LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1981, Page 313

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312 SPECIAL AND SUNDRY MATTERS

Bicentennial Committee, representation on this committee
could include a wide geographical base. The committee, as itis
envisioned, would assist all members of the Synod todevelopa
deeper appreciation for their Lutheran heritage. Details of the
Synod’s celebration of the 400th anniversary in 1883 will be
available to the new committee if desired.

Other anniversaries that we would do well to note in the
coming biennium are these:

1981

—150th anniversary of arrival of K. F. A. Gutzlaffin Macao,
China, first Lutheran Missionary to China (July 8, 1831)
—125th anniversary of first teachers conference in the
Missouri Synod, held in Milwaukee, Wis. (Aug. 13, 1856)

1982

~—400th anniversary of birth of Johann Gerhard, “Arch-
theologian of Lutheranism” (Oct. 17, 1582)

—175th anniversary of the birth of F. W. Hussmann, first
secretary of the Missouri Synod (Nov. 9, 1807)

—125th anniversary of the death of F. W. Barthel, first
treasurer of the Missouri Synod (Feb. 12, 1857)

—125th anniversary of arrival of Missouri Synod mission-
ary Ottomar Cloeter at Crow Wing, Minn., to begin
mission work among Indians (June 12, 1857)

—100th anniversary of the organization of the Southern
District (Feb. 8, 1882)

—75th anniversary of the opening of Seminario Concordia
(Concordia Seminary) at Porto Alegre, Brazil (May 1,
1907)

—75th anniversary of the dedication of Immanuel Lutheran
College, Greensboro, N.C. (June 2, 1907)

—75th anniversary of dedication of Concordia College,
Portland, Oreg. (Dec. 15, 1907)

—v7dth anniversary of the organization of the Atlantic
District (June 5, 1907)

1983

—500th anniversary of the birth of Martin Luther (Nov. 10,
1483)

—300th anniversary of the death of John Campanius, first
Lutheran missionary to the American Indian (Sept. 17,
1683)

—200th anniversary of the birth of Nicolai F. S. Grundtvig,
Danish Lutheran theologian and poet (Sept. 8, 1783)

—175th anniversary of the birth of J. K. W. Loehe (Feb. 21,
1808)

—100th anniversary of the dedication of the “new” Jeffer-
son Avenue Concordia Seminary buildings (Sept. 9, 1883)

Local interest groups, Districts, conventions, conferences,
societies, and others are urged to help celebrate these
anniversaries.

Financial Summary

The old adage says that an army can travel only as far as
the provisions for its soldiers permit. The Institute, too, can
provide care, preservation, and services only to the extent that
the financial resources permit. Financial shortages in many
different categories have created considerable consternation,
particularly as inflation reduces even the funds that are
available.

The tables that follow indicate the various sources of
Institute income for operations, services, and internal func-
tions during the past biennium.

A. Type of Income

1979 1980
1. Synodical Budget.......... $118,791 $135,710
2. Membership and Other ..... 29,300 29,990
3. LLL Microfilm Support .... 2,000 2,000

Total ........ 2... ee, $150,091 $167,700

The following are tables reflecting the projected needs for
Institute funding to continue its operations and services in the
coming three years.

B. Projections

1981 1982 1903

1. Synodical Budget.......... $159,665 $164,625 $192,410
2. Membership and Other .... 44,610 31,220 36,605
3. LLL Microfilm Support .... 2,000 2,000 2,000
Total ......0........... $206,275 $217,845 $251,015

C. Capital Improvement Funds

The following funds were contributed by many individual
friends, organizations, congregations, auxiliaries, and of course,
the many dedicated members of the Institute to the capital
improvement fund goal of $360,000. This goal represents the
funds necessary to equip and furnish the expanded facilities to
be completely functional and efficient, since the initial synod-
ical grant of $516,000 provided for only the construction of the
new addition.

1979 1980

$135,385.25 $39,398.19

Total Gathered for Capital Improvement Fund Since 1977:
$241,478.76

Goal of Capital Fund Drive: $360,000

Still Needed: $118,521.24

Furnishings and Equipment...

Transfer of Records

The 1979 convention revised the procedures covering the
transfer of official records to the Institute that are significant
and necessary for the proper preservation of Lutheran histor-
ical resources.

While these revisions in some instances require special
efforts on the part of institutions and auxiliaries, the Institute
is pleased to report that many have already implemented the
new provisions while others are in the process of doing so.

The continued and full implementation of these provisions
will bring immense benefits to future institutional adminis-
trators and synodical and District leaders, not to mention the
future researchers of Lutheran history, because they will be
able to consult comprehensive and orderly archival records,

Conclusion

The dollars and cents that the components of the Synod and
the Synod itself save through a good record-keeping program
are almost inestimable. The Synod operates one of the best
systems among American denominations. Records created in
the offices of synodical boards, commissions, institutions, and
agencies throughout the country, which are no longer of
operational value, are appraised. Those with permanent value
are preserved by the Institute and the others destroyed.

In addition, the Institute has been privileged to render
unique and specialized services to a large number of groups,
congregations, scholars, amateur historians, and a host of
others.

We thank all who have supported archival-historical work
in the Synod with their prayers, resources, and contributions.

Gerhardt Kramer, President
Aug. R. Suelflow, Director

9-03
Report of Commission of Adjudication

The Synod Commission of Adjudication was formed by
action of the Milwaukee convention, 1971. The first appeal that
resulted in a hearing and a decision was submitted to the
commission in 1976. From 1976 to the present, the commission
has processed three appeals fully through the hearing and
decision stages. It has processed other appeals by adjusting
them to the mutual satisfaction of the parties to the dispute or
by referring the appellant to the appropriate District Com-
mission of Adjudication in cases where it did not have
jurisdiction.

As a result of its experience with such hearings and
adjusted settlements of disputes, the Synod Commission of
Adjudication has made recommendations to the Synod Board
of Appeals for some changes in the rules of procedure. At
synodical conventions in 1975, 1977, and 1979, representatives