LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 2023, Page 120

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1. NATIONAL WITNESS
development of a strategic plan for worker care that can be
disseminated to and replicated by the district presidents; and
be it finally
Resolved, That the 2023 Synod in convention direct the
district presidents and district boards of directors to establish
such plans for the care of workers and their families, utilizing
resources available to the COP and resources made available
by ONM and CPS to this end.
Action: Adopted (3)

The resolution was read and introduced by the committee and
adopted by voice vote.

To Address Mental Health among Pastors
and Other Professional Church Workers
RESOLUTION 1-07
Report R1, R1.2.1, R6 (CW, 1–3, 11, 49–50);
Overtures 1-09–13 (CW, 260–63)
WHEREAS, The world is in a fallen state (Genesis 3) and sin
separates us from God (Isaiah 59:2), corrupting creation as it
groans for freedom from its state of decay (Rom. 8:21–22),
with negative ramifications, including for our mental health;
and
WHEREAS, Constitution Article III 8 states that “The
Synod, under Scripture and the Lutheran Confessions, shall …
provide evangelical supervision, counsel, and care for pastors,
teachers, and other professional church workers of the Synod
in the performance of their official duties”; and
WHEREAS, As reported in Reporter Online on Oct. 22, 2021,
“50 percent of the Synod’s current, active pastors are 55 years
or older” and predicts that “if seminary enrollment and pastor
retirements continue at their current rates, the Synod could go
from 6,000 to 3,000 pastors in the next 15 years,” a total that
does not include pastors resigning from their calls due to
mental health concerns or “burnout” (Cheryl Magness, “Set
Apart to Serve: Church Worker Recruitment Initiative gets new
name,”
reporter.lcms.org/2021/set-apart-to-serve-churchworker-recruitment-initiative-gets-new-name); and
WHEREAS, According to Barna research conducted in 2021,
40 percent of America’s pastors rated themselves as average
and below in emotional well-being (Barna Group,
www.barna.com/research/pastors-well-being, Nov. 16, 2021);
and

WHEREAS, Addressing the mental health of pastors and
other professional church workers is consistent with the
eighth objective of the Synod (Const. Art. III 8) and the fifth
mission priority of the Synod as both are intended to promote
the care and the well-being of pastors and other professional
church workers so that the workers may continue serving in
the Church’s ministry (R1.2.1, CW, 11); and
WHEREAS, Pastors and other professional church workers
can be instrumental in addressing the stigma associated with
mental health issues by addressing their own mental health
and educating their congregations about mental health
challenges; therefore be it
Resolved, That all rostered church workers be encouraged
to use the resources available through Concordia Plan Services
(such as the Employee Assistance Program) or other similar
programs not in conflict with our confession, to obtain mental
health care as needed; and be it further
Resolved, That the congregations, circuit visitors, and
district presidents of the Synod be encouraged to support the
mental well-being of pastors and other professional church
workers so that the workers may continue serving in the
Church’s ministry; and be it further
Resolved, That the congregations of the Synod be
encouraged to support their pastors and other professional
church workers in times of mental distress; and be it further
Resolved, That each district of the Synod be encouraged to
make available a paid or volunteer district mental health
advocate for pastors and other professional church workers;
and be it finally
Resolved, That the district mental health advocate for
pastors and other professional church workers seek to support
and encourage them in addressing mental health concerns
and to communicate mental health–related educational
opportunities, resources, and grants to support the mental
well-being of pastors and other professional church workers.
Action: Adopted as read (3)

The resolution was read and introduced by the committee, with
the words “seek to” replacing the word “provides” in the final
resolve. An amendment failed [Yes: 337; No: 524] to add a
resolve: “That the Synod establish a perpetual resource pool
from which local congregations and districts can request
financial support and grants for church worker sabbaticals, the
Synod to establish a process as to how local congregations and
districts can request these funds.” The resolution was adopted as
read [Yes: 846; No: 33].

WHEREAS, The results of a Barna research poll conducted
in March of 2022 (Barna Group, www.barna.com/research/
pastors-quitting-ministry, April 27, 2022) found that 42 percent
of American pastors have “given real, serious consideration to
quitting being in full-time ministry within the last year,”
which is a 13 percent increase from January 2021 (Barna
Group, www.barna.com/research/pastors-well-being, Nov. 16,
2021), further indicating mental duress; and

120 | PROCEEDINGS OF THE 2023 (68TH) LCMS CONVENTION

Resolutions