LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1992, Page 119

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4. Program and Finance

To Retain Budget Priorities
RESOLUTION 4-01

Overtures 4-02A-4-08E, 4-13-15, 4-25, 4-29-30, 6-08
(CW, pp. 220-23, 227-29, 271)

Rationale:

Our beloved Synod in its stated objectives (Constitution, —

Art. ITI) has rightly underscored as primary activities} of
the church the work of extending the Gospel witness into
all the world and the training of pastors, teachers, and
other professional church workers. These long-standing
objectives continue to enjoy a high priority in our Synod,
as is evidenced by the many overtures submitted to this
convention which express concern that budgeting continue
to reflect these primary functions of the church. A variety
of suggestions also advocate measures intended to ensure
that these priorities will be constantly maintained despite
income shortfalla and other budget cuts,
While the mandating of fixed budgetary percentages
may seem to be a simple and straightforward solution! it
should be noted that complications abound due to |
* varying perceptions of what may be included as mission
activity and expenditures,

+ varying bases for comparisons as a result of customary
distinctions made between and allocations of untre-
stricted and restricted funding,

ing financial support to synodical schools,
varying requirements of previous convention mandates
and the need to respond to opportunities in our changing
world, and more.

It should also be noted that the current apportionment
of unrestricted synodical income already approximates
many of the proposed percentages advocated by the above-
referenced overtures. The proposed 1992/93 budget estab-

varying questions regarding the method of administrat-

lished by the Board of Directors designates 35 percent! of -

such income from congregations and Districts for World/
National Missions and Outreach and an equal percentage
for Preparing Church Workers. When restricted and
board-designated monies (anticipated to exceed $25 mil-
lion in 1992/93) are also included, the percentages atill
total 29.3 percent and 27.6 percent respectively. (See bud-
get addendum.) .

It should finally be noted that at the present time while
total giving throughout the church continues to increase,
unrestricted income shortfalls are creating the need for
budget reductions and a corresponding downsizing |in
many departments at the national level of the Synod. Al
locations for mission work and church-worker training
have nonetheless been favored and maintained at a rela-
tively constant level, reflecting a continuing awareness of
the priorities long established by our Synod.

Resolved, That the Board of Directors be encouraged! to
maintain and, as feasible, exceed existing pereentages| of
financial support for World/National Missions and Out-
reach and for Preparing Church Workers; and be it further

Resolved, That the Board of Directors in allocating un-

! Committee 4 Chairman David D. Buegier

restricted budget funds be encouraged to work toward its
stated goal of 37.5 percent for World/National Missions and
Outreach and 37.5 percent for Preparing Church Workers;
and be it finally

Resolved, That the members of the Synod be reminded
and encouraged that desired increases in financial support
for those purposes valued most’ highly, namely mission
work and church-worker training, are best fostered and
enabled by corresponding increases in remittances to the
Synod by congregations and Districts.

Action: Adopted (3).
(A motion to substitute overture 4-07 for the resolution
was defeated. The overture called for tbe adoption of spe-

pific percentages of budget expenditures.)

121

Report on Synodical Operating Budget

The Board of Directors at its May 26-28 meeting
adopted a balanced tentative operating budget for the
1992/93 fiscal year beginning July 1. The tentative budget
assumes that the convention will approve various over-
tures submitted by the board and now refined into reso-
lutions drafted by various floor committees. The operating
budget is summarized as follows:

Increase
1991/92 1992/93 (Decrease)
Unrestricted $31,097,000 $28,857,000 $(2,240,000)
Restricted 20,479,129 25,016,408 _4,537,279
Total $51,576,129 $53,873,408 §$ 2,297,279