LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1989, Page 123

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PROGRAM AND FINANCE 123

Exactly what can be done about this remains to be seen.
The task of the Funding the Mission Working Team will
be to give specific guidance and direction to our church in
this matter; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Planning Council provide for an in-
crease in representation on the Funding the Mission Work-
ing Team to include lay persons, parish pastors, and other
professional church workers; and be it further

Resolved, That the Working Team continue its studies
and present its findings and suggested approaches to
Funding the Mission to the March 1990, meeting of the
Planning Council; and be it further

Resolved, That the Planning Council use available
channels (including Circuit Forums, 1991 District conven-
tions, etc.) for discussion and review of such recommen-
dations; and be it finally

Resolved, That on the basis of the above discussion and
review the Planning Council recommend to the 1992 con-
vention proposals for funding the mission in a manner fit-
ting to our day and time.

Action: Adopted (11).

To Encourage Biblical Stewardship
RESOLUTION 4-03

Report R4-01 (CW, pp. 73~74); Overture 4-18 (CW, p.
209)

Wuereas, 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 pur-
poses; and

Wuereas, Over 2,921 congregations in 31 Districts have
participated in an intensive stewardship emphasis such as
His Love—Our Response and similar efforts which Dis-
tricts have conducted; and

WHEREAS, Such efforts have helped increase attendance
at Bible study, worship, congregational ministry involve-
ment, as well as proportionate firstfruits giving; therefore
be it

Resolved, That we commend those congregations and
Districts that have participated in intensive stewardship
emphases; and be it further

Resolved, That we encourage those congregations that
have yet to participate in them to enroll in such year-round
intensive stewardship efforts as may be offered by Districts
and by synodical stewardship leaders; and be it further

Resolved, That congregation leaders be encouraged to
make every effort to teach Biblical stewardship principles,
drawing upon resources available from District and the
Synod, so as to equip God’s baptized people to respond to
Christ’s love with God-pleasing management of His gifts;
and be it further

Resolved, That congregations be encouraged to urge
their members to support the work of Christ’s church by
committing a growing percentage of their resources to the
Lord so that congregations may avoid an overdependence
on methods of raising funds that do not emphasize first-

fruits, proportionate giving by God’s people; and be it
finally

Resolved, That congregations and Districts again be en-
couraged to practice proportionate, firstfruits giving and
annually establish an increasing percentage of their in-
come for our common work (ref. 1986 Proceedings, Res. 4-
05).

Action: Adopted (11).

To Support Board of Directors’
Budget Decisions

RESOLUTION 4-04
Overtures 4-13A—17 (CW, pp. 207—08)

PREAMBLE

In accordance with Bylaw 9.53, Floor Committee 4 has
reviewed the synodical budget for the 1989/90 fiscal year
as adopted by the Board of Directors and supported by the
Planning Council. In the course of this review, the com-
mittee also reviewed the concerns on budgets and deficits
expressed in various overtures (listed above). The com-
mittee noted the frustrations shared in these overtures and
hopes that its findings will help the Synod rejoice in the
work it is doing in the United States and around the world.

The committee finds that the Board of Directors has
been complying with Bylaws and convention resolutions
regarding the budget. Since the 1981 convention, the board
has adopted balanced budgets. There has, however, been
some confusion regarding the 1988/89 budget. While the
adopted $32,235,000 unrestricted budget showed expenses
$219,000 in excess of income, the board anticipated suf-
ficient underspending to balance actual income and ex-
pense. Based on the 10-month operating results available
at the May Floor Committee meetings, it appears that in-
come and expense will be balanced for the fiscal year end-
ing June 30, 1989.

For each of the five fiscal years ending June 30, 1987,
actual unrestricted operating income and expenses were
within one-half of one percent of balancing, with three
years being slightly in the black and two years slightly in
the red. In each year, the variance was less than $100,000
on budgets averaging about $32 million. Beginning in De-
cember 1987, midway through the 1987/88 fiscal year, a
substantial reduction in income occurred. Receipts for the
1987 calendar year were below budget and, in addition,
pledges from Districts for the 1988 calendar year dropped
below the prior year and over three percent below the es-
tablished budget. In spite of cost control measures, in this
short time period, the Board of Directors and staffs could
not reduce expenses sufficiently to operate within the re-
duced income; therefore, a deficit of $705,000 for the 1987/
88 fiscal year was incurred.

The committee reports that the Board of Directors has
adopted a balanced budget for the 1989/90 fiscal year.
While agreeing with the board action, the committee ex-
presses its concern about the impact on Kingdom work
because of the continuing decline in offerings shared for
the work of the Synod at the District and national levels.
The portion of congregational offerings received by Synod