LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1998, Page 236

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236 HUMAN CARE

Wuereas, Lutheran Disaster Response since 1988 has brought
help and hope to countless survivors of more than 160 disasters and
emergencies which exceeded local resources; and

Wuereas, Lutheran Disaster Response is recognized as an ef-
fective and valued emergency partner among religious and secular
organizations and agencies; therefore be it

Resolved, That The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, meet-
ing in convention, express its thanks to God for the 10 years of
Lutheran Disaster Response; and be it further

Resolved, That this convention thank the retiring director, Rev.
Leon Phillips, for his 10 years of leadership; and be it further

Resolved, That The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod congre-
gations, groups, and individuals continue to support with prayers
and gifts through LCMS World Relief this important expression of
our faith; and be it finally

Resolved, That we entreat God to continue to bless this program
of Lutheran Disaster Response to the glory of His name.

Board for Human Care Ministries

6-34

To Expand Housing Ministries

WHEREAS, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod has demon-
strated its commitment to housing ministry in response to our
Lord’s wish that His people might be servants, particularly to those
in need; and

WHEREAS, We see this life of service most clearly in Jesus, our
Lord, who “came not to be served but to serve, and who gave His
life as a ransom for many”; and

Wuereas, Hundreds of Missouri Synod parishes and thousands
of volunteers are involved with local and international housing
projects, including Habitat for Humanity projects; and

Whereas, Habitat for Humanity is a Christian organization,
founded on Jesus as Lord; and

Wuereas, Cooperation in ministry between Habitat for Hu-
manity International and The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
would further the mission of housing ministry within The Lutheran
Church—Missouri Synod; therefore be it

Resolved, That The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod:

1. recognize the third Sunday in September as the International
Day of Prayer and Action for Human Habitat;

2. encourage congregations and members to participate with the
local Habitat affiliate in the production of affordable housing;

3. encourage LCMS congregations and schools to support
Global Village Work Camps in other countries in cooperation with
Habitat;

4. encourage institutions of higher learning education within
The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod to form Habitat for Hu-
manity campus chapters wherever possible;

5. encourage various conventions and gatherings of the LCMS
to include the “blitz building” of a house during the event;

6. encourage LCMS members to support housing ministry
projects financially by direct contributions of a “Special Interest”
gift on investments with the Lutheran Church Extension Fund to
one or both of the following:

(a) LCMS locally sponsored housing project; (b) the LCMS
Low Income Housing Loan Fund.

Immanuel
Valparaiso, IN

6-35

To Actively Seek Ways to Minister
to People in Institutions

WHEREAS, There are many people, both those who know Christ
and those who need to, in hospitals, nursing homes, jails, prisons,
etc., in our communities; and

WHEREAS, Often times there is no regular Gospel ministry for
these people even though they are often times hungry for the Word;
therefore be it

Resolved, That The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod meet-
ing in convention continue to encourage the congregations and pas-
tors of the Synod to actively seek ways to minister to the people in
the institutions of their communities; and be it further

Resolved, That the Board for Human Care Ministries of The
Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod consult with the congregations
of the Synod to initiate institutional ministries.

Pastoral Conference
Montana District

6-36

To Encourage and Support
Ministry to Mentally Ill

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

WuerEAS, Approximately | percent of this country’s popula-
tion (about 2.8 million) have or will have the disease of schizo-
phrenia and about 9.5 percent have or will have a major affective
disorder (major depression or nanic depression); 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 be-
tween 49-50 percent of the nation’s homeless, and occupy 25 per-
cent of all the hospital beds in the country; and

WHEREAS, The total economic cost annually to society of the
disease of schizophrenia is approximately $61.9 billion, of which
$14.4 billion is for direct treatment and support costs; and

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

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

WHEREAS, The church is called to engage in Christ’s ministry
of healing and intercession of 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 that it is indeed a medical illness, treatable with medica-
tion and psychotherapy, and is not to be perceived as a moral weak-
ness, character defect, a lack of spirituality and/or resulting from
poor parenting; 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 needs/concerns of per-