LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1998, Page 227

Transcription machine transcription, uncorrected

⤓ Download .txt · copy text

6. HUMAN CARE

6-01

To Change Commission on Ministerial Growth
and Support Bylaws

WHEREAS, Res. 2-05A of the 1989 synodical convention re-
named the then-existing Committee on Continuing Education as
the Commission on Ministerial Growth and Support, and made pro-
vision for the new commission in what is now Bylaw 3.913. (The
resolution also dissolved the Commission on Ministerial Health.)
This Bylaw provides that the Commission on Ministerial Growth
and Support shall consist of nine members: three ordained minis-
ters, two commissioned ministers, one layperson, one college rep-
resentative, and one representative from each seminary. The com-
mission has three recommendations relating to its membership
prescription; and

Wuereas, The Bylaw also stipulates that one of the members
“shall have professional expertise in clinical psychology and/or
pastoral counseling,” the commission is of the view that it has need
for many areas of professional expertise, without a particular de-
limiting requirement; and

WHEREAS, The membership prescription provides minimal
layperson inclusion and the commission is of the opinion that ad-
ditional layperson representation and perspective would help iden-
tify areas of need for growth and support among professional
church workers, which needs often are not theological but instead
personal and practical. Moreover, the commission’s single layper-
son inclusion is not consistent generally with the makeup of syn-
odical boards and commissions. Such makeup (except for the Com-
mission on Doctrinal Review) never includes fewer than two
laypersons. Layperson membership is generally in the range of
25% (CTCR) to 78% (CPH) of total membership; and

WHEREAS, The present focus of the commission has been broad-
ened to address more comprehensively the needs of commissioned
ministers. Accordingly, the commission concludes there is need for
additional commissioned minister representation; therefore be it

Resolved, That the membership provision in Bylaw 3.913 stat-
ing that “one of the above shall have professional expertise in clin-
ical psychology and/or pastoral counseling” be eliminated; and be it
further

Resolved, That the membership of the Commission on Minis-
terial Growth and Support be increased from nine to eleven mem-
bers, and that such enlarged membership provide for two layper-
sons (instead of one), and three commissioned ministers (instead
of two), with one of such commissioned ministers to be other than
a commissioned minister-teacher.

Commission on Ministerial Growth and Support

6-02

To Amend Bylaw 3.819 g to Include
Lutheran Services in America
WHEREAS, The LCMS Board of Directors at its Aug. 27-30,

1996, meeting endorsed the Synod’s Board for Human Care Min-
istries membership in Lutheran Services in America; and

WHEREAS, Lutheran Services in America came into existence in
Apnil 1997; and

Wuereas, Lutheran Services in America needs to be incorpo-
rated into the appropriate Bylaws; therefore be it

Resolved, That Bylaw 3.819 g be amended to read:

“sponsor and participate in World Relief activities for the alle-
viation of human suffering through cooperation with Lutheran
World Relief, Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Services,
Lutheran Services in America, the Board for Mission Services, and
domestic projects endorsed by Districts.”

Board for Human Care Ministries

227

6-03

To Return Auxiliary Organizations
to Synod’s Immediate Affiliation

WHEREAS, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod believes and
teaches that we are a church of the Bible which governs all our ac-
tions; and

WHEREAS, Scriptures are to dictate all that we do, but it appears
that the legal arm of our Synod is now dictating what we do in re-
gard to those organizations of our church which it deems not nec-
essary under the umbrella of the Synod, due to the possibility of
“liability” from lawsuits and that the legal arm, not the importance
of Scriptures in the working of those organizations which have
been a vital part of Synod’s work; and

WHEREAS, The almighty buck is not our primary concern but
truth in our inward parts, forcing the Districts to divest themselves
of close connections with a variety of organizations over which we
will no longer have doctrinal authority; therefore be it

Resolved, That we prevent the Synod’s greedy, hungry legal
arm from continuing to divest ourselves of anything that appears
to cost us money; and be it further

Resolved, That we base our behaviors on the work of the Gospel
and not that of some legal beagle who is more concerned about our
“bucks” and not in sustaining the work of Synod in effective work
in outdoors ministry, Lutheran Foundation, the various Lutheran
social services, etc.

King of Kings
San Antonio, TX

6-04

To Sever Ties with ELCA on Social Endeavors

WHEREAS, The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
(ELCA) has entered altar and pulpit fellowship with the Presbyter-
ian Church (USA), the United Church of Christ, and the Reformed
Church in America; and

Wuereas, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod is not in
altar and pulpit fellowship with the ELCA; therefore be it

Resolved, That The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod in con-
vention elect to sever all ties in social programs with the ELCA;
and be it further

Resolved, That the Missouri Synod be commended for and con-
tinue its fine work in social programs.

Trinity
Westville, IN

6-05

To Commend Better Health and Dr. Florence Montz

Wuereas, Better Health, published by The Lutheran Church—
Missouri Synod’s Worker Benefit Plans and long edited by Dr. Flo-
rence Montz, who has now retired, has many excellent articles on
better health; and

WHEREAS, Christians are to be good stewards of all of God’s
gifts: doctrine, money, land, and also their bodies and health; and

WHEREAS, scientific surveys show that in many cases a daily
walk helps a person lead a more active and longer life; and

WHEREAS, Pastors who practice good principles of health set a
good example for their congregations and in many cases are able to
serve longer; and

WHEREAS, Scientific studies have shown that smoking and ex-
cessive drinking and eating are harmful; and

Wuereas, Dr. David Kaufmann, a member of the LCMS’s
Board for Higher Education and for 12 years a member of the
Board of Directors of Concordia Publishing House, is the author
of the health formula of the Creation Health Foundation. This for-
mula is: Health Fitness = (+) nutrition (+) exercise (+) rest (-)
harmful stress (-) drugs (-) pollution, where (+) means optimal, and