further

Resolved, That individuals or task forces within each
District be recognized as resources for training and equip-
ping congregations and professional church workers to min-
ister effectively to persons with mental illness and their
families; and be it further

Resolved, That the individuals or task forces within each
District be supported with prayers, publicity, and appro-
priate funding; and be it further

Resolved, That congregations and professional church
workers encourage and enable persons with mental illness
to participate fully in the life and the ministry of the con-
gregation; and be it further ,

Resolved, That the Board for Human Care Ministries be
encouraged to identify and/or develop resource materials
which would be helpful in ministering to the mentally ill;
and be it finally

Resolved, That congregations recognize and support
Mental IlIness Awareness Week (first week of October) by
utilizing materials approved by the Districts/Synod and
publicly praying for persons with serious mental illness.

Action: Adopted (11).