# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_1981_S356
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION 355

in remitting more than $40 million in the 1981 special effort to
go Forward in Response to the Lord’s call for commitment in
the 1980s.

—The route of repeated ongoing special offerings similar in
scope to Forward in Remembrance.

—Another option to lead us from where we are to where we
want to go is to cut back on our goals so that our goals
match the receipts from God’s people. This is known in
some circles as “balancing the budget,” in other circles as
“fiscal responsibility.” Any way you look at it, it does not
get the job done. It denies the attainment of the goal that
was adopted.

—wWith the report, the LCMS Board of Stewardship sets
before the Synod a strategy designed—

a) in view of the commission our Lord has given to us;

b) cognizant of the world’s scene;

c) in line with the mission challenges adopted by the
1979 convention.

We Are Proposing

1. That the ongoing activities of the Stewardship Depart-
ment be continued and strengthened;

2. Addition of adequate human and financial resources to
the Stewardship Department to carry out the tasks;

3. That a means be found to supply every District with at
least one person working full time in stewardship;

4. That District stewardship leaders be identified, equipped,
and enabled to better fulfill their role;

5. Assistance to Districts in training pastors and parish
leaders for stewardship leadership;

6. Two annual major emphasis/offerings;

7. Coordination of the approach of mission education/
Synod promotion with financial-support programs;

8. That a concerted effort be made in the stewardship
training of the youth of our church (Sunday school, day school,
etc.) through developing and writing stewardship units geared
to several age levels;

9. Complete subsidy of the seminary programs of the
Synod;

10. Transfer of responsibility for fund-raising for the semi-
naries from the seminaries to the Synod’s Stewardship
Department;

11. Phasing out fund-raising efforts by college staffs, to be
supplanted by regional fund-raising staff of the LCMS Steward-
ship Department;

12. Moving into solicitation of designated advance gifts
(rather than solicitation of gifts only for items in current
budget);

13. A positive partnership process of growth in the Biblical
principles of stewardship and their practical teaching and
application in the various churches and mission fields in
partnership with the LCMS;

14. A synodical resolution to move toward the goal of an
annual 1% increase in personal giving as a percentage of
income.

1979—1981 Biennium

By design and request the Stewardship Department has
maintained a “‘low profile” during the past biennium. This was
to avoid any appearance of competition with Forward in
Remembrance.

It should be noted that the Stewardship Department, while
not intrinsically involved in this extraordinary effort, did fill
every request of the Forward in Remembrance leaders. The
department provided mission education resources and pictures
as well as journalistic help.

Thus, staff positions were not filled as they became vacant.
Rev. William Wessler, associate stewardship counselor for 10
years, retired. Mr. Richard Heinrich joined the LCMS Founda-
tion staff. Mr. Harold Melser became development executive of
a St. Louis hospital. In late 1980 a writer, Mr. David Strand,
began working on a purchase-of-service arrangement.

Needless to say, with a staff shortage, the amount of work
had to be curtailed. Nevertheless, great things have been

happening in the past two years.

One hundred thirty-five seminars for parish stewardship
committees have reached all areas of The Lutheran Church—
Missouri Synod. These STEM seminars (Stewardship Train-
ing Enables Mission) offered six hours intensive training for
over 8,000 local stewardship leaders.

A practicum for pastors in personal and professional
stewardship was field-tested. Practicums are now being offered
under the acronym STEP (Stewardship Training Enables
Pastors). The goal is to offer this three-day seminar at a retreat
setting to those pastors in the District who are in the ministry
five years or less. Thus the department has an ongoing goal of
seven to eight practicums per year.

Aids for stewardship cultivation and mission education
have been provided. In the area of mission education, film-
strips: “Thumbs Up Cacoal” (Brazil), “20-Foot Pole” (Chile). A
filmstrip on England and ‘“‘God’s Open Door Policy” (a wrap-up
of work in South America).

Tracts on specific fields combined the material offered in
the Board for Missions’ 1979 convention tracts with the Board
of Stewardship’s Mission Education series in various fields.
These tracts have been made available on the following
mission fields:

Argentina Japan Philippines
Brazil Korea Taiwan
Ghana Liberia Togo

Hong Kong Nigeria Venezuela
India Papua New Guinea

In addition, Mission Education place mats have been
prepared or updated for the following mission fields:

Africa Korea Philippines
Brazil Middle America South America
Central America Middle East Venezuela
India Papua New Guinea World

The Reporter, likewise, has been used extensively as a
mission education tool in the last biennium. “Brethren, Pray
for Us” has become a bimonthly, two-page spread in the
Reporter. A new “do it yourself’ bulletin insert for parishes
appears every two or three months under the title “Mission
News and Views.” This provides up-to-the-minute camera-
ready art for the local parish to print its own mission education
bulletin inserts for Sunday morning parish distribution.

In the area of cultivation the following resources have been
provided in the past biennium:

New Stewardship Cultivation Materials (1979—1981)

Tracts: ‘Let George Do It,” “I am a Percent,” “Jeremy
David and the Golden Hat”

Stewardship Committee Manual: ‘“‘Gathering and Manag-
ing God’s Resources”

Commitment Card: “‘Say YES to God’s Mission”

Theme Poster: “Say YES to God’s Mission”

Program Building Guide: ‘“‘We Look at Our Congregation in
Mission”

Memento: “A Tither’s Coin”

Other Resources: Although produced in 1976, “‘Good News
for Modern Stewards” (a stewardship “mini-New Testament’)
continues to enjoy a tremendous reception and use. Now in its
seventh printing, there are over one million in print.

The STEM seminar packet of some 95 items, weighing 1 lb.
100z., is a major resource developed by the staff during the past
biennium.

Stewardship of Energy Materials: Two books: Reducing
Energy Cost in Religious Buildings and The Energy-efficient
Church. (Mailed in January 1980 to every parish pastor—
courtesy of the Aid Association for Lutherans)

For Children: “Stewardship Cut-Ups”

For All: “Energy Savers” (reminders)

STEWARDSHIP OF LIFE MOVIES: How Good Life Can
Be and Sharing. (Several copies placed in each District office—
courtesy of Lutheran Brotherhood—a utilization guide was
supplied for discussion purposes.)

The Reporter: Carries a bimonthly, full-page agenda for