# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1926_S145
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

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Ev. Luth. Synod of Missouri, Ohio, and Other States. 1926. 181-

Fund. Most of these can be only partially granted and many
not at all. ,

The splendid response of our members to Synod’s Building Fund
appeal and the generous contributions made by our people to the
Support Fund under the consecrated leadership of our noble Lu-
theran Laymen’s League embolden the Home Missions Conference to
come before Synod with this proposition : —

That Synod set as its main objective for the forthcoming trien-
nium (1926—29) the ingathering of three and one half million dol-:
lars ($3,500,000) for our Church Extension Fund. -

1. We need a fund of such dimensions. The sects and also other
Lutheran synods have funds running into millions. This enables
them ofttimes to forge ahead of us at places where we really began
earlier than they. The net worth of our General Fund is now about
one million dollars; and the resources of all our District funds
amount to about another million dollars. The balances indicated in
the annual reports in the Statistical Year-Book represent, in nearly

- all cases, amounts already promised to congregations and missions.

The General Board as well as the District boards must annually
turn down appeals where help is urgently needed. This condition
must be remedied.

2. We point to the blessing such an enlarged fund can yield.
Where adequate non-interest-bearing loans can be made, thousands
of dollars can annually be saved in rentals of places of worship and
of homes for our missionaries. It is estimated that over $100,000
is spent annually in rents for halls and other places used for worship
and approximately $150,000 for rentals of parsonages. Some of our
congregations in the West must pay as high as eight and nine per
cent. on loans secured on their property. If this drain could be

~ stopped, subsidies to missions could be reduced, and other stations

could be opened. The Church Extension Fund is the handmaiden

F’ of the Mission Fund.

8. That a fund of $3,500,000 can be raised in the next three
years is evidenced by what was accomplished in the past six years

~ in our Syriod. Our Christian people are no poorer through their

= giving of the past years. Many have now learned the joy and blessed-

a ness of giving. And many, indeed, have already been rewarded by the

Lord of heaven for their faithful stewardship in that He has en-

; trusted them with increased earthly treasures. We: therefore recom-
‘mend to Synod the appointment of a Ways and Means Committee

fe ‘ to conduct a campaign similar to that for our Building Fund.

4, Finally, the Missions Conference ventures to suggest that one

P’ half of the amount raised in each District revert to the Extension

Fund of the respective District. In this ‘way independent efforts,