To Address Mental Health among Pastors and Other Professional Church Workers

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-church- worker-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, 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

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