LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1983, Page 140

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140 ADMINISTRATION AND PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION

District representatives include Rev. H. Paul Esala and Mr.
Robert Muller, Florida-Georgia; Mr. Glenn Thiel, Minnesota
North and South: Dr. Gustav Schramm and Rev. Norman
Laesch, Southern California; Rev. Don Burch and Rev. Lavern
Bellamy. Nebraska; and Mr. John Pherson. Southeastern.

3. Special Gifts

Special gifts work rests firmly on the Scriptural teaching
regarding proportionate giving (Luke 12:48b). In His wisdom
God has given some of His children more material resources
and others less. But from all He expects wise use of what He has
given.

The department recognizes this wide range of material
wealth and strives to serve all our people, whatever their
economic circumstances, as they seek to understand better how
to use all that God has given them in His service.

For those who have received an abundance of worldly goods
from our heavenly Father, the department has developed the
special gifts program. Through it these children of God learn
how they can serve as better stewards of His gifts by using
more of them to support the work of the Kingdom. Through this
program. led by God's Spirit, they are also enabled to per-
sonally demonstrate the ‘fruits of the Spirit” in generous
special gifts of thankfulness and appreciation to God for His
abundant blessings.

The special gift counselor position is filled by Rev. Elmer J.
C. Prenzlow. Responsibilities include organizing and imple-
menting a special gift program among LCMS members, foun-
dations, and corporations. Activity includes prospect identifi-
cation, cultivation, visitation, and solicitation. Responsibili-
ties further include identification, recruitment, and training of
leadership as solicitors. He will coordinate visits to the extent
possible to minimize competing requests to prospects in any
given time period.

4. College Development Activity

Responsibilities for this section include designing and
implementing a program to assist the development staffs at
LCMS colleges. Initial activity will be to visit all campuses,
study existing development efforts, and make recommenda-
tionsin various areas, such as joint proposals, joint production
of materials, direct mail, alumni relations, community re-
lations, etc. The role will be one of a consultant to the colleges
with the objectives of coordinating the programs and increas-
ing the effectiveness and professionalism of the development
staffs. Other functions include hosting periodic professional
growth seminars for development staffs and assisting with the
formation and implementation of a long-range master plan for
funding the institutions.

5. Seminary Development Activity

Seminary education is one of the highest priorities of a
church body and is a major reason synods are established.
Based on this commitment, the Department of Stewardship
and Financial Support has offered to assume responsibility for
development activities at the two seminaries in the United
States. A Seminary Resource Counselor will be engaged with
the responsibility to direct seminary development activities.
This will include the joint mailing program. the student special
gift program with the Districts, and joint proposals to founda-
tions and congregations.

Financial Summary

During the fiscal year 1982—83 various efforts were accom-
plished by the new department to help bridge the gap between
the synodical work program budget of $31,732,587 and antici-
pated receipts of $29,300,000. These included:

* A special offering, ‘‘Walking Together in His Service,”
which was conducted by 26 Districts and achieved more
than $700,000 (see Table 1).

* A “Synod Sunday” fall offering in other Districts, raising
approximately $70,000 (see Table 2).

* At an April 1982 joint meeting of the Council of Presi-
dents, Board of Directors, college and seminary presi-
dents, District stewardship executives, and Council of
Administrators, District leaders agreed to attempt to

increase receipts for the Synod’s work program in the

District 1982 and 1983 fiscal years. These included:

—Oversubscribing the 1982 pledge. This was accomp-
lished by 17 Districts. totaling $450,922 (see Table 3).

—Although 17 Districts oversubscribed, 10 Districts, due
to local economic conditions and priorities, were unable
to meet their 1982 pledges. This totaled $551,480, and
thus District pledges for 1982 were $100,458 short (See
Table 3).

—Increasing the 1983 pledge. Thirty-one Districts in-
creased their 1983 pledge by an average of 4.2 percent
(see Table 4).

—The percentage of income received from congregations
retained by the 38 Districts for their 1983 work program
is, on average, 56.4%. For 1983, 18 Districts increased
the percentage of their income from congregations for
the Synod, and 20 Districts reduced their percentage of
income from congregations for the Synod (see Table 5).

Summary

As the Department of Stewardship and Financial Support
further develops its programs and activities and responds to
the challenges and opportunities set before it by the Lord, it
strives to keep in mind that all of its programs and activities
must be based on the Word of God. While we use the whole
Word, both Law and Gospel, to guide us, the motivation must
flow out of the Gospel alone. Christ, His will, and His Word. are
the focal points of the department's work and conduct. In
service to Him the department encourages clergy and laity of
The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod to increase theirstudy

“WALKING TOGETHER IN HIS SERVICE”

Special Offering
As of March 7, 1983

|
DISTRICT AMOUNT RAISED |

| :
: SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA $12,555
COLORADO 37,009

EASTERN 3,286
| ENGLISH 8,428
| SOUTHERN _ILLINOIS 20,642
| INDIANA 34,815
| IOWA EAST 30,425
_KaNsas 29,540
| MICHIGAN 65,80!
| MID-SOUTH 4,769
"MINNESOTA NORTH 33,233
“MINNESOTA SOUTH 16 848

NEBRASKA 18, 756

NEW ENGLAND 11,132
NEW JERSEY 14,421

NORTH DAKOTA 13,515

OHIO 25,244 |

OKLAHOMA 22,354

SOUTHEASTERN 6,620

SOUTHERN 5,020

TEXAS 110,000
"NORTH WISCONSIN 35,720
"SOUTH WISCONSIN 46,973
"WYOMING 19,157
“ONTARIO 68,563

SELC 9,993

TOTAL $704 819