# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_1969_S489
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

476 STEWARDSHIP AND FINANCES; RETIREMENT AND BENEF ITS

(12-08)

To Revive “Venture of Faith” Principles

Wuereas, Venture of Faith was an attempt to pay
our way as we go: and

Wuereas, It was an attempt to change the pattern of
many special offerings: and

Wuereas, Venture of Faith was an honest and dedi-
cated effort to do the Lord’s work in The Lutheran
Church — Missouri Synod with fiscal responsibleness:
and

Wuereas, Venture of Faith did indeed reflect growth
in the grace of giving on the part of the Synod's mem-
bers, and as a result in the 6 years (1956—61) four new
overseas fields were opened: 724 new stations were
opened in North America, 323 of which received help
from the Synod's mission treasury: and

Wuereas, Venture of Faith was given an untimely
end, with the Synod’s return to a program of budget
setting which projected special offerings: and

Wuereas, This type of program had been tried for
a hundred years and more: and

Wuereas, This type of program seems to lead too
often to crying, “wolf, wolf.” and this seems to tend to
a nonlistening attitude on the part of the constituency
of the Synod. and understandably so: and

Wuereas, The multiplication of special offerings de-
fies the orderly development and growth of good stew-
ardship principles: therefore be it

Resolved,

1. That The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod seek
to glorify God also in a dedicated program of Christian
stewardship of the total life:

2. That the Stewardship Department of the Synod
be more closely involved in the budget setting and de-
veloping process:

3. That such basic principles of participatory democ-
racy in the budget developing and setting process be
not neglected:

4. That the Synod return immediately to the prin-
ciples of the Venture of Faith enunciated so clearly and
effectively from 1956 to 1961:

2. That the synodical Stewardship Department in
conjunction with the District Stewardship Departments
actively promote the Venture of Faith and good prin-
ciples of Christian stewardship.

Rev. Geruarpt J. C. GerikKe
Des Moines. Iowa

(12-09)

To Limit Budget to District Commitments

Wuereas, The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod
has again adopted a budget which exceeds the commit-
ments made by congregations through their Districts,
and this time in the amount of $2.279,000: and

Wuereas, This kind of fiscal policy does not seem to
recognize the nature of conditions as they at present
obtain in our country and church: and

Wuereas, A continuation of this kind of thinking and
spending will seemingly again lead to an excessive in-
debtedness: and

Wuereas, The Synod is now budgeting $200,000 for
debt reduction: and

Wuereas, There will always be bona fide needs for
special offerings for the Lord's work without building
a special offering into the budget: and

Wuereas, Districts are bound to operate within their
commitments; therefore be it

Resolved,

1. That the Board of Directors and the Fiscal Review
Commission limit the annual synodical budget to an
amount not to exceed the commitments submitted by
the Districts:

2. That sound fiscal policies be employed and fol-
lowed in all departments of the Synod:

3. That every effort be made to liquidate the present
indebtedness so that the funds presenily budgeted for
debt reduction may be released for constructive King-
dom work;

4. That the respective synodical and District stew-
ardship departments cease being mere “fund raisers”:

d. That the respective stewardship departments de-
vote their best efforts to raising God's people to a higher
level of commitment to God's kingdom work through
continuous and thorough instruction in the principles
of stewardship of the total life:

6. That every District support adequately the work
of the Synod by correspondingly increasing its mone-
tary support for the Synod as its support for the District
program increases:

7. That we at this convention implore God's bless-
ings upon the efforts of the members of the Synod to
become good, yes. master stewards of the manifold
blessings of God. so that a world in need may be helped

—even at this late date. Rev, Gerwarpt J. C. GERIKE

Des Moines, Iowa
(12-10)
To Permit Withdrawal
of Pension Plan Contributions

Whereas, The Lutheran Church — Missouri Svnod
has established a Pension Plan to provide for the retire-
ment years of workers in the church: and

WHEREAS, The Pension Plan allowed participating
members to build up an equity by contributing a per-
centage of their own income: and

Wuereas, The congregations and boards of the Synod
contributed an amount to assist in providing for retire-
ment benefits: and

Wuereas, Such amounts paid by congregations and
boards were designated for the benefit of specific indi-
vidual participating members: and

Wuereas, Such amounts paid by congregations and
boards were generally reckoned as fringe benefits of
the participating member: and