# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1950_S1245
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

764 FINANCIAL MATTERS

urged on by the desperate need of man for the message of
God’s reconciliation to man by His Son Jesus Christ; and

encouraged by the glorious response of an ever increasing
number of our Christians who are giving more time, talent, anq
treasure for Kingdom work; and

challenged by God’s sure promises to attempt to reach out to
ever wider Kingdom horizons; we

the synodical Board of Directors of The Lutheran Church —
Missouri Synod submit to Synod in convention assembled in Mil.
waukee, 1950, the following resolutions for adoption:

16. Wuereas, During the past four-year period from 1946 to
1949 our members gave for non-budgeted, missionary, educational,
and relief projects the sum total of $11,500,000; and

17. Wuereas, These moneys were made available to the church
at large by the Peace Thankoffering, the Centennial Collection,
the Building for Tomorrow Collection, and Relief Funds; and

18. Wuereas, The above total of $11,500,000 does not include the
sum of approximately $25,000,000 given by our people through
non-synodical channels for war relief — nor additional millions of
dollars for non-budgetary items within and without Synod — which
in no wise have strained the giving ability of our people; and

19. WueEreEas, These funds made it possible for our Church to

appropriate larger sums for urgent mission and educational projects
in the fields of Home Missions—in North and South ‘America,

Central America, Mexico, Hawaii, Japan, the Philippines, China,

India, Africa, and Europe; and

20. Wuereas, These gifts over and above the regular budget, of
our people in these postwar years have made possible an unprece-
dented expansion in our missionary and educational endeavors
throughout the world and have given our Kingdom work a greater
impetus and forward movement than has been attained at any
other time in the history of our Church; and

21. Wuereas, God.continues to show us needs and wide-open
and compelling opportunities in. our work of missions and educa-
tion throughout the world, which, if not met, will slow down,
hamper, and in some instances bring to a standstill the impetus of
our work and prevent adequate planning and preparation for the
future of which our people must be told; and

22. Wuereas, There is at present an ever growing consciousness
of the missionary imperative in the hearts of our people; and

23. Wuereas, An ever increasing number of our laity is ex-
pecting the Church to present to it a program of Kingdom work

FINANCIAL MATTERS 765

ensurate with the spiritual and material gifts which the Lord.
showered upon The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod and
is eagerly willing to participate in an expansion program; and

: 24. Wuereas, We have tangible proof that God is showering an
sver greater measure of the grace of giving upon our people; and

85. Wuereas, We have the evidence of the past four years that
‘ar people are willing to give larger sums for the spiritual and
Be physical succor of their fellow men if apprised of the need; and
:. 26. WHEREAS, God expects the Church to bring the needs of the
Kingdom to those people who receive from Him the spiritual and
“: material resources to meet those needs; and

27. Wuereas, Our mission and education boards and -commis-
sions have projected a program of Kingdom work over and above
a normal budgetary increase of approximately ten per cent per

‘- annum, which calls for an expenditure of millions of dollars in the
next years; therefore be it

28. Resolved, That The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod, in
convention assembled in Milwaukee, 1950, instruct the Board of
Directors to inaugurate a

TEN MILLION DOLLAR MISSION AND EDUCATION FUND

and be it furthermore

29. Resolved, That this Mission and Education Fund be used

to help promote the expansion of all branches of synodical work
throughout the world; and be it furthermore

30. Resolved, That the Mission and Education Fund include
a sum total adopted by the convention for building projects for
our ministerial and teacher training program; and be it furthermore

31. Resolved, That the Board of Directors be instructed to make
the collection of this fund a lay movement; and be it furthermore

32. Resolved, That the Board of Directors appoint a committee
from the laity of our Church which shall in full co-operation with
the synodical and District officers and our pastors and teachers be
responsible for carrying out Synod’s Ten Million Dollar Mission
and Education Fund resolution; and be it furthermore

33. Resolved, That Synod urgently request every congregation
to appoint a committee from its midst which will co-operate with
the synodical Mission and Education Fund Committee; and be it
furthermore

34. Resolved, That the Mission and Education Fund Committee,
in co-operation with the Fiscal Conference, designate an opportune