# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_2007_S28 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) 28 ‘ SYNOD REPORTS creasing personal communication through the existing struc- tures must be improved until there is a change in the existing structures. In the first years of implementing this effort the Synod/districts should WITHOUT ANY REQUEST FOR MONEY simply share the long list of benefits derived from syn- odical membership. The list is formidable. In future years, some basic assumptions of what is expected from congregations as they covenant with their sister congregations should be shared. As this process is shared each year (perhaps all electronically) a set of added values for reasonable support might be added. If a congre- gation responds by meeting its financial expectations, then addi- tional services may be provided to those congregations without charge. If a congregation refuses to meet its reasonable financial obligation, then it should be subject to a “fee for services” expec- tation for the many services it is receiving and yet not acknowl- edging with some degree of responsible fiscal support. The districts and Synod should work together to implement these changes. (F) - ASUMMARY OF THE EFFECT OF THESE RECOMMENDATIONS This report has come after two years of regular meetings by our task force and many assignments completed by members of the task force between meetings. Our task force included members from the Council of Presidents and Board of Directors and we have met with both groups on two separate occasions. In addition, we presented portions of our report for feedback from the National Conference of Synodical Business Managers and a group of staff people from 6 districts in the south and central part of our Synod. We have interviewed any number of leaders in our church body in- cluding the leaders of several RSOs, entities and agencies. We met jointly with the Blue Ribbon Task Force on Synod Governance and Structure and had the consultation of not only Dr. David Roozen, but also Dr. Lyle Schaller, who shared with us what other denomi- nations were doing with the challenge of funding national church operations. We studied extensively the work that was done by pre- vious groups that worked on these same issues. We have had the ongoing assistance of the Synod’s Chief Financial Officer along with the Synod’s President and his assistants. We believe the investment Synod makes in the “seeds” of this report (well sown and watered in the fields the Lord has given us to harvest) will yield tenfold in additional support for work w: y S together as Th theran Church—Missouri Synod. Every recommendation of this report is important. They all connect to each other. Some will work independently of others, but none will work alone as well as they all will work when fit together in the giant puzzle that is: “HOW CAN WE BETTER FUND OUR MISSION?” (Here will follow a summary of the potential “dollar” cost of our recommendations.) Recommendation #1 Establish funding for a Stewardship Executive, Assistant, Travel, and Materials, cost = $ 200,000 Recommendation #2 Establish funding for an Evangelism Executive, Assistant, Travel, and Materials, cost = $ 200,000 Recommendation #3 Fund a summit of leaders for “Harmony for the Sake of the Great Commission,” cost = $ 50,000 Recommendation #4 Prepare a DVD/Training Booklet, cost = $ 100,000 No cost for Storytellers Funding for an Every Member Magazine, cost = $1,000,000 2007 Convention Workbook Recommendation #5 No cost involved Recommendation #6 Costs already included in operating budgets Recommendation #7 No cost involved Recommendation #8 No cost involved Recommendation #9 No cost involved Recommendation #10 Cost to fund a Fiscal Conference, cost = $ 250,000 Recommendation #11 No cost involved Appendix Members of the task force David Buegler, Avon, OH William Diekelman, St. Louis, MO Gloria Edwards, Portola Valley, CA Kirk Farney, Hinsdale, IL Merle Freitag, St. Louis, MO Dwayne Jobst, Menomonee Falls, WI John Kieschnick, Houston, TX Keith Kohlmeier, Topeka, KS Tom Kuchta, St. Louis, MO Day May, Fort Wayne, IN Carol Olson, Afton, MN Gary Thies, Mapleton, IA Ed Trapp, Dallas, TX Chad Woltemath, Ann Arbor, MI Mark Zehnder, Omaha, NE A Hymn of Encouragement “Arise, O Church of God, Arise” by W. Harry Krieger. Tune: Lasst uns erfreuen. Printed by permission. Arise, O Church of God, arise! Bestir thyself, lift up thine eyes. See the nations in commotion. See tumult, warfare, earthquake, flood, Sun turn to darkness, moon to blood! Men’s hearts fail them, Fears assail them. Hear their sighing. Souls are dying. Time is flying! Attend, O Church of God give ear! Thy King commands in accents clear; Spread the tidings of salvation. As once My Father sent Me forth So send I you thro’ all the earth. Rise, delay not, Go and stay not. I who send you will attend you and defend you. Fail not, O Church of God to heed the world’s sad cry, her anguish, need. If thou bleed not, thou canst bless not. Despise not thou the servant’s place. So came thy Lord in matchless grace. Christ most holy served the lowly. Thus He taught us. He who sought us, Loved and bought us. Exult, O Church of God, and bless the Lamb, the Lord our righteous- ness. His the kingdom, His the power! To Him all laud and glory be Thro’ time and thro’ eternity. Heav’'n rejoices, Lift your voices. Come before Him. Pray, implore Him. Praise, adore Him! Amen. To God Be The Glory!