LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1983, Page 175

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ADMINISTRATION AND PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION 175

4-30A

To Deal with Synod’s Operating Deficit
and Balance the Budget

WHEREAS, The secular world is caught up in the practice of
borrowing and spending beyond its income on every level of
society; and

WHEREAS, This practice of the secular world is actively
discouraged by the Holy Scriptures (Prov. 22:7; Romans 13:8;
Luke 14:28-30); and

WHEREAS, God wants His kingdom of grace extended by
offerings which come from faithful believers (2 Cor. 8:3, d;
9:6-8); and

WHEREAS, Holy Scripture shows that God has consistently
rejected the offerings of unbelievers (Genesis 4:4-5; Psalm
51:16-19; Malachi 1:10); and

WHEREAS, Attempts to extend God’s kingdom of grace
through funds obtained from unbelievers and from secular
institutions at high interest is without Scriptural foundation,
and has led to many abuses; and

WHEREAS, Such synodical practice of borrowing at excessive
interest from worldly funds to operate the church has set and is
setting a bad example to Districts, to congregations, and to
Christian families; and

WHEREAS, Such synodical borrowing practice does not solve
the Synod’s financial problems, but, like a cancer, increases
the problem, hardens into bad habits, and could lead to the
same financial disasters which today threaten the institutions
of this world; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Synod declare its recognition of the
inherent danger of the growing worldly practice of borrowing
at high interest in the attempt to solve its financial problems;
and be it further

Resolved, That the Synod place the elimination of its
operating deficit as its highest financial priority; and be it
further

Resolved, That the Synod determine to operate within the
means of the faithful offerings of its people, and with a
mandatory balanced budget; and be it finally

Resolved, That the Synod urge Districts, congregations,
and families to cease unnecessary borrowing and live within
balanced budgets within their incomes.

St. John’s Lutheran Church
Luxemburg, Wis.

Thomas D. Werner, Secretary
Harold Reckelberg, President

Identical or similar:

4-30B

St. Peter, Hilbert. Wis. Gene R. Kangas

4-31 70°
To Regulate Synodical Debt

WHEREAS, It is in the power of the synodical conventions to
allow deficit spending; and

WHEREAS, Deficit spending only drains the future resources
of the church; therefore be it

Resolved, That the synodical conventions of the future
refrain from deficit spending in excess of 5% of the budget; and
be it further

Resolved, That the present synodical convention formulate
and have the synodical officers carry through a plan to begin
the immediate payback of the present debt over the next five
years.

Trinity Lutheran Church
Vallonia, Ind.

David S. Triplett, Pastor

Rex Melliveary, Secretary
Charles L. Hackman, Chairman

4-32
To Take Steps to Eliminate Synod’s Debt

WHEREAS, The Synod is presently in debt many millions of
dollars; and

WHEREAS, This indebtedness is not due to extravagant or
unnecessary spending programs, but rather to the failure of
Districts, congregations, and individual members of the Synod
to respond on a Scripturally directed percentage basis to the
bountiful blessings received from our Lord; and

WHEREAS, There exists a certain amount of ambiguity
concerning both the amount and the nature of our indebted-
ness; and

WHEREAS, Piecemeal, special debt reduction drives are at
best only stopgap measures which have thus far fallen short of
eliminating the debt; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Synod initiate the following steps to
eliminate the Synod’s indebtedness:

1. The Synod initiate a vigorous new program of serious,
God-pleasing percentage giving based on the mandate of the
Great Commission (Matt. 28:19) and the opportunities for
Kingdom work laid before us, with special emphasis on
spiritual giving. This program will also clearly point out the
eroding effect of inflation on our synodical budgets;

2. All synodically funded programs for 1983 be cut back to
the actual amount of money available, even if this means
halting or at least temporarily dropping an existing program.
Final decisions and responsibility for this action will rest with
the synodical Board of Directors;

3. All1983—85 synodically funded programs not yet initiated
be put on immediate hold until the synodical Board of Directors
has determined which of the programs should be cut or dropped
based on available actual funds;

4. The synodical Board of Directors send a clear statement
to the congregations of the Synod explaining our indebtedness.
This report will include dollar amounts of actual money owed
in real debt and also indicate what portion (if any) of the
indebtedness is due to lack of funds for programs not initiated;

5. The Synod immediately authorize $5 million from FIR
funds over and above the initial $40 million goal to be applied
to our indebtedness;

6. The Synod use all interest realized from FIR funds
invested over and above the initial $40 million to apply to our
indebtedness;

7. The Synod declare it repudiates deficit spending, and
establish a policy whereby future budgets will be drawn up and
approved on the basis of cash available; and be it further

Resolved, That the Synod NOT conduct any kind of special
fundraising drive (per FIR method) to reduce or eliminate the
synodical debt.

Mount Hope Lutheran Church
Casper, Wyo.

John G. Evans III, Secretary
J.B. Brown, Pastor

4-33A
To End Deficit Spending by Synod

WHEREAS, Resolutions by synodical conventions have
required the Synod's Board of Directors to authorize spending
beyond the amount of income received; and

WHEREAS, Such deficit spending has resulted in the
accumulation of huge debts with enormous interest charges:
and

WHEREAS, The payment of such interest for the sake of
maintaining current programs merely jeopardizes the avail-
ability of funds for future programs; and

WHEREAS, This practice is, at best, questionable stewardship
of the resources which God grants to His church; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Synod’s Board of Directors, in consulta-
tion with the program boards and commissions of Synod, be
directed to prepare a proposed operating budget for presenta-