Collection › LCMS Convention Workbook (St. Louis, Missouri) › 1975 · 51st Convention › Page 199
LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1975, Page 199

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

ADMINISTRATION 199

Resolved. That the Board of Managers of the Concordia
Plans be urged to make the Concordia Welfare Plan available
to workers in Canada.

Our Saviour Lutheran Church
Niagara Falls, Ont.

Lyle Spiece. Chairman

Carl Allemang. Secretary

4-73

To Establish Church Workers’
Retirement Housing Fund

WHEREAS. Many congregations in the Synod provide housing
for their full-time workers, pastors and teachers, and consider
this housing as a part of their salary; and

WHEREAS. A number of the Synod’s full-time pastors and
teachers do not have the option of receiving a housing allowance
to purchase a home of their own during their working years: and

WHEREAS, Insufficient funds at retirement age make it
difficult for these pastors and teachers to acquire their own
homes when retirement approaches; therefore be it

Resolved. That the Synod in convention encourage its mem-
ber congregations which provide a parsonage or teacherage
rather than a housing allowance for its full-time workers to
assist their full-time workers in making some arrangements
to accumulate funds for retirement housing: and be it further

Resolved. That in congregations where it is mutually agree-
able to all persons concerned, as much as 10% of the worker's
yearly salary be set aside, that these funds, on which taxes have
been paid, be sent in the worker’s name to a central fund such
as the Synod’s Church Extension Fund, and that these funds
accumulate with interest until retirement age and then be re-
turned to the worker upon his retirement: and be it finally

Resolved. That the Synod’s Board of Directors, or whatever
other legal body within the Synod, take the necessary legal
steps to establish such a program for congregations and workers
wishing to enter, and that a set of guidelines be drawn up in
the event a worker is unable to complete this program, so that
provisions would be established for the return of such funds
to the worker or survivors.

Faith Lutheran Church
Hawks, Mich.

Paul Krueger Jr., Chairman
Marlin Schaedig, Secretary

4-74

To Help in Preretirement Planning

WHEREAS, Twenty-one million persons, or one of every ten,
in the United States have passed their 65th birthday and at
least 300,000 members of our Synod are in this group: and

WHEREAS, There are some 1,900 retired workers of the
church who did not benefit by preretirement programs; and

WHEREAS, The church by virtue of its commitment to “faith
that works by love” is best equipped to provide preretirement
planning services for its workers and members that will hold
some promise of a more fulfilling retirement: therefore be it

Resolred. That the Board of Social Ministry and World Relief,
with the cooperation of the Board of Managers of the Concordia
Plans, conduct preretirement seminars for our members in all
Districts of the Synod on the North American continent: and be
it further

Resolved. That the material to be used at these seminars or
workshops shall be determined by the Board of Social Ministry
in consultation with the Board of Managers and shall be de-
signed to assist our aging people and workers in retirement
planning, as well as to equip them for continuing service in the
church; and be it further

Resolved. That funding for these seminars be provided by
fees assessed to each participant and/or possible grants from
outside sources: and be it finally

Resolved. That these seminars assist our people in achieving
“aging with a future.”

Board of Social Ministry and World Relief
Leslie F. Weber, Executive Secretary

To Oppose Forced Retirement

WHEREAS. The Harris Poll in its survey of attitudes on aging
found that the most bitterness among older people concerned
the issue of mandatory or forced retirement: and

WHEREAS. The same poll indicated that through forced
retirement older people felt they were “tossed on the dump”:
and

WHEREAS. The poll also indicates that a smashing majority
86% to 12%) of mature citizens say that ‘nobody should be
forced to retire because of age, if he wants to continue working
and is still able to do a good job’: and

WHEREAS. This poll indicates that ‘the basic libel that people
are declared dead and useless before their time and in a society
which will be aging dramatically in the next decade, can be
a highly dangerous political and economic fact of life”: and

WHEREAS. Forced retirement is destructive of the reverence
and veneration in which God would have us hold our mature
citizens: therefore be it

Resolved. That the church use its influence to outlaw forced
retirement policies in all areas of employment, as well as in its
own structure and life: that the church through its educational
materials and staff endeavor to surround aging people with an
aura of Christian respect. love. understanding, and a significant
sense of self-worth: and be it further

Resolved. That the church utilize the skills and talents of
older persons through their appointment to synodical and
District boards and committees.

Board of Social Ministry and World Relief
Leslie F. Weber. Executive Secretary

4-76A

To Reconsider Denver Convention
Resolution 11-10 in Order to Permit
District Foundations

WHEREAS. Inflation and recession are creating financial
problems, hindering the continuing expansion of Christ's
kingdom: and

WHEREAS. There is accumulated wealth among members
of the Synod: and

WHEREAS. By not reaching and informing our Lutheran
membership we fail to take advantage of making available
additional funds for the work of the Kingdom each year through
some type of gift agreement: and

WHEREAS. With the present LCMS Foundation structure it
is possible to reach only a small percentage of the potential
Foundation supporters within the Synod: and

WHEREAS. Competent and knowledgeable personnel in the
areas of taxes. accounting. investment. actuarial computation,
and management are readily available and willing to offer their
services on the District level: and

WHEREAS. Synodical institutions and synodical Districts will
profit by offering a more intensified and personal outreach
through Foundations nearer to the potential supporter: there-
fore be it

Resolved. That the last Resolve in Resolution 11-10 of the
1969 Denver convention be rescinded: and be it further

Resolved. That each District be encouraged to develop and
maintain a Foundation program at the District level in close
cooperation and coordination with The Lutheran Church—
Missouri Synod Foundation staff and board of trustees, struc-
tured so that all potentials may be explored and developed to
establish strong support to our Synod. paralleling the present