# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1956_S679
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

FINANCIAL MATTERS 679

X. Financing

It is our conservative estimate that a minimum of $200,000
will be needed annually in the foreseeable future to enable our
Synod to discharge, as a responsible church, its Good Samaritan
duty among the homeless and hungry and suffering people in our
world, among whom are a great many of our Christian brothers.

Half of this amount, for the first time, has been included in
Synod’s 1956 budget. It is our earnest hope that voluntary contri-
butions from congregations, societies, and individuals will be
sufficient to cover the balance.

From the comparatively small amount designated for World
Relief and Refugee Resettlement in the “Building for Christ”
endeavor, only a very modest amount has been made available
for World Relief: We say this with discomfort, but without
complaint. The major portion of these funds has been needed
to meet the costs of the refugee resettlement program under the
direction of Synod’s Board of Social Welfare. We are confident,
however, that our Synod and our Synod’s people will provide
needed funds so that we shall not be compelled to “pass by on
the other side” with the cries of numberless people ringing
in our ears.

XI. District Representatives

Almost all of Synod’s Districts have appointed one or more
pastors who serve our Board as District representatives and
interpret and implement our cause within the District. Their
service is also indispensable to us in evaluating relief requests
which come from within their Districts and, in particular, in times
when disaster strikes within the District and when a key personnel
for relief administration should at once be available.

We are grateful for the conscientious service rendered to our
cause by these brethren. This acknowledgment also applies to
additional brethren, who serve as clothing-drive chairmen in
areas where boxcar ingatherings have been established, and to.
the many who give leadership in the All-Lutheran Food Appeal.

XI. A Final Word

In evaluating the role of the church in our modern world
it is helpful to remember how closely the ministry of love was
knit to the ministry of the Word in the life of our Savior. Through
World Relief our Synod’s arm of love demonstrates a long reach.
Love, the ultimate fulfillment of the will of God, is something that
people everywhere, regardless of language, creed, or color, can
understand. We have sometimes, unlike our Lord, underestimated