# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_1973_S188 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) SEEPS" "SS EE EE 188 SYNODICAL ADMINISTRATION Guiding Principle IV: The Involvement Required — At the inception of the thankoffering program we stated, “The entire Synod must become aware of its involvement. . the preconditioning, the conditioning and interpretation nec- essary, will call for patience, money, time, and group com- mitment to group goals.” Next to the building of the organization with the tre- mendous challenge of logistics involved, this principle, prob- ably more than any other, called for the greatest expendi- ture of patience, time, energy, prayer, and delicate handling by all members of the staff. The special challenges which arose in connection with commitment to group goals and involvement surfaced regularly in many ways, but always revolved around the following major facets: 1. The disunity in The LCMS on theological grounds; 2. The self-appointed role of some pastors as a pocket- book protector of the members of the congregation; 3. The apathy of members of congregations to the orga- nized church; 4. The “advisory” nature of the Synod versus the “au- tonomy” of the congregation: 5. The financial pressures afflicting local congregations: 6. The refusal of some leaders of Synod, Districts, cir- cuits, and congregations to become a part of the pro- gram of pace-setting advance gifts commitments; 7. The absence and.’or unavailability of files of special gift prospects on the synodical level, and the reluctance n the part of some Districts and congregations to share prospects in this area for development; 8. The overlap of the Bronxville, “Concordia Advance” and “Key 73” program, Despite these factors, we hasten to add that, by the mercy of God, the vast majority of the Synod has and is Participating with an enthusiasm which cannot help but bring joy to our hearts. Guiding Principle V: The Thankoffering Plan — The basic mechanics of the plan, which included struc- ture and organization, were easy to understand and place into action. We tried hard to convince Districts and congre- gations of the advantage of following the corporate plan as outlined, Sharing of Receipts We want to commend Synod for its foresight at Milwau- kee when it established the principle of a 73% (Synod) and 25% (District) sharing of receipts. The retention of a por- tion of the funds for special District projects, which could not be met with normal operating receipts, helped Districts aided them in offering a plan for District involvement, which resultantly gave them impetus for their own goals. The Synodical Thankoffering Staff The 125th Anniversary Thankoffering staff was directed by Rev. Victor C. Rickman, pastor of the Lutheran Church of St. Philip, Chicago, Ill. Special arrangements were made with that congregation in order to permit Pastor Rickman to serve almost full time in the thankoffering post from Feb. 1, 1972, until July 31, 1973. Similar arrangements for part-time consultative services were made with Pastors Luther Bekemeier, Park Forest, Ill.:; Robert Kamprath, Omaha, Nebr-.: Robert Bartz, Arlington Heights, Ill.: Fred- erick Schoof, Port Huron, Mich.: L. Dean Hempelmann, Salem, Oreg.; and their Congregations. Together with the office manager, Miss Grace Braeger, and Mrs. D. R. Nelson Jr., these persons comprised the basic staff. This staff was responsible for development of the total effort. In this, it attempted to use existing synodical and District structure whenever possible. District Leadership In consultation with the thankoffering staff, the President of each District was asked to appoint a Thankoffering Steer- ing Committee for implementation of the effort in the Dis- trict. This committee included the District Director, an Advance and Special Gifts Director, a Director of Communi- cations, a Visitation Director, plus additional assistants as indicated by the size and geography of the District. Thirty-nine out of the 40 synodical Districts subse- quently organized themselves in this or a reasonably similar manner. Iowa West, due to an “advance planning program,” had already set forth its own approach and pursued the program it had begun. Advance and Special Gifts One of the major proposals by the staff was to build into the organization a section which would seek to solicit ad- vance commitments of dollar gifts from elected and ap- pointed leadership in the Synod, Districts, congregations, schools. and agencies. plus special (larger) gifts commit- ments from individuals, families, Lutheran-controlled cor- Porations and businesses, Of the two, the Advance Gifts Program rates very high in success, The vast Majority of leaders were quite willing to show by their own’ enthusiasm and example the alle- giance to our Lord and His church which they would expect from others. This approach will certainly remain one of the highlights of the thankoffering. Success of the Special (larger) Gifts Program for the thankoffering remains much more difficult to evaluate at this writing. The staff was dismayed at the outset of the effort when it was unable, despite repeated attempts, to discover such a special gift prospect file. Those departments which had such prospects were unable to make them avail- able because of an understanding with, or promise to, such potential donors. To develop such a list is no easy task and made even more difficult by the short amount of time available for the thankoffering program. Because of this. a plan was devised in which each District Was urged to initiate an immediate search for such prospects. Goals for the prospects needed for each District were established, training sessions for lead- ers were held and Ad Hoc Search Committees were con- vened in approximately three fourths of the Districts. Communications and Training A strong communications program helped lead the con- stituency to a very real understanding of what the 125th Anniversary Thankoffering means, not only in gratitude for the past. but also to the present and future challenge to the church. Before the thankoffering was programmed, a series of initial regional meetings with synodical and District leaders was held for the purpose of sharing and securing information on proposals, interpretations, and approaches. The excellent contributions from “the field” and ensuing dialog helped shape the ultimate plans for the thankoffering. After development of materials such as job descriptions, schedules, Kits for Presentors. Advance and Special Gifts, Circuit and Congregational Training Kits, Guiding Princi- ples, etc., three rounds of regular training workshops were held regionally for all Districts Directors and committees in District leadership during the period of June through Octo- ber 1972, led by the thankoffering staff. These workshops not only proved very valuable in transmitting the program to District Directors and Steering Committees, but also en- and congregational leaders. Since then, all members of the staff have participated in crisscrossing the North American continent in giving assistance to Districts. Five special communications pieces which were well re- ceived and proved invaluable in the conduct of the program were: “A Summary of Guiding Principles for the Thank- offering’: “TG Guide.” detailing each of the programs to be funded through the thankoffering and dollar costs of every project: a 28-month calendar-envelope- inspiration combina- tion brochure: a detailed manual, “How to Conduct an EMV in the Local Congregation”: and a flip chart, “Walking To- gether, Bringing Our Gifts of Joy,” for use with special gift prospects. Other print oriented materials developed and used in the program included educational brochures, newsletters, inter- pretive materials, worship resource aids, and regular news releases. Two major audiovisual productions included: 1. The training filmstrip. entitled “Walking Together,”