LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 2013, Page 122

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Whereas, Ordained field missionaries and military chaplains
serve in a temporary position which eventually comes to a conclusion and are available for and desire pastoral calls; and
Whereas, There are other categories of ordained and commissioned professional church workers who are also available for calls
and service to the church; and
Whereas, It is poor stewardship that these gifts from God are
not being fully utilized because a call has not been received in a
timely manner; and
Whereas, As of January, 2013, 207 ordained and 611 commissioned church workers on candidate status, along with some on
non-candidate status, were seeking calls; and
Whereas, Soldiers of the Cross exists to serve both active and
inactive professional church workers and their families who are in
need; therefore be it
Resolved, That each district president be encouraged earnestly to
give specific and individual attention to LCMS professional church
workers on both candidate and non-candidate status; and be it
further
Resolved, That LCMS congregations be encouraged to give
prayerful consideration to calling professional church workers
who are on candidate or non-candidate status and who desire a
call; and be it further
Resolved, That the President of the Synod appoint a task force to
address these matters; and be it further
Resolved, That this task force study the need for a placement
process for returning military chaplains and missionaries; and be
it further
Resolved, That this task force also study the candidate status and
non-candidate status of all church workers to aid and encourage
congregations and other entities in calling qualified candidates in
a timely manner; and be it further
Resolved, That this task force include but not be limited to representatives from the Council of Presidents, the seminaries, and
the Concordia University System; and be it further
Resolved, That this task force make a report and recommendations to the Synod no later than one year prior to the 2016 Synod
convention; and be it further
Resolved, That the Office of National Mission be encouraged to
continue its service through Soldiers of the Cross; and be it finally
Resolved, That Synod congregations and their members be
encouraged to give to the Soldiers of the Cross annual fund drive.
Action: Adopted (9)
(When discussion of Res. 3-10A was begun during Session 8, a
motion to suspend the Orders of the Day to allow 40 minutes for
discussion failed. When discussion resumed during Session 9, a
motion to amend the resolution was introduced and then withdrawn. The resolution was adopted as presented [Yes: 884; No: 25].)

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2 0 1 3 C o n v e n t io n P r o c e e d i n g s

To Support Church Workers
RESOLUTION 3-11A
President’s Report, Part 2 (TB, p. 21)
Whereas, The Lord of the Church “gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints
for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ” (Eph.
4:11–12); therefore be it
Resolved, That congregations be encouraged to give thanks to
the Lord of the Harvest for His gift of ordained and commissioned
workers in His harvest field; and be it further
Resolved, That congregations be encouraged to pray for the general well-being of their church workers and their families; and be
it further
Resolved, That congregations be encouraged to provide salaries
for church workers that meet or exceed established guidelines in
their districts; and be it further
Resolved, That each LCMS congregation be encouraged to establish a “worker wellness committee” that would have as its primary
focus the well-being of the congregation’s church workers and their
families; and be it further
Resolved, That congregations encourage and support financially
the continuing education of their called workers; and be it further
Resolved, That congregations find ways, informal and formal,
of expressing appreciation to their church workers for the sacrificial service they offer; and be it finally
Resolved, That the Office of National Mission be charged with
providing guidelines and resources for districts and congregations
to accomplish these tasks.
Action: Adopted (7)
(After brief discussion, Res. 3-11A was adopted as presented
[Yes: 936; No: 13].)

To Affirm Our Worship Treasures Old and New
and Commend the Document Text,
Music, Context
RESOLUTION 3-12A
Report 1-7 (CW, p.8); President’s Report, Part 2 (TB, p. 20);
Overtures 3-36–37, 39–41 (CW, pp. 159–161)
Whereas, “Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised, and his
greatness is unsearchable” (Ps. 145:3); and
Whereas, “One generation shall commend your works to
another and shall declare your mighty acts” (Ps. 145:4 ESV); and
Whereas, The Constitution of The Lutheran Church—Missouri
Synod addresses worship in both Articles III and VI as follows:

R e s olu t i on s