LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1983, Page 163

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4. ADMINISTRATION AND PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION

To Establish a Planning Council
RESOLUTION 4-01A

Reports 4-09, 5-02H (CW, pp. 163—171, 194); Res.
4-01, 5-05 (TB, pp. 88—84, 109)

WHEREAS, The purpose for “walking together” as a
Synod is to carry out the Great Commission and to train
leaders for this purpose; and

WHEREAS, This purpose has been hampered greatly
by our failure to perfect the process of “walking to-
gether” on all levels of the Synod, beginning with the
congregations, by lack of coordinated planning, and by
the lack of funds; and

WHEREAS, Res. 12-07A of the 1981 convention
authorized an Executive Coordinating Committee to be
formed to establish and implement three-year and ten-
year plans and goals but the committee has been unable
to complete the assignment as to what can best be done
in District and national programs of the Synod: and

WHEREAS, The Commission on Structure has recom-
mended that a Planning Council, consisting of the
members of the Board of Directors and of the Council of
Presidents (CW, Pp. 184), be created and meet regularly;
therefore be it

Resolved, That we adopt the 10-year plan contained
in the Convention Workbook (pp. 166—169) as a guide
for District and national programs of the Synod for the
next triennium; and be it further

Resolved, That we encourage all congregations to
keep themselves well informed through synodical re-
ports, District conventions, and especially through
Circuit forums, convocations, and Circuit pastoral
meetings as to the importance of carrying out the
Purpose for our “walking together” as a Synod and as
such recognize the value of congregations sharing their
strengths with one another so that, “walking together,”
the total offerings for the mission of the church.on the
national and District level can be substantially in-
creased; and be it further

Resolved, That all Districts “walking together”
strengthen each other in their efforts yearly to increase
their remittances to the Synod; and be it further

Resolved, That regular annual joint planning meet-
ings of the Board of Directors, Council of Presidents,
and Council of Administrators be continued through
the formation of a Planning Council consisting of the
members of the Board of Directors and Council of
Presidents with staff members of the Council of
Administrators serving in an advisory capacity; and be
it further

Resolved, That the Planning Council. convene at
least triennially a planning conference of the members
of the Planning Council together with District staff,
Senior staff.of the national office, and college and
seminary presidents to plan programs for carrying out

163

North American and world missions, to supply ade.
quate support for synodical schools, and to support
other approved programs; and be it further

Resolved, That the Planning Council Propose three.
year and nine-year plans to each synodical convention,
according to the following process:

so that the mission of Christ can be strengthened
through local, District, and national ministries.

2. District and national leaders in related planning
units (world missions; North American missions; pro-
fessional education; congregational ministries; com-
munications; program administration, finance, and
support services; and ecclesiastical administration, the-
ology, and church government) make recommendations
to boards and conventions of the Synod and its Districts.

3. Synodical and District boards Propose plans to
the Planning Council.

4. The Planning Council requests related planning
units to review plans and suggests a list of ministries to
be adopted according to priority of importance and
values.

5. The Planning Council reviews proposals, agrees
on plans, and reports to the Synod in convention what
ministries should be undertaken and what funds (in
dollar amounts and in percentage amounts of the total
budget) need to be allocated to each related planning
unit from the District and national income.

6. District boards of directors should take these
plans into consideration as they establish their District
budgets.

7. Members of the Synod’s congregations will regu-
larly receive reports on the work of the related planning
units. Then congregations will become better ac-
quainted with their work beyond the local area. They
will also be better equipped to provide input to the
planning process and to allocate a Proportion of their
resources to the work of the Synod through its District
and national offices.

8. Three members each of the Synod’s Board of
Directors and Council of Presidents, appointed by each
group, together with a member of the Council of
Administrators, or a staff representative, from each
related planning unit‘ as adviser, would serve as a
coordinating committee of the Planning Council
(presently known as the Executive Coordinating Com-
mittee) to assist in this process of planning and working
together; and be it further ;

Resolved, That the Planning Council review all
national and District programs on the basis of the
objectives of the Synod as stated in Article III of the
Constitution and recommend to each. national con-
vention which program or parts thereof can best be done
by the national boards and departments, by District; or