LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 2001, Page 160

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160

RESOLUTIONS

that our workers are fairly and adequately compensated;
and be it further
Resolved, That congregations and other LCMS employers be encouraged to abide by said compensation guidelines
and so lift high the value of our church workers; and be it
further
Resolved, That the placement officers of higher education institutions and the District Presidents continue the
practice of not allowing placements which do not meet the
minimum compensation guidelines; and be it further
Resolved, That the District Presidents be urged to work
together to ensure that our workers are adequately compensated; and be it further
Resolved, That the Council of Presidents, with the
LCMS Board of Directors, be encouraged to coordinate with
the Board of Managers—Worker Benefit Plans to administratively assist District efforts to support these compensation guidelines and especially to help identify incidences
when compensation falls below such established guidelines;
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 without debate [yes: 973; no: 54].
The final resolve is added as required by Res. 1-02, adopted by
the convention in an earlier session.)

To Encourage Participation
in Social Security
RESOLUTION 6-07
Overture 6-08 (CW, p. 232)
WHEREAS, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod in
convention has enacted resolutions encouraging participation in Social Security, implying that, as a church body that
ordains and commissions ministers, it does not recognize a
synodical theological basis for opposing participation in Social Security by its ministers on the basis of religious principles; and
WHEREAS, Opting out of Social Security eliminates many
benefits for a minister and family by having a negative impact on retirement, disability, death, and medical coverage;
and
WHEREAS, Many ministers upon reaching retirement age
need programs such as Medicare; therefore be it
Resolved, That ministers of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod be strongly encouraged to join and remain in
Social Security; and be it further
Resolved, That ministers who had previously opted out
of Social Security consider participating in the Social Security open enrollment period that is currently being offered,
which expires April 15, 2002; 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 (12)
200l Convention Proceedings

(This resolution was adopted after brief discussion [yes: 623;
no: 93]. The final resolve is added as required by Res. 1-02,
adopted by the convention in an earlier session.)

To Urge Action to Release Persecuted
Christians in China
RESOLUTION 6-09
Overture L6-19 (TB, p. 161)
WHEREAS, One of our congregational members, Gao
Zhan, is being held unjustly, with no legal representation,
with no contact with her family, and with no set trial date,
by the government of the People’s Republic of China; and
WHEREAS, There are, according to public record, many
people unjustly detained by the Chinese government, including many Christians who have been persecuted for
their faith; therefore be it
Resolved, That the Synod in convention show its heartfelt support for Gao Zhan; her husband, Donghua; and her
son, Andrew, through its prayers and words of encouragement; and be it further
Resolved, That the Synod in convention strongly urge
the President of the United States, George W. Bush; the
Secretary of State, Colin Powell; and the members of the
United States Congress to do everything in their power to
work for the release of Gao Zhan and others who are held
unjustly by the Chinese government; and be it further
Resolved, That a copy of this resolution be forwarded to
the aforementioned individuals; 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 as amended (11)
(The third resolve was added by common consent. The resolution was adopted by unanimous voice vote. The final resolve is
added as required by Res. 1-02, adopted by the convention in an
earlier session.)

To Encourage Continued Emphasis
on Prison and Jail Ministry
RESOLUTION 6-10
Overture 1-23 (CW, p. 130)
WHEREAS, The importance of ministering to those who
are in prison has been stressed by our Lord Jesus in
Matthew 25:36 (“I was in prison and you visited me”) and
by the example of the early church as reflected in Hebrews
10:34 (“For you had compassion for those who were in
prison”); and
WHEREAS, The 1998 convention of our Synod resolved
that the Synod in the year 2000, prior to its next convention, sponsor a prison and jail ministry training and equipping retreat for clergy and lay volunteers; and
WHEREAS, The resolve for a synodwide prison and jail
training retreat was not realized due to the lack of funding;
and
WHEREAS, Each District of the Synod has within its region some large prison institutions and many jail settings;
and