LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 2001, Page 158

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158

RESOLUTIONS

Resolved, That pastors, church workers, parishioners,
and those in the LCMS who are in positions of public responsibility be encouraged to work in every way possible
(i.e. adoption, legislation, public preaching and teaching,
crisis centers support, etc.) locally and nationally to end
abortion in this country; and be it further
Resolved, That pastors and synodical officials be encouraged to deal evangelically in accordance with Matthew 18
and the appropriate Bylaws in the case of those who reject
this biblical truth; and be it finally
Resolved, That we work together as brothers and sisters
in Christ in a fraternal, evangelical, and loving spirit actively to proclaim the forgiveness that Christ won for us on
the cross to those who have been brought to repentance for
having supported or experienced abortion.
Action: Adopted as amended (3)
(An amendment was proposed to add after the word sin the
words unless it is done to save the life of the mother in the second
whereas. A substitute motion to the motion to add the words
namely, the attempt to destroy the unborn after the word abortion
was declined. The mover and second of the amendment then
agreed to add the word elective before the word abortion in the
second whereas in place of the words unless it is done to save the
life of the mother. The change was made by common consent. The
amendment carried and the amended resolution was adopted
[yes: 1,053; no: 76].)

To Assure Reasonable Retirement Benefits
RESOLUTION 6-03
Report 6-02 (CW, pp. 74–76); Overtures 6-08–09, 6-11
(CW, pp. 232–33)
WHEREAS, There are some pastors, professional church
workers, and surviving spouses in retirement living on income totally inadequate to provide for basic needs; and
WHEREAS, The Board of Managers—Worker Benefit
Plans has recognized the need of such brothers and sisters
in Christ, particularly those covered under the Pension
Plan for Pastors and Teachers (PPPT); and
WHEREAS, The Board of Managers—Worker Benefit
Plans with the Board of Directors—LCMS has implemented the following during the last triennium:
- The Supplemental Retirement Account (SRA) in
the amount of over $300,000,000 for more than 28,000
active workers at no cost to the employer or the worker.
- Increased monthly benefits for more than 7,500 retirees, and paid special payments to retired workers or
to their surviving spouses.
- Provided extra monthly benefit checks to retired
workers and widows from the annuity fund of the
PPPT.
- Provided support for instances of special need
through the LCMS Programs of Financial Assistance
for Veterans of the Cross; and

WHEREAS, Many pastors and church workers upon
reaching retirement age cannot afford the cost of health insurance due to some congregations’ inability to pay more in
wages, meaning less in retirement from both the retirement plan and Social Security; and
WHEREAS, These same pastors and church workers have
not had the money or opportunity to purchase a house in
which to retire, sometimes causing great financial strain on
themselves and their spouses; and
WHEREAS, The Christian faith calls us to be light and
200l Convention Proceedings

salt in our witness of concern for all of God’s children, “especially those of the family of believers” (Gal. 6:10), which
includes the surviving spouses and dependents of LCMS
church workers who die in office; therefore be it
Resolved, That the LCMS Programs of Financial Assistance be continued by the LCMS Board of Directors as administered through Worker Benefit Plans and, if possible,
that these programs be enhanced to assist church workers
and surviving spouses, regardless of the number of years of
full-time service, who may be living on inadequate income
levels; and be it further
Resolved, That the Board of Managers—Worker Benefit
Plans, be encouraged to continue its pattern of enhancing
benefit payments for retired church workers and surviving
spouses through extra checks and cost of living adjustments for retired members and increasing the benefit formula for active workers (e.g., SRA) of the Pension Plan for
Pastors and Teachers and the Concordia Retirement Plan;
and be it further
Resolved, That the Board of Managers—Worker Benefit
Plans, in conjunction with the LCMS Board of Directors, be
encouraged to fully investigate possibilities of creating a
type of retirement benefits trust designed to assist in providing financial assistance for the cost of health care to retired members and surviving spouses of the Concordia Retirement Plan and the Pension Plan for Pastors and
Teachers and to consider, if actuarially feasible, using a
portion of current employer contributions to the Concordia
Retirement Plan; and be it further
Resolved, That congregations of the LCMS be encouraged to provide immediate financial support commensurate
with the need of surviving spouses of full-time church workers who die while employed by an LCMS employer, including providing church-owned housing and utilities, and to
fully explain through the assistance of Worker Benefit
Plans the benefits provided by the lump sum payments of
up to six times salary to the surviving spouse from the revamped Concordia Disability and Survivor Plan (effective
July 2001); and be it further
Resolved, That Board of Managers—Worker Benefit
Plans be encouraged to offer supplemental life insurance at
economical rates to further enhance the potential for financial assistance should an untimely death of a church
worker occur; and be it finally
Resolved, That all action taken in this resolution shall be
used to help carry out “The Great Commission” and shall
not in any way detract or distract from the primary mission
of God’s kingdom here on earth. We will remember 1-02!
Action: Adopted (11)
(The resolution was adopted [yes: 983; no: 45]. The final resolve is added as required by Res. 1-02, adopted by the convention in an earlier session.)

To Encourage Prayer for Persecuted
Christians
RESOLUTION 6-04A
Overture 6-13 (CW, pp. 233–34)
WHEREAS, Jesus said, “Remember the words I spoke to
you: ‘No servant is greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will persecute you also” (John 15:20); and