LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1989, Page 124

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124 RESOLUTIONS

has decreased from 6.2 percent to 3.9 percent in the past
10 years. Had the 6.2 percent level been retained, over $17
million more from 1988 congregational contributions of
$768 million would have been available for the current
synodical budget.

While the committee is concerned about the reductions
in the 1989/90 budget for virtually all departments, it is
particularly concerned about the inability to go through
open doors on the mission field, the level of support for
colleges and seminaries in a period of rising costs, and
cutbacks in the stewardship budget and other services to
support missions and higher education, as well as services
to parishes and their members.

Resolved, That the Synod in convention support the
Board of Directors’ budget decisions; and be it further

Resolved, That the convention commend the Board of
Directors for its fiscal responsibility and diligent efforts
over the years to maintain the level of support for missions
and higher education.

Action: Adopted (15).

To Increase Seminary Funding
RESOLUTION 4-054

Report R4-02 (CW, pp. 74-79); Overtures 4-25~-29C, 4-
36, 4-42-43, 4-45, 4-48-49 (CW, pp. 210-11, 213-16)

Wuereas, The Synod in previous conventions (1981 and
1986) encouraged increased funding for seminaries (1981
Proceedings, 6-18A and 1986 Proceedings, 6-16B) toward
a goal of providing 65 percent support for the educational
and general budget of the two seminaries; and

Wuereas, The synodical financial income level has not
significantly increased to meet this objective; and

Wuereas, The patterns according to which Christian
people make their tithes and offerings available for the
Kingdom work have changed; and

Wuereas, The Joint Seminary Development Program
administered by the Department of Stewardship and Fi-
nancial Support was initiated to meet the needs of the
people and the seminaries; and

Wuereas, Projections for fiscal year 1988-89 reflect
that 55.4 percent for St. Louis and 59.2 percent for Fort
Wayne of educational and general expenses of the semi-
naries will be met by synodical subsidy and unrestricted
gifts through the joint seminary program (CW, p. 76); and

WueErEAs, In addition, restricted gifts from the Adopt-
A-Student programs, The Lutheran Church—Missouri
Synod Foundation and Seminary Endowments, and in-
come from congregations and Districts provide approxi-
mately one-half of the tuition paid by the seminary
students as part of funding the seminaries, (CW, p. 249);
and

Wuereas, Combining these various sources of funding
means that students on average are responsible for ap-
proximately 20 percent of their educational expenses (cf.
Standing Committee on Pastoral Ministry Report, CW, pp.
297-300); therefore be it

Resolved, That we thank God for and commend the co-
operative achievements of the Board for Higher Education
Services (BHES), the Department of Stewardship and Fi-
nancial Support, the seminaries, the Joint Seminary De-
velopment Program, and the Board of Directors for the
progress made in funding the educational and general bud-
get of the two seminaries; and be it further

Resolved, That congregations through their Districts be
encouraged to increase their support to the Synod so that
the Synod might have the necessary income to provide.
more subsidy to seminary education; and be it further

Resolved, That we request Districts and congregations
to share mailing lists with the Joint Seminary Develop-
ment Program and encourage individuals to participate
and increase their support in the program; and be it finally

Resolved, That the BHES, the Department of Steward-
ship and Financial Support, the seminaries, the Joint Sem-
inary Development Program, and the Board of Directors
be encouraged to increase the funding of educational and
general seminary support from both subsidy and devel-
opment programs.

Action: Adopted (11).

(A motion to substitute Overture 4-13A for the proposed res-
olution was defeated by a vote of 384-581.)

To Assist in Repayment of Loans
for Church Workers

RESOLUTION 4-06
Overtures 4-46—47, 4-53 (CW, pp. 215, 217-18)

Wuereas, Our Lord Jesus Christ commissioned his
Church to “Go and make disciples of all nations” (Matt.
28:19); and

Wuereas, Our Synod is currently facing a shortage of
candidates for the pastoral and teaching ministry; and

Wuereas, This shortage is aggravated by the high cost
of college and seminary education, which causes some stu-
dents to assume substantial debt during their preparation
for church-work professions (Standing Committee on Pas-
toral Ministry Report, CW, p. 298); and

Wueneas, There is current concern and abiding gen-
erosity among the people of The Lutheran Church—Mis-
souri Synod for support of church work students at colleges
and seminaries (Stewardship Department Report 4-02,
CW, pp. 74-79 and Standing Committee on Pastoral Min-
istry report, CW, pp. 291-97); therefore be it

Resolved, That the Department of Stewardship and Fi-
nancial Support and the Board for Higher Education Ser-
vices be directed to study the feasibility of providing grants
to church-work graduates for educational loan repayments
and report the results of the study to the Board of Directors
by June 30, 1990; and be it further

Resolved, That synodical congregations make an effort
to become aware of the nature of any outstanding educa-
tional debt incurred by their workers while attending a
synodical institution; and be it finally

Resolved, That congregations and Districts be strongly