# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1956_S663
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

FINANCIAL MATTERS 663

The average given per communicant member to our Synod’s
program in 1954 was $5.25. In 1955 that average was $5.86 —a dif-
ference of 61 cents, or five cents per month. A dime per member
per month more would have covered all of Synod’s expenses
in 1955.

In 1927 Synod received 12 per cent of our congregations’ total
income. In 1954 it was only 8 per cent. The percentage given by
congregations for Synod in 1955 was no higher.

It would seem to us that our congregations should give a
higher percentage of their over-all income (budgets) to Synod if
their program through Synod is to receive adequate support. It is
our firm conviction that if the average congregation in Synod gave
one third of its budget income to District and Synod, all of the
needs of our District and Synod would be fully met year after year.
Most church bodies are asking their member congregations to give
one dollar for missions to every dollar spent for current local
expenses.

The Houston Convention recommended to the congregations
of Synod that they seriously consider giving a minimum of one
dollar for missions through District and Synod for every two
dollars spent locally for current (budget) operational costs. What
has your congregation done about this recommendation?

EXHIBIT “B”
Districts’ Offerings to Synod

(1946—1955)

a 2a $a 1 ns ne
* rd & es
1946 __.. $ 2,750,000 $ 2,353,876 $ 2,588,819 $ — —_ 104
1947 _.... 2,900,000 2,486,000 2,681,646 92,827 4 100.5
1948 ___.. 3,600,000 2,819,773 3,199,628 517,982 19 96
1949 _... 4,000,000 3,237,174 3,304,943 105,315 3 91
1950 .. 4,250,000 3,901,908 3,928,140 623,197 19 100
1951 _...... 4,750,000 4,464,196 4,334,911 406,771 10 98
1952... 5,250,000 4,907,814 4,652,306 317,395 7 95
1953 _.... 6,500,000 6,117,946 5,627,855 975,549 21 93
1954... 8,100,000 7,359,813 6,855,992 1,228,137 23 90
1955 _... 9,100,000 8,330,714 7,651,401 795,309 12 90.2
1956 ....... 12,900,000 12,323,809 12,450,000 4,672,408* 62* 100
(needed from (needed) (needed)
Districts)

* Since our congregations through their Districts gave only $7,651,401 to
their own program through Synod and their goal for is year is $12,900,000,
our congregations must give $5,248,599 (minus an estimated $450,000 from
Sundry Sources) more this year “if” the 1956 goal is to be reached —or

$4,798,599.