LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 2007, Page 146

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146

RESOLUTIONS

Action: Adopted (8)
(During discussion, a motion to delete the words recognized
the gravity of this issue and in the second whereas prompted the
chair to advise that the resolution be referred back to the committee to resolve concerns with wording. The committee attempted to resolve the concerns by changing sexual misconduct
to domestic violence in the second whereas. Additional amendments adding and professional church worker after seminary in
the second resolve and changing the title by inserting Domestic
and Child before Abuse were agreed to by the committee. A motion to amend the resolution by deleting the sixth whereas led to
a motion to recommit the resolution to the committee because the
meaning of the resolution had been changed. The motion to
recommit failed as did the motion to amend. After continued discussion, the resolution was adopted as changed [Yes: 1,027; No:
48].)

To Include People with Disabilities
in All Aspects of the Church’s Life
RESOLUTION 6-07
Report 6-01 (CW, pp. 91–96)
WHEREAS, 2004 LCMS convention Res. 6-09 directed the
LCMS Board for Human Care Ministries to address the following:
1. a mission statement for this ministry with and to people with disabilities;
2. a congregational self-assessment tool to assess the needs
of people with disabilities;
3. plans and guidelines to address physical and attitudinal
barriers in churches;
4. suggestions whereby people with disabilities can be involved in the life and ministry of a congregation; and
5. congregational outreach to people with disabilities to
achieve participation in the life and ministry of the congregation;

and
WHEREAS, The Board for Human Care Ministries established the Disability Ministry Task Force, which began
meeting in September 2005 under the mission statement:
“To facilitate the full participation of people with disabilities in the life of Christ’s Church”; and
WHEREAS, The Disability Ministry Task Force has identified the disabilities that fall under its oversight, namely:
1. Blindness
2. Deafness
3. Developmental disabilities
4. Learning disabilities
5. Mental illness
6. Physical disabilities

and
WHEREAS, People with disabilities and their families represent millions of people in the United States and around
the world, 90 percent of whom do not attend church, many
unaware of the Good News of Jesus Christ; and
WHEREAS, The Disability Ministry Task Force has developed a Web site, a disability awareness DVD, a Bible
study, a congregational assessment tool, and other resources for use by national and district Synod and by local
congregations; and
WHEREAS, The Disability Ministry Task Force has gathered resources from agencies and organizations supporting
2007 Convention Proceedings

people with the disabilities under its oversight and has
placed those resources and Web sites on the Disability Ministry Web site; and
WHEREAS, The church is called to reach out to all people
(Matt. 28:16–20) so that they may believe in Christ and
have eternal life (John 3:16), and the outreach includes people with disabilities (Acts 10:34); therefore be it
Resolved, That The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod,
through its national and district offices and local congregations, utilize the resources at its disposal to educate congregations and to encourage and facilitate the full inclusion
of people with disabilities and their families in the life of
Christ’s church, including service as church work professionals; and be it further
Resolved, That the seminaries and universities of Synod
be commended and encouraged in their effort to educate
church work students for ministry with people with disabilities, and that workers, schools, universities and congregations partner with agencies and organizations that
support people with disabilities, such as Bethesda
Lutheran Homes and the Board for Human Care Ministries; and be it finally
Resolved, That Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod entities and individual members advocate for people with disabilities within Synod and in the community-at-large, and
support people with disabilities in advocating for themselves.
Action: Adopted (10)
(After discussion, the resolution was adopted as presented by
the committee [Yes: 926; No: 13].)

To Encourage Congregations to Provide
Professional Church Worker Sabbaticals
RESOLUTION 6-08
Overture 6-06 (CW, pp. 228–231)
WHEREAS, Nourishing one’s soul and regaining perspective requires a change of pace and place—a pilgrimage. We
can be recharged by walking with Jesus during an extended time of reflection, spiritual encounter, and community; and
WHEREAS, A sabbatical typically includes time for study,
rest, prayer, spiritual enrichment, and experiencing different cultures; and
WHEREAS, A sabbatical is a time to receive, to be nurtured, and to reflect on one’s relationship with God so that
one may be renewed, refreshed, and revitalized for a life of
service to others; and
WHEREAS, Sabbaticals are beneficial to congregations
and church workers and their families as well as the church
at large; therefore be it
Resolved, That the concept and the use of sabbaticals be
encouraged among the congregations and agencies of the
LCMS as it pertains to their professional church workers;
and be it further
Resolved, That congregations be encouraged to consider
resources for developing sabbatical guidelines such as
Wheat Ridge, Thrivent Financial, Louisville Institute, Lilly
Foundation, as well as several of our LCMS districts which
have existing sabbatical guidelines; and be it finally