Collection › LCMS Convention Workbook (St. Louis, Missouri) › 1973 · 50th Convention › Page 388
LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1973, Page 388

Scan: The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
Transcription machine transcription, uncorrected

388 STEWARDSHIP AND FINANCE

12-11

To Improve Retirement Arrangements
for Transferees

WuereEas, The Synod _ has said, “The Pension Plan for
Pastors and Teachers should not be an economic weapon to
keep workers or their widows in the fold of The Lutheran
Church — Missouri Synod,” Res. 10-05, New York; and

Wuereas, The plan may indeed be so in the event that
a member desires to join the Wisconsin Ev. Lutheran Synod,
i.e. he loses his subsidy payments, which would not happen
if he joined the American Lutheran Church; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Pension and Retirement plans of the
Synod be developed so that they truly reflect the desire
of the Synod that they “not be an economic weapon to keep
workers or their widows in the fold of The Lutheran Church
— Missouri Synod.”

St. Pauu’s Ev. LuTHeran Cuurcu
Brookfield, Ill.
Mr. Warren Fletter, Secretary

12-12

To Open Enrollment to Welfare Plan
for a Limited Time

Whereas, The Concordia Welfare Plan states, “A worker
who has attained age forty (40) on his eligibility date may
not become a member after attaining age forty-two (42) ,”
Section II 2.1b; and

Wuerras, Secular plans and federal government (Social
Security) have frequently opened their membership to in-
clude people who did not or could not join previously; and

Wuereas, The Concordia Welfare Plan, among others, is
designed to help the workers of the church and to show
love and concern for those needing help; therefore be it

Resolved, That for a short time all workers over age
forty-two (42) be offered the opportunity to join the Con-
cordia Welfare Plan; and be it further

Resolved, That since a period of open enrollment might
subject the Concordia Plan to adverse selection by workers
in ill health, that any clinic or doctors that the Concordia
Welfare Plan managers might select be used to overcome
this problem of ill selection of workers by giving an exam-
ination; and be it finally

Resolved, That workers over forty-two (42) and their
families who are given a clean bill of health be eligible for
enrollment in the Concordia Welfare Plan for a limited time.

Zion Ev. LUTHERAN CHURCH
Bethel, Minn.

Lyle Schleif, Chairman
Dale Stoeckel, Secretary
Eugene E. Larrabee, Pastor

12-13
To Extend Maternity Benefits

Wuereas, The Concordia Welfare Plan now offers ma-
ternity benefits only for workers who have been enrolled
in the plan for more than nine (9) months; and

Wuereas, This limitation may work great hardship on the
family of a new worker who is denied maternity benefits
because a birth occurs before the time limits set by Con-
cordia Welfare Plan; and

Wuereas, Such a worker is unable to enroll in the Con-
cordia Welfare Plan before his ordination, although he may
have been married for many months and therefore in need
of maternity benefits coverage soon after ordination; and

Wuereas, The Concordia Welfare Plan is designed to
serve professional church workers by helping relieve them
of the burdensome expenses of medical care and was estab-
lished for service, not profit; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Gulf States Pastoral Conference re-
spectfully petition the Concordia Plans Managers to study

the possibility of extending maternity benefits coverage to
any worker enrolled in the Concordia Welfare Plan when
such coverage is needed, without regard to the number of
months the worker has been enrolled in the plan.

Gutr States PastoraL CONFERENCE
SOUTHERN DIsTtrIctT
Thomas J. Benedum, Secretary

12-14

To Extend Welfare Plan Benefits
for Adoption Costs

Wuereas, The Synod’s Welfare Plan covers a variety of
physical ills including dental care; and

WuereaS, The Plan contains maternity benefit provisions;
and

WHEREAS, Employees of Synod enrolled in the plan re-
ceive no benefits to assist in paying the agency and legal
fees involved in adoption proceedings, although in many in-
stances these costs exceed the amount expended in maternity
cases; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Synod request the Board of Managers
to make a feasibility study on providing benefit coverage
to employees in the plan who adopt a child through a legally

certified adoption agency. Facutty

Concorpia TEACHERS COLLEGE
River Forest, Ill.

To Involve and Support Retired
Church Workers

Wuereas, The Holy Scriptures admonish us to: “Hearken
to your father who begot you, and do not despise your
mother when she is old” (Prov. 23:22), “Let them learn
to make some return to their parents; for this is acceptable
in the sight of God” (1 Tim. 9:4). “You shall rise up before
the hoary head, and honor the face of the old man” (Lev.
19:32). “And we beseech you, brethren, to know them
which labor among you—to esteem them very highly in
love for their work's sake” (1 Thess. 5:12, 13); and

Wuereas, Retired church workers need to be informed
as to the current activities in the church; and

Wuereas, The economic status of most retired church
workers is very low; and

Wuereas, The church, as a corporate body, has a re-
sponsibility to these faithful workers in its church, because
of their past years of service: therefore be it

Resolved, That Synod encourage Districts to pay the
registration and travel (wherever possible) to District,
Synod, and regular conferences conducted by the Districts;
and be it further

Resolved, That Synod make a systematic effort to inform
church workers who are in retirement and who are reaching
retirement age, of the benefits they may have coming in
retirement, and keep them informed as to developing fed-
eral and church programs which would also be of benefit
to them: and be it finally

Resolved, That Synod, together with Districts, study and
Suggest models that can be used to involve retired church
workers in the active years of their retirement.

Boarp OF Socia. MINISTRY AND Wortp RELIEF
Leslie F. Weber, Executive Secretary

12-16

To Affirm Policy Regarding Appeals
from Agencies and Institutions to Synod
and Districts

WHEREAS, It is an accepted fact that all things should
be done decently and in order; and

WHEREAS, Previous conventions of Synod have adopted