LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1998, Page 228

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228 HUMAN CARE

(-) means minimal. The true Christian has the advantage of another
factor, namely, (+) prayer, Bible reading, and Christian fellowship;
therefore be it

Resolved, That the 1998 convention of the LCMS commend Dr.
Florence Montz for editing Better Health and encourage congrega-
tions to make use of the material in Better Health; and be it further

Resolved, That the LCMS urge all of its members to practice
good principles of health as recommended in Better Health and the
health formula of the Creation Health Foundation written by an
LCMS scholar.

Trinity, New Haven, MO; Washington Circuit, Missouri
District

6-06

To Encourage Holistic Emphasis in LCMS Ministry

WHEREAS, Christian people in contemporary society are experi-
encing growing tensions in human relationships and disease within
the human system; and

WHEREAS, Such tension and disease can seriously hinder spiri-
tual growth; and

WHEREAS, Some of this tension and disease can be attributable
to the lack of harmony within the components of a fully functioning
person; and

WHEREAS, The Scriptures place emphasis on the harmony in
spirit, mind, and body in the life of the disciple; and

WHEREAS, The incarnation of Christ encourages us to celebrate
the role of the physical within the disciple’s walk; and

Wuereas, A holistic emphasis on spirit, mind, and body is at
times neglected ih our preaching, teaching, and discipleship; and

WHEREAS, Such neglect can lead Christians to consider the
claims of sects and cults which focus on holistic issues; therefore
be it

Resolved, That the LCMS in its preaching, teaching, and disci-
pleship place a stronger focus on those portions of Scripture that
address the whole needs of the whole Christian; and be it further

Resolved, That the LCMS in convention encourage congrega-
tions to study the broad implications for the disciple’s life of spiri-
tual, mental, and physical wellness; and be it further

Resolved, That the Synod’s congregations, schools, and agen-
cies be encouraged to address the physical needs of church workers
and parishioners along with spiritual and emotional needs in their
curricula and programs; and be it further

Resolved, That the Synod’s congregations lift up the ministry
of the growing parish nurse movement as a witness to the biblical
emphasis on spirit, mind, and body; and be it finally

Resolved, That the Synod celebrate the blessing of God in our
historic emphasis on Word and Sacrament even as we now seek to
apply more profoundly that historic emphasis to the whole person
for the sake of wellness in the spirit, mind, and body of the disciple,
and the balance which can be restored to human relationships and
human systems.

Faculty
Concordia University
Austin, TX

6-07

To Address Health Care Coverage
for Workers on Candidate Status
WHEREAS, Worker Benefit Plans (WBP) has established that a
minister of religion, ordained or commissioned member, who goes
on candidate status (CRM) has only 15 months during which the
worker can maintain his/her WBP health program through his/her
personal voluntary premium payments; and

Wuereas, This policy (which applies to a member covered by
the WBP who ceases to be a worker) does not take into considera-
tion the reason for the minister of religion, ordained or commis-
sioned, who goes on CRM status, i.e., conflict resignation, inability
of congregation to afford the ministry, etc.; and

WHEREAS, This policy gives no consideration to the minister of
religion, ordained or commissioned, who while on CRM status is
actively seeking a call into ministry (as distinguished from those
who have voluntarily left the ministry for other gainful employ-
ment); and

WHEREAS, Determination of the CRM worker’s status can be
made through contact with his/her respective District President; and

WHEREAS, The intent of the church was that the WBP health
program would support its workers and enable them to have ade-
quate medical care, even when they have no call but are awaiting
one; and

WHEREAS, This policy poses a serious medical and financial
threat to such a worker who wants to continue his/her uninterrupted
coverage by paying his/her premium until a call is received and ac-
cepted, but is not permitted to do so; therefore be it

Resolved, That the WBP Board of Managers restudy this pol-
icy, consult with the Council of Presidents, and make the neces-
sary changes that support the health care and financial interests of
our professional church workers who are CRM but actively seeking
a call into full-time ministry within the church; and be further

Resolved, That this take place prior to the end of the WBP fiscal
year 1998-99.

Concordia
South Haven, MN

6-08

To Evaluate Current Concordia Health Care Program

WHEREAS, The Synod desires to supply its full-time workers
with the best possible health-care coverage, efficiently run, cost
effective, and cost-competitive; and

WHEREAS, There appears to be increasing frustration experi-
enced by the full-time workers of our Synod concerning our current
health-care program; and

WHEREAS, Our District President is called upon to spend an in-
ordinate amount of his time helping our full-time workers with
Concordia Health Plan problems; and

WHEREAS, There are many nonprofit commercial health care
vendors to which Synod could contract health insurance for its full-
time workers; and

WHEREAS, Operating and staffing a private health-care insur-
ance company does not appear to be one of the stated objectives of
our Synod; and

WHEREAS, Our current health-care managers have “contracted
out” the prescription aspect of our health-care program to a private
company at a considerable savings to the congregations of the
Synod; and

WHEREAS, A study made in 1992 and presented to the head of
Concordia Health Plans demonstrated that $750,000 could be saved
annually by sending our claims to “vendors” who do processing
work rather than doing them ourselves; therefore be it

Resolved, That Synod’s Board of Directors appoint a special ad
hoc committee to study this question and report its findings and
recommendations to the Synod’s Board of Directors and the 2001
synodical convention for action; and be it further

Resolved, That this ad hoc committee be made up of full-time
church workers and knowledgeable health-insurance laypeople
who are not directly involved in the current administrative and staff
structure of the Concordia health-care program or its advisers; and
be it finally

Resolved, That the necessary staff input and assistance needed
in completing this study and understanding the current operating