# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_2019_S179 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) 8. FINANCE To Encourage Congregations to Support Pastoral Formation To Encourage a Synodwide 1.1.1 Funding Model for Defined Mission Outcomes RESOLUTION 8-01 RESOLUTION 8-02 Overture 8-04 (CW, 479–80) Overture 8-01 (CW, 478) WHEREAS, Well-trained pastors are essential for the ongoing work of Word and Sacrament ministry in our congregations; and WHEREAS, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) has been blessed by God with two seminaries for the training and equipping of parish pastors and every congregation in Synod has and continues to benefit from the work of our seminaries in training and equipping parish pastors; and WHEREAS, Every congregation in our Synod has benefited and continues to benefit from the ministry and service of well-trained pastors from our Synod’s seminaries; and WHEREAS, As the cost of seminary education continues to rise, the LCMS continues to search for ways to cover the costs of maintaining the quality of the pastoral education of our seminaries without unduly increasing the financial burden of the students; and WHEREAS, The occasions of ordinations and/or installations and the ordination anniversaries of pastors provide wonderful opportunities for congregations to show their thankfulness to God for a pastor to carry out the Word and Sacrament ministry in its midst; therefore be it Resolved, That congregations of the LCMS be encouraged to take a special thank-offering on the occasion of the installation and/or ordination of a new pastor or the anniversary of their pastor’s ordination to support the LCMS joint seminary fund or the LCMS seminary of their choice. Action: Adopted (7) It was moved and seconded to strike “the LCMS Joint Seminary Fund” from the resolve on lines 19–20. After a delegate objected to the chair’s suggestion to move to a vote, another speaker called the question. On a point of order, the mover of the amendment was allowed to speak to his motion. Closure of debate on the amendment carried [Yes: 759; No: 40] and the amendment failed [Yes: 203; No: 623]. The chairman noted the orders of the day, and debate was closed [Yes: 790; No: 29]. Res. 8-01 was adopted as presented [Yes: 786; No: 47]. WHEREAS, Resolution 2-02 adopted at the 2018 English District convention established a funding model for missions whereby congregations gather significant gifts above and beyond regular offerings to be used for specifically designated mission endeavors (namely, the $1 per member per week initiative, hereafter “1.1.1”); and WHEREAS, Congregations of the English District are joyfully participating in this simple model, showing there is power and strength in many giving a little as these congregations offer meaningful extra funds for missions; and WHEREAS, $52 per baptized member would make a significant mission impact; and WHEREAS, The Church is the beautiful Body of Christ that desires more missions to be started, more missionaries to be sent, more pastors and teachers to be trained, more people to be baptized, to hear of Jesus and be saved; and WHEREAS, Mission funding by member congregations has been a hallmark of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) since its founding, as seen in the original Synod Constitution, Chapter I, “Reasons for Forming a Synodical Organization” (tr. Suelflow, Concordia Historical Institute Quarterly 16, no. 1 [Apr. 1943]: 1–18): Committee 8 Chairman Mark Miller Resolutions PROCEEDINGS OF THE 2019 (67TH) LCMS CONVENTION | 179