# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1950_S1259
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

780 FINANCIAL MATTERS

Elimination of Wasteful Practices in Synod
‘(Unprinted Memorial 71)

Wuereas, Synod has committed itself during the last decade,
probably in the interest of increasing its efficiency, to a program
which includes the creation and maintenance of a multiplicity .of
boards and executive secretaries; and

Wuereas, This development is costing Synod increasingly large
sums of money, clearly at the expense of an all-out missionary
expansion program; and

Wuereas, The activities of a number of the executive secretaries
now holding’ office have been in the nature of supplanting the
functions of the God-given parish ministry of the Church; and

Wuereas, The Board of Public Relations in particular has
not warranted its existence and the large expense connected with
its maintenance; and

Wuereas, Many of the activities of boards and executive
officers are tending to give us a synodical policy which is bureau-
cratic in character; and

Wuereas, The action of the Stewardship Committee in sending
out men to appear in the various circuits has placed an over-
emphasis on the stewardship of money and has infringed upon
the rights of the individual congregations, which were not pre-
viously consulted in the project; therefore be it

Resolved, That Synod instruct its Board of Directors to take the
necessary steps to liquidate all appointive offices which are not
absolutely necessary for the functioning of Synod as a corporate
body; and be it further

Resolved, That Synod return to the Scriptural position of
having the local congregation or individual church the functioning
unit of Synod and instruct the individual pastors in its member-
ship to discharge the duties of their office, also in instructing
Sunday school teachers and deacons, give information on the
missions of the Church, and otherwise promote the work of the
kingdom at large; and be it further

Resolved, That any secretaries still remaining confine their
activities to dispensing information as required by pastors instead
of broadcasting it in such masses as to make most of it useless
for the average pastor. Axsert C. Rotr, Ambia, Ind.

ACTION
The resolution of Committee 11 to reject this memorial was

adopted. Resolution 15

Your Committee examined carefully Overture 71 (unprinted)
and finds that it is covered in part by. our recommendation for
Overture 417; and