LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1981, Sheet 362

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PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION 353

ship, mission education/Synod promotion, as well as financial
support should be a unified package.

F. A major factor in the field’s acceptance of the Steward-
ship Department’s fund procurement efforts is the fact that the
Stewardship Department is the group that aids the local
parishes and the Districts gather resources to fund the local
and District work (as well as the media for supporting the
worldwide mission).

To be sure, the 1979 convention looked at resources:

a. The Synod adopted the mission challenge of a 100%
increase plus inflation in the mission budget of the Synod (Res.
1-27A).

b. Res. 12-01A called for a major fund-raising effort with a
goal of $40,000,000.

c. It recognized that this special fund-raising effort was “a
part of the ongoing program to assist church members to bring
their first-fruit gifts and to grow in the grace of giving.”

d. Theconvention committed “itself to promoting programs
to assist the members of member congregations in growing in
the grace of giving” (Res. 12-06).

e. voted to “do all in its power to increase growth in the
grace of giving” (Res. 12-08).

f. It recognized that the Board of Stewardship has “the
primary responsibility for correlating all special fund-raising
programs designed for the support of the Synod and its
programs” (Bylaw 15.07 }j).

While challenges are posed, no panacea is proposed! The
attainment of these goals cannot be attained with mirrors or
mirages. To reach them will take a miracle! It is a miracle for
which we pray! It is a miracle we expect! As the gardener prays
for the miracle of growth, he says Amen with his hoe! So we
pray for a miracle, yes, we expect a miracle! and we say Amen
with hard work and bold planning! What we propose is neither
easy nor inexpensive. Forward in Remembrance has reminded
us that the investment of money, manpower, and time are
necessary for success. This strategy comes with no guarantee
other than God’s guidance and blessing!

The Forward in Remembrance effort was built on the
strength of decades of teaching God’s Word and stewardship
cultivation. A scientific principle says, ‘‘A body in motion
tends to stay in motion.” Now we move forward with renewed
strength ... from strength to strength.

First, Forward in Remembrance! Next, Forward in
Response!

Look at our strengths. We are 2,717,996 of God’s people,
members of LCMS congregations, blessed with annual incomes
totalling $22,123,442,160 (in 1979).

An annual one percent increase in the personal-giving rate
would provide $221,224,442 more for all purposes. If Districts
and the Synod received one-third of the increase, this would
mean approximately $26,872,403 more for the Districts, and
$36,872,402 more for the Synod, plus $147,489,614 more for
parish work. ev tt OA GS

LCMS people have been given the resources. We propose,
with God’s help, to “go after them.” That is, after both God’s
people and after their God-given resources.

Often it is said, “You have not, because you ask not!” We
will be asking! God’s people may say no but we will not say no
for them. And by God’s grace many will say yes to God’s
mission!

Say Yes!
to God’s Mission

yes!

“Christian stewardship is the free and joyous activity of the
child of God and God’s family, the church, in managing all of
life and life’s resources for God’s purposes” (LCMS Board of
Stewardship definition).

As a gathering of God’s people, as a Synod, we determined
with one another the application of the Lord’s commission as it
applies to those of us who live and serve Him in the 1980s.
Together goals and challenges of the 1980s were identified and
accepted at the 1979 convention of The Lutheran Church—
Missouri Synod.

Now the question, Where will the money come from? The
Lord no longer supplies tax money in the mouth of a fish. He
does not send manna from heaven. He does not multiply two
fish and five loaves of bread so that they can feed 5,000.

This is not to say that God could not do that, nor that He
does not provide for His people. He provides all the resources—
human, physical, spiritual, financial—to those of His church
that He asks to do His work.

We believe that God has provided His people the human,
financial, and all other resources necessary to carry out the
Great Commission.

We believe that we have the resources to carry out the
challenges of the 1980s as adopted by the 1979 convention.

When we take a look at the future, the process is this:

—To identify where we want to go

—To pinpoint where we are

—To look at the various paths that lead from where we are

to where we want to go.

Where Are We? We area church body of 2,717,996 baptized
children of God. We are a people of God with an annual income
(1979) of $22,123,442,160. (This represents the totals of baptized
LCMS members in each state and province times the 1979 per
capita income of that state/province.)

USA. eee $21 ,404,218,500
719,223,660

$22,123,442,160

We currently give for the Lord’s purposes through our local
congregations more than $435,000,000, or 2% of our income.

CHART 1
Reported Giving Through Local Congregations

(Per Communicant)

At Ratio
Total Home Synod District Synod:District

1960 .... 95.36 76.08 10.63 4.90 68:32
1965 .... 106.66 82.68 13.35 6.27 68:32
1970 .... 123.87 99.21 12.25 7.26 63:37
1975 .... 159.32 131.70 10.42 10.71 49:51
1979 .... 213.94 . 181.51 12.17 12.31 50:50
Percent of Chahge:
1960-70 +30 +30 +15 +48
1970-79 +75 +83 - 1 +70

Observations

1. The giving level of our members is going up, though not
increasing as fast as personal income.

2. The Synod receives less per member now than 10 and 15
years ago.

3. The largest increase, percentagewise, was Districts in
the 1960s and for ‘“‘at home” in the 1970s.

4. Since the mid-1960s the percentage division of ‘‘mission
dollars” remitted by congregations has decreased for the
Synod and increased for the Districts.

5. The needs of the Synod—as determined by convention
delegates through the program they adopt—are not being met.
For example, in the period 1970—79 Districts allocated 70%
more for District purposes while remittances to the Synod
maintained the same level.