# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1995_S128
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

4. Program and Finance

- To Promote Our Walking Together
_ in Biblical Stewardship

RESOLUTION 4-01B

Report R4-01 (CW, pp. 70-72); Overtures 4-20, 4-23
(CW, pp. 198-99)

Background:

During the past triennium an Expanding the Circle
(ETC) working team, in response to Res. 4-04A of the 1992
synodical convention, continued to pilot-test the ETC model
as a means to provide organized opportunity for designated
funding of synodical and District projects while also allow-
ing for traditional funding methods. This pilot effort has
been completed.

Synodical president A. L. Barry has advocated a yes/yes
concept of funding the Synod’s work, a concept which says
not only yes to traditional methods of funding such as uni-
fied giving, but also yes to such methods as designated giv-
ing, also underscoring the need to bring order to these var-
ied efforts.

WHEREAS, Many individuals and congregations advocate
a unified budget approach to funding the work of the
church, and others advocate a designated-giving approach;
and

WuerEas, Our synodical administration advocates a
-yes/yes concept of funding which affirms both unified and
designated giving; therefore be it

Resolved, That Synod’s Board of Directors continue to
develop a clear and simple system which facilitates an or-
derly yes/yes concept of funding throughout the Synod; and
beitfurther

Resolved, That the Board of Directors report on progress
made in its report to the 1998 synodical convention.

Action: Adopted (12).

To Support Full Financial Disclosure
RESOLUTION 4-02A

Report R7-04-A (TB, pp. 11-18); Overtures 4-01-08,
7-78 (CW, pp. 193-96, 248)

Rationale:

The President’s Task Force on Finances recommended
“that the Synod in convention ... adopt a practice of full dis-
closure.” In considering this recommendation the synodical
Board of Directors concurred that the 1995 convention
should clarify, preferably through Bylaws, what is consid-
ered as “full financial disclosure.”

Having reviewed the recommendations of the Board of
Directors of the Synod, the Missouri Nonprofit Corporation
Act, and overtures submitted to the convention; therefore
be it
Resolved, That the following addition be made to the
Synod’s Bylaws regarding general provisions for officers,
boards and commissions:

129

Committee 4 Chairman Raymond L. Hartwig

PRESENT / PROPOSED WORDING

3.72 Full Financial Disclosure

a. The Synod and all of its entities and agencies
shall fully disclose their financial books and records to
any member congregation of the Synod. Full disclosure
includes all information (including, but not limited to,
information required to be made available under state
law) recorded in any fashion, except the following:

1. Information which would violate the expected con-
fidentiality of donors.

2. Personnel files or other information that would vi-
olate the expected confidentiality of officers and employ-
ees. (Salaries of elected officers of the Synod shall be
published annually in an official periodical.)

3. Information which relates to in-process negotia-
tions of financial matters. '

4. Information the disclosure of which would breach
a legal obligation of the Synod or tts entities or agencies
or affect pending litigation or claims against the Synod
or its entities or agencies. :

5. Information which is preliminary in nature or oth-
erwise has not been finalized in its form and content.

b. The Accounting Department of the Synod shall
publish annually in an official periodical an invitation
to request full audited financial statements and sum-
mary operating budgets of the Synod or its entities or
agencies.

c. The Synod and its entities and agencies shall
share, upon request, the quarterly financial statements
as reported to the respective governing board.

d. Requests for detailed financial information or the
inspection of financial records shall be made in writing
to the respective corporate boards by a member congre-
gation and shall state the records desired and the time
period to be covered. Any inspection of financial records
shall be done by a member(s) of the congregation or its
stated authorized agent at a mutually agreeable time
and place.