# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1932_S140 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) 206 Proceedings of Thirty-Fifth Regular Convention, Committee recommends to Synod the adoption of the following rego. lution to remedy the situation : — “RESOLVED, That all surplus funds in the hands of Synod’s officers and employees who by virtue of their office act as custodians or trustees of such funds be made available to the Treasurer of Synod. This means that, while the funds for which the money was given retain the credit, Synod can use the cash to offset the deficit in other treasuries until the money is needed by the respective institutions.” This resolution was adopted by Synod. 601, B, 2, the recommendation concerning the turning over of a part of the property at Oakland to Redeemer Church, was disposed of under the resolutions concerning the Oakland College. As to B, 3, it was resolved upon recommendation of Committee 1 to instruct the Board of Directors to appoint such a standing Advisory Committee for Valparaiso. As to B, 4, 5, and 6, turning certain missions over to the Districts in which they are conducted, this was disposed of under the resolutions on “Missions in General.” As to B, 7%, combining the two executive offices of the Board of Education, this was disposed of under the resolution brought in by Committee 6, Synod adopting this recommendation. As to B, 8, the recommendation of Committee 19 was adopted by Synod: — “That all such cases of need as merit Synod’s assistance and yet do not specifically come within the scope and sphere of the operation of the Board of Support or any other board of Synod be referred to the Board for General Relief and that the rules and regulations for the Board for General Relief be hereby construed as applying to all such cases.” As to B, 9, the resolution was passed, upon recommendation of Committee 1, “that Synod affirm the stand of the Board of Directors ‘to declare that all extracurricular work which our instructors have to do for their respective institutions must be done gratis.” As to B, 10, concerning separate incorporations, this was disposed of by the adoption of the recommendations of Committee 15 to give this into the hands of a special committee to be appointed. by the President. As to B, 12, the cutting of salaries and expenses, this matter was covered by the following resolution brought in by Committee 1 and adopted by Synod: — 1. That Synod commend the efforts of the Board of Directors in reducing the expenditures wherever possible. 2. Although Synod fixed the salaries of the professors in 1929, and although any adjustment in the salaries must be made by the Board of Control with the consent of the Board of Directors, nevertheless we OR Aer scene, a Ev. Luth. Synod of Missouri, Ohio, and Other States. 1932. 207 recommend to Synod to approve the action of the Board of Directors in cutting the salaries of the professors as an emergency measure. ° 3. We recommend that Synod approve all other reductions of ex- penses made by the Board of Directors. 4. We recommend that Synod empower the Board of Directors to make all necessary adjustments during the next triennium. Duties and Functions of the Board of Directors. (Unprinted Memorial 94.) Report of Committee 1:— We recommend that the President be asked to instruct a com- mittee to examine and revise the existing regulations governing the duties, functions, and powers of the Board of Directors and to formu- late such other regulations as may appear necessary or advisable, which: are then to be submitted to the next Synod for adoption. Synod adopted this report. Emergency Collection. The report of the Board of Directors, under B, 11, had asked Synod to sanction a Synod-wide solicitation for funds to eliminate, if possible, the 1931 indebtedness and to prevent a similar debt in 1932; in other words, that an effort be made to balance the budget this year and to wipe out the old debt. The report of Committee 18 dwelt on this matter as follows, taking into consideration also the report of the Treasurer : — Your Committee has made a careful study of the financial condi- tion of Synod as it was on the date of the Treasurer’s report and also as it is to-day, believing that Synod must know and face the facts. The shortage on J. anuary 31 was $561,263.64. On May 31 the shortage had grown to $866,520.65. The receipts from Districts are running 36 per cent. below last year. The receipts decreased more rapidly than Synod has been able to reduce expenses and will be able to do at the present rate of receipts. Furthermore, your Committee notes that the loans from banks and other sources amounted to $381,000 on January 31 and were increased to $591,000 on May 31, and they will have to be further increased as the deficit grows. It goes without saying that it is not a wise policy for the Synod to continue for any considerable length of time to add to this indebtedness and to ask the banks for more and more credit. For these reasons your Committee recommends that the Ven. Synod adopt the following resolution: — Resolved, That Synod deems it absolutely necessary that the reso- lution passed authorizing and instructing the Board of Directors to make a special effort during 1932 and the following years to bring our