# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1887_S82
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

82 Proceedings of the 20th General or

The Matter of Support [Unterstützungssache]

Resolved, that the following proposal, concerning the matter of
support, be adopted.

Preliminary remark: Since the forms of support, although they all
serve the one purpose, namely relieving existing need, nevertheless
require different handling in various respects, they are conveniently
divided into two classes.

I. Support of poor, sick, and infirm-with-age pastors and teachers,
as well as poor widows and orphans of pastors and teachers.

II. Support of congregations in need of help.

Each district takes the provision of this support into its own hands
and regards it as a synodical matter. — Pastors, teachers, widows, and
orphans, of whom mention is made here, are considered by a district to be
such persons as are dependent on its support when they became in need of
support within its territory, even if they should later choose their
place of residence within the territory of another district. — The
following paragraphs shall serve as the regulation:

I.

§ 1. Each district establishes, for the support of poor, sick, and
infirm-with-age pastors and teachers, as well as poor widows and orphans
of pastors and teachers, a special fund (Support Fund) and appoints a
special committee (Support Committee).

§ 2. The members of this committee, three in number (and living as
near together as possible), are elected at the same time and in the same
manner as the other district officers.

§ 3. All requests for support are to be directed to this committee,
and all gifts received for this purpose are to be placed at its disposal
by the district treasurer.

§ 4. The committee is to examine closely every case in which help is
sought, and accordingly to publish an estimate of the funds likely to be
needed in the course of the year and to call for gifts for this purpose.
While the committee generally follows the customary standard rate
($100.00 for a widow and $20.00 for a child under twelve years), it shall
nonetheless have full authority, according to circumstances, to set the
support to be granted higher or lower and to convey it to the party
concerned.

§ 5. The committee is to render account to the district synod at its
meeting, or to its delegates during the General Synod.