# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_2016_S379
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

FLOOR COMMITTEE REPORTS AND OVERTURES ASSIGNMENTS

9. Finance
REPORTS
R1, R1.1, R1.2, R5, R16, R17, R54
OVERTURES
9-01

To Improve Transparency and Accountability
for Financial Gifts from God’s Stewards
Whereas, Monies for special appeals requested by the corporate
Synod (e.g., following natural disasters) are reported only in part in
Synod publications (e.g., Reporter and The Lutheran Witness) and
sometimes only annually; and
Whereas, Donors and members of the Synod are interested in the
impact of funds raised and a fuller accounting of special appeals and
will appreciate improved financial transparency; and
Whereas, The corporate Synod recognizes the need to improve
financial reporting from all areas of Synod, including special appeals;
therefore be it
Resolved, That the Mid-South District convention commend
the various financial offices of the corporate Synod (e.g., the fund
development office) for their efforts to date to improve financial transparency and accountability; and be it further
Resolved, That the financial offices of the corporate Synod continue to recognize the desire of donors and members of the Synod to
improve processes of reporting and work to provide clear, timely, and
transparent accounting for all funding and special appeals, so that the
Body of Christ may experience the joy of Gospel-centered mission
and ministry beyond the local context or community; and be it further
Resolved, That the Mid-South District encourage the LCMS Board
of Directors and national leadership team to pursue all reasonable
avenues to enhance such reporting through its varied communication channels, including the dissemination of an official Synod annual
report (in addition to the annual “State of the Synod” issue of The
Lutheran Witness) as well as annual fiscal conferences; and be it
finally
Resolved, That the Mid-South District submit this resolution as a
memorial to the 2016 Synod convention.
Mid-South District

and other agencies” and to provide for immediate and future work
in our Lord’s kingdom through proper estate planning, using such
devices as unitrusts, annuities, life reserve, and life income agreements to transfer cash, securities, and real estate to the church; and
Whereas, Since its incorporation, the LCMS Foundation has distributed over $1 billion dollars from gifts provided by generous and
spirit-moved donors to ministries of the LCMS; and
Whereas, The Foundation earnestly endeavors to continue
serving our church body and its entire membership by channeling
additional support to the missionary, educational, and other activities of the Synod; therefore be it
Resolved, That the Synod commend the LCMS Foundation to
our congregations and their membership, urging them to utilize the
Foundation’s services in making special gifts available for our work
at home and abroad; and be it further
Resolved, That the 2016 Synod convention express deep appreciation to the generous donors who have elected to utilize the channel
of the Foundation in the exercise of their Christian stewardship; and
be it further
Resolved, That all members of the LCMS be encouraged to use
estate planning also to provide additional resources for the extension
of Christ’s church in the future; and be it further
Resolved, That the Foundation seek to expand its various deferred
giving programs within the LCMS for the promotion of the church’s
mission and ministry; and be it further
Resolved, That the Synod give thanks to the Lord for His gifts and
the ability to use them to His glory and the welfare of His church;
and be it further
Resolved, That the official boards of all districts, Synod schools,
affiliated agencies, and congregations make themselves aware of and
be encouraged to utilize the LCMS Foundation’s various services and,
where feasible, use the Foundation in establishing their own endowment funds; and be it finally
Resolved, That the LCMS, in convention assembled, implore the
overflowing blessing of the Lord of the Church on the continued activities of the LCMS Foundation, so that under divine benediction it may
continue to be a powerful help in the expansion of our Synod’s work.
Don Graf, Chairman
David Fiedler, President
9-03

To Urge Synod to Increase
Seminary Financial Assistance

9-02

To Commend Work of LCMS Foundation
Whereas, The Lord of the Church has placed before our Synod
many remarkable opportunities for Gospel testimony, both at home
and abroad; and
Whereas, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod Foundation
was incorporated in 1958 to promote the growth of our church body
by receiving special gifts on behalf of the church, including its congregations, districts, schools, RSOs, auxiliaries, and other organizations;
and
Whereas, The Foundation offers investment management services for planned gifts, endowments, and trust funds of the Synod
and its agencies, striving to offer competitive returns in a low-cost
model; and
Whereas, The Foundation was created to offer “programs of
deferred giving … for the Synod, its districts, colleges, seminaries,
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Whereas, The Scriptures ask, “How are they to hear without
someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are
sent?” (Romans 10:14b–15a); and
Whereas, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod’s third stated
objective for existence (of ten stated objectives) is to “recruit and train
pastors, teachers, and other professional church workers and provide
opportunity for their continuing growth” (Constitution, Art. III 3); and
Whereas, The Augsburg Confession reminds us that the Office
of the Holy Ministry is a gift of God for the whole church: “To obtain
this faith God instituted the office of preaching” (AC V), and we ought
therefore support its equipping; and
Whereas, The Synod currently dedicates less than 6 percent of
its annual Mission and Ministry Operating Budget ($3.42 million of
$60.9 million “program board” dollars = 5.6 percent; statistics available at www.lcms.org/documentlibrary) to the financial support of
2016 Convention Workbook