# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_2007_S196 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) 196 PROGRAM AND FINANCE — WuerEAS, The financial aid now needed challenges the finan- cial structures of our seminaries, being dependent on development and third-source income to cover both the financial aid that subsi- dizes tuition and the loss of much of the Synod’s subsidy; and WHEREAS, Both seminaries have responded to the Synod’s call with increased attention to recruitment, financial aid, and develop- ment; and WHEREAS, The corporate Synod is supporting the seminaries with $750,000 total from undesignated funds in the 2006-2007 budget; and WHEREAS, The Synod as a whole supports the seminaries; and WHerEAS, The Board for Pastoral Education undertook as its immediate first task a systemic study of the funding models for the- ological education in our Synod (2004 Res. 4-02A); and WHEREAS, The Board for Pastoral Education sought to engage leaders and representative agencies of the church for counsel and support in resolving this crisis (2004 Res. 4-02A); therefore be it Resolved, That the Synod as a whole continue to support each seminary’s development efforts; and be it further Resolved, That the funding model adopted by the Board for Pas- toral Education be put into place, including: « Continued direct funding of the seminaries by the corporate Synod from its annual budget in the form of subsidy. * An intentional and fundamental shift away from being gift-driven to being tuition-driven institutions. This shift will make funding more predictable and reduce the risk of financial crises at the seminaries. ¢ The LCMS as a whole (individuals, congregations, circuits, dis- tricts, corporate Synod, and agencies) assume primary responsibility for gathering funds to support seminary students and assist them in paying undiscounted tuition (1995 Resolution 5-02A, namely, “set as a goal the ingathering of funds sufficient to cover the cost of all tuition for every student enrolled in the seminaries for the purpose of entering the LCMS pastoral ministry”). LCMS Board for Pastoral Education 4-15 To Develop Plan for Support of Seminaries WHEREAS, The financial support given to our two seminaries has continued to decline over the past years; and WHEREAS, Art. III.3 of our Synod’s Constitution states that one of the main objectives for forming our Synod was to “recruit and train pastors, teachers, and other professional church workers, and provide opportunity for their continued growth”; and WHEREAS, The seminaries are important in conserving and pro- moting the unity of the true faith (Eph. 4:3-6); therefore be it Resolved, That the 2007 Synod convention instruct the LCMS Board of Directors, along with both seminary presidents, to de- velop a fiscally sound plan of support for both seminaries; and be it further Resolved, That the LCMS Board of Directors immediately im- plement this plan of financial support. Salem Taylorsville, NC 4-16 To Continue to Increase Seminary Funding WHEREAS, The objectives of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod state that the Synod shall “recruit and train pastors...” and that the Synod shall “aid congregations...to support synodical ...seminaries” (Art. III); and WHEREAS, The Synod Board of Directors has increased the Synod subsidy given to our seminaries from $349,998 in 2003- 2004 to $500,000 in 2004-2005 to $750,000 in 2005-2006; there- fore be it Resolved, That the 2007 Synod convention directs the Synod Board of Directors to continue to increase yearly the amount of the Synod subsidy given to our seminaries. Immanuel Mernill, WI 4-17 To Support Synod Schools’ Development Efforts WHEREAS, Holy Scripture tells us that among the gifts that God has given to His Church is the gift of “pastors and teachers” (Eph. 4:11); and WHEREAS, The support of seminaries and colleges for the re- cruitment and training of pastors, teachers, and other professional church workers is a key objective of The Lutheran Church—Mis- souri Synod according to Art. III of the Constitution; and Wuereas, The Synod has understood the wisdom of providing support for these schools, so that their energies may be properly focused on the preparation of pastors, teachers, and other profes- sional church workers with integrity and a strong sense of service to the church; and WHEREAS, The financial aid now needed challenges the finan- cial structures of our schools, being dependent on development and third-source income to cover both the financial aid that supports tuition and the loss of the Synod subsidy; and WHEREAS, These schools have responded to the Synod’s call with increased attention to recruitment, financial aid, and develop- ment; therefore be it Resolved, That the Synod as a whole continue to support each school’s development efforts; and be it further Resolved, That Synod’s Board of Directors increase its finan- cial support of these schools during the next triennium. Board of Directors Southeastern District To Create Revenue Stream for Hispanic Institute of Theology (HIT) WHEREAS, The Hispanic Institute of Theology has been the most effective program for preparing LCMS Hispanic church workers, both lay and rostered; and WHEREAS, Both the Synod’s Board for Mission Services and the Board for University Education (BHE) eliminated their funding for the HIT; therefore be it Resolved, That the Texas District convention memorialize the 2007 LCMS convention to identify a permanent revenue stream, in addition to the funding provided by Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, to fund the work of the HIT or its successor. Texas District 4-19 To Provide Adequate Church Worker Salaries WHEREAS, An increasing number of pastors/church workers are having a difficult time financially; and WHEREAS, Work suffers under the stress of financial difficul- ties, in time lost trying to take care of the problems that arise, and in the feelings of failure in not being able to take care of one’s fam- ily and responsibilities as one should; and WHEREAS, Some congregations also struggle financially, which can lead to stress between the pastor and congregation or even open conflict as a result of the financial difficulties that each is having. This can then lead to feelings or allegations that the pastor is not doing his job and/or that the congregation is not doing its part in support of the pastor, probably not even seeing or speaking of the real cause for the conflict in the finances; and