# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1969_S159
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

RESOLUTIONS 159

Wuereas, Past experience has demonstrated that lay
people respond more readily to such a personalized pro-
gram; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Stewardship Department of the
Synod —

1) explore the possibility of developing a program
whereby a portion of the annual suggested goal for a
District be designated for a specific area of the synodical
budget;

2) be of assistance to the District in using this for
the yearly District mission emphasis;

3) having found such an approach feasible, imple-
ment the program in the 1971 budget; and be it further

Resolved, That the mission areas suggested to the
Districts be rotated from year to year to provide an in-
depth understanding of the total mission needs and
budget; and be it finally

Resolved, That the stewardship departments of the
Districts be encouraged to redistribute specific mission
and synodical budget items to individual congregations
within each District.

Action: Adopted (10).

To Limit Budget to District Commitments
and Sundry Income
RESOLUTION 12-07

Overture 12-09 (CW, p. 476)

Wuenreas, There has been an apparent lack of corre-
lation between the District commitments to the Synod
during the past 5 years and the actual receipts from
Districts for synodical purposes, as demonstrated by the
fact that the actual receipts fell $3.7 million short of
the District commitments; and

Wuenreas, There has been a parallel lack of correla-
tion between the adopted synodical budget and the ac-
tual receipts from Districts, the difference amounting to
$11.3 million during this same 5-year period; and

Wuereas, The adopted synodical budgets have ex-
ceeded expected income from the Districts, i.e. the
District commitments, by $7.6 million from 1964 to 1968;
and

Wuereas, Actual disbursements for total current
operations were barely met by all receipts of the Synod,
including sundry sources of income, and have, in fact,
exceeded the actual receipts from Districts by $6.2 mil-
lion during this same 5-year period; and

Wuereas, This seems to suggest a stewardship prob-
lem on the part of all Districts and members, as well
as a planning problem in corporate financial matters
on the part of those entrusted with the establishment
of synodical budgets; and

Wuereas, These problems should lead to a reassess-
ment of the total synodical stewardship of financial
affairs; therefore be it

Resolved, That every District support adequately the
well-planned work of the Synod by correspondingly

increasing its monetary support for the Synod, as the
support of the individual District is increased by its
members; and be it further

Resolved, That those entrusted with the establish-
ment of synodical budgets return to the implied prin-
ciples of Christian stewardship set forth in the synod-
ical Handbook, Section 9.03, particularly paragraph f,
wherein we are directed to maintain a planned budget
closely in line with District commitments; and be it
further

Resolved, That such planned budgets be based on
District commitments in addition to income from sundry
sources; and be it finally

Resolved, That since we historically have seen a re-
duced realization in actual receipts from Districts in
comparison with District commitments, that this ob-
served historical realization factor be determined and
utilized in the establishing of future budgets.

Action: Adopted as given above (10).

(The committee agreed to an expanded title and to the
substitution of “in addition to” for “exclusive of” in the
third resolved.)

To Continue Development of Natural
and Human Resources
RESOLUTION 12-08

Overture 12-34 (CW, p. 481)

Wuereas, The stewardship of all natural and human
resources in the world has been given into human hands
by our heavenly Father (Gen. 1: 28-31); and

Wuereas, The air, water, minerals, and plant and
animal life of this planet are being polluted, poisoned,
exploited, and laid waste, and our human resources mis-
managed; and

WuHereaS, Many of our laymen and clergy are active
in the restoration and/or preservation of these re-
sources; and

WHEREAS, Many of the materials produced and dis-
tributed by the Synod and its auxiliaries and agencies
(LLL, LWML, CPH, Sunday school, devotional and
vacation Bible school materials) are designed to equip
our people for these responsibilities; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Synod and its auxiliaries and
agencies continue the development of materials which
provide the proper theological perspective and encour-
agement in these matters; and be it finally

Resolved, That we continue to exhort one another to
take a more active role in fulfilling these Christian re-
sponsibilities.

Action: Adopted (10).

To Accept Report of Board of Trustees
for Trust Funds
RESOLUTION 12-09
Report 12-04 (CW, p.466—467)

Wuereas, The Board of Trustees show by their re-
port they have been competent and diligent in their