# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_1981_S354 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION 353 ship, mission education/Synod promotion, as well as financial support should be a unified package. F. A major factor in the field’s acceptance of the Steward- ship Department’s fund procurement efforts is the fact that the Stewardship Department is the group that aids the local parishes and the Districts gather resources to fund the local and District work (as well as the media for supporting the worldwide mission). To be sure, the 1979 convention looked at resources: a. The Synod adopted the mission challenge of a 100% increase plus inflation in the mission budget of the Synod (Res. 1-27A). b. Res. 12-01A called for a major fund-raising effort with a goal of $40,000,000. c. It recognized that this special fund-raising effort was “a part of the ongoing program to assist church members to bring their first-fruit gifts and to grow in the grace of giving.” d. Theconvention committed “itself to promoting programs to assist the members of member congregations in growing in the grace of giving” (Res. 12-06). e. voted to “do all in its power to increase growth in the grace of giving” (Res. 12-08). f. It recognized that the Board of Stewardship has “the primary responsibility for correlating all special fund-raising programs designed for the support of the Synod and its programs” (Bylaw 15.07 }j). While challenges are posed, no panacea is proposed! The attainment of these goals cannot be attained with mirrors or mirages. To reach them will take a miracle! It is a miracle for which we pray! It is a miracle we expect! As the gardener prays for the miracle of growth, he says Amen with his hoe! So we pray for a miracle, yes, we expect a miracle! and we say Amen with hard work and bold planning! What we propose is neither easy nor inexpensive. Forward in Remembrance has reminded us that the investment of money, manpower, and time are necessary for success. This strategy comes with no guarantee other than God’s guidance and blessing! The Forward in Remembrance effort was built on the strength of decades of teaching God’s Word and stewardship cultivation. A scientific principle says, ‘‘A body in motion tends to stay in motion.” Now we move forward with renewed strength ... from strength to strength. First, Forward in Remembrance! Next, Forward in Response! Look at our strengths. We are 2,717,996 of God’s people, members of LCMS congregations, blessed with annual incomes totalling $22,123,442,160 (in 1979). An annual one percent increase in the personal-giving rate would provide $221,224,442 more for all purposes. If Districts and the Synod received one-third of the increase, this would mean approximately $26,872,403 more for the Districts, and $36,872,402 more for the Synod, plus $147,489,614 more for parish work. ev tt OA GS LCMS people have been given the resources. We propose, with God’s help, to “go after them.” That is, after both God’s people and after their God-given resources. Often it is said, “You have not, because you ask not!” We will be asking! God’s people may say no but we will not say no for them. And by God’s grace many will say yes to God’s mission! Say Yes! to God’s Mission yes! “Christian stewardship is the free and joyous activity of the child of God and God’s family, the church, in managing all of life and life’s resources for God’s purposes” (LCMS Board of Stewardship definition). As a gathering of God’s people, as a Synod, we determined with one another the application of the Lord’s commission as it applies to those of us who live and serve Him in the 1980s. Together goals and challenges of the 1980s were identified and accepted at the 1979 convention of The Lutheran Church— Missouri Synod. Now the question, Where will the money come from? The Lord no longer supplies tax money in the mouth of a fish. He does not send manna from heaven. He does not multiply two fish and five loaves of bread so that they can feed 5,000. This is not to say that God could not do that, nor that He does not provide for His people. He provides all the resources— human, physical, spiritual, financial—to those of His church that He asks to do His work. We believe that God has provided His people the human, financial, and all other resources necessary to carry out the Great Commission. We believe that we have the resources to carry out the challenges of the 1980s as adopted by the 1979 convention. When we take a look at the future, the process is this: —To identify where we want to go —To pinpoint where we are —To look at the various paths that lead from where we are to where we want to go. Where Are We? We area church body of 2,717,996 baptized children of God. We are a people of God with an annual income (1979) of $22,123,442,160. (This represents the totals of baptized LCMS members in each state and province times the 1979 per capita income of that state/province.) USA. eee $21 ,404,218,500 719,223,660 $22,123,442,160 We currently give for the Lord’s purposes through our local congregations more than $435,000,000, or 2% of our income. CHART 1 Reported Giving Through Local Congregations (Per Communicant) At Ratio Total Home Synod District Synod:District 1960 .... 95.36 76.08 10.63 4.90 68:32 1965 .... 106.66 82.68 13.35 6.27 68:32 1970 .... 123.87 99.21 12.25 7.26 63:37 1975 .... 159.32 131.70 10.42 10.71 49:51 1979 .... 213.94 . 181.51 12.17 12.31 50:50 Percent of Chahge: 1960-70 +30 +30 +15 +48 1970-79 +75 +83 - 1 +70 Observations 1. The giving level of our members is going up, though not increasing as fast as personal income. 2. The Synod receives less per member now than 10 and 15 years ago. 3. The largest increase, percentagewise, was Districts in the 1960s and for ‘“‘at home” in the 1970s. 4. Since the mid-1960s the percentage division of ‘‘mission dollars” remitted by congregations has decreased for the Synod and increased for the Districts. 5. The needs of the Synod—as determined by convention delegates through the program they adopt—are not being met. For example, in the period 1970—79 Districts allocated 70% more for District purposes while remittances to the Synod maintained the same level.