LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1992, Page 131

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PROGRAM AND FINANCE

thereon in line with projected income and in keeping with
the concept of balanced budgets.

6. Approve the allocation of undesignated grant funds
received from fraternal insurance groups or other sources.

Action: Adopted (8).

(Sections A and D were adopted in session 7 and sections
B and C in session 8. The entire resolution was then
adopted.) '

.’ To Restructure Department
of Stewardship and The Lutheran |
Church—Missouri Synod Foundation

RESOLUTION 4-03

Reports R4-02, R4-06 (CW, pp. 75-81, 86-87); Over-
ture 4-22 (CW, pp. 225-26) |

Rationale:

The executive director of the Department of Steward-
ship resigned in 1991 to accept another position. The Board
of Directors expressed its appreciation to Richard Engdaht
for his 10 years of service and the development of a highly
effective Stewardship Department. During this period
member contributions to congregations increased from
$469 million to $808 million, planned-giving activities in-
creased to an amount of $93 million booked in 1990; and
development activities for missions, seminaries, and world
hunger/relief increased substantially. With the vacancy it

was an appropriate time to evaluate the function, rela-"

tionships, and structure of the Department of Stewardship
and the LCMS Foundation function and staff in light of
what is best for stewardship in the church for the next
decade and beyond. An extensive study was done by|the
Stewardship staff which involved Districts, the Lutheran
Church—Missouri Synod Foundation, and other people. As
a result of this study, the Council on Stewardship, |the
LCMS Foundation, and the Board of Directors concurred
that the planned giving, development, and consulting Ber-
vices of the Department of Stewardship should be trans-
ferred to the LCMS Foundation, with the Council! on
Stewardship to retain responsibility for stewardship] ed-
ucation and nurture. Responsibilities for working with Dis-
tricts in developing and communicating the synodical
budget should be assumed by the Board of Directors.

Many factors are converging which make the consid-
eration-of these changes necessary:

+ Rapid societal change is making ministry and its funding ;

more difficult.
* The declining unrestricted budget for the LCMS raises
the question of continued ability to fund the planned-
giving program.
* Many desire that the LCMS expend more of its ubre-
stricted budget on missions and higher education, and
question staff size and budget allocation among LCMS
units.
* A need exists for greater local and national involvement
by partners in the activities of planned giving and|the
LCMS Foundation.

131

« The LCMS Foundation trustees want to clarify their role
and function in regard to planned giving.

* There is a need to be more responsive by providing the
services desired and needed by donors and ministry
constituencies.

¢ There is increasing fund-raising competition and a grow-
ing need for more gift income to sustain and increase our
ministries.

' + The planned-giving window of opportunity with the gen-

eration ages 65 and older is closing.

The structure of the LCMS Foundation needs to be re-
fined with the assumption of additional responsibilities.
The membership needs to be broadened to involve partici-
pating entities, and the Board of Trustees needs to include
some people with marketing or development experience,

- ‘some with trust management or investment experience,

and a representative from the Council on Stewardship to
help ensure that the Foundation continues to operate un-
der the principles of Christian stewardship.

Resolved, That in order to reflect the reorganization of

‘ the Department of Stewardship and The Lutheran

Church—Missouri Synod Foundation, the following Bylaw
' amendments be adopted:

PRESENT/PROPOSED WORDING

8.641 Incorporation
a. The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod Foundation
shall be maintained and controlled by the Synod as a cor-
porate entity organized under the laws of the State of Mis-
souri and shall be operated by a Board of Trustees,
responsible to the Synod, in accordance with the provisions
of its articles of incorporation and corporate bylaws.
b. Any amendments to the articles of incorporation
shall be subject to approval byt the nareananig ants
ea e g-asthe Members

of the Foundation.

._| 8.643 Membership

' The Members of the Foundation shall consist of two
groups, one consisting of individuals appointed by the Syn-
oa’s Board: of Directors and the other consisting of that
number of individuals representing Districts, colleges, uni-

 versities, seminaries, high school, agency, or auxiliary of

| The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod as established by
the Foundation bylaws. be-the-veting membere-ofthe Board

_ of Direetors-of the-Syned. The Members shall appoint a

' Board of Trustees of the Foundation, which shall include
the President of the Synod or his representative, Secretary,

and Treasurer of the Synod (nonvoting), at least 10 other
trustees a8 provided i in the Bylaws oft the Foundation, and

chip chairman of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
board, commission, committee, or council with responsi-
bility for stewardship education and nurture.

3.645 Functions

a. The Foundation shall serve as the Trust Department
of the Synod. It shall manage, conserve, and be responsible
for all legacies, bequests, devises, endowments, founda-
tions, annuity gifts, and all other trust funds of the Synod
and its Districts, colleges, universities, seminaries, high