LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1962, Sheet 153

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FINANCE AND STEWARDSHIP 153

Plan to Make Known Needs of Auxiliary
Agencies at the Fiscal Conference, etc.

RESOLUTION 11-15
Memorial 824, p. 354, Reports and Memorials

Wuereas, Adequate and proper promotional oppor-
tunities for the solicitation of funds are provided under
existing regulations; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Synod decline Resolution 824
(Reports and Memorials, p. 354) requiring the members
of the Council of Lutheran Agencies to submit budget
information to the Fiscal Conference (or its successor)
of the Synod.

Action: This resolution was adopted.

Special Offering
RESOLUTION 11-16

Report 801, Vil, and Memorials 814, 815, 816,
pp. 313, 314, 349—351, Reports and Memorials

Wuereas, God continues to pour out the abundance
of His love upon the membership of The Lutheran
Church — Missouri Synod, as evidenced by our unity in
the faith, the gift of the pure Word and sacraments, and
multiplied material blessings; and

Wuereas, God has led us to a time in the history of
man when there are brought into sharp contrast the
riches of God’s grace on the one hand and the spiritual
poverty of the unnumbered masses on the other hand,
thus giving to our Synod unprecedented opportunity to
share the blessing of the pure Gospel with those who
have not yet experienced the joy and assurance that
flows from the knowledge of God’s love in Christ Jesus;
and

Wuereas, God has made it very clear to His people
that a world mission crisis exists and that He claims
more from His people than they have given, a fact
which can be measured by the widening gap between
normal budget receipts and the funds required to carry
out effectively the program of the Synod; and

Wuereas, Projections indicate that some special ef-
fort must be put forth if we are both to carry out our
witness to the world and to keep the gap from widen-
ing; and

Wuereas, Our heavenly Father even in a period of
crisis calls for the whole man, with all that he is and
has, as a fitting sacrifice and expression of his faith;
therefore be it

Resolved, That with penitent and humble hearts we
implore God’s continued and undeserved mercy on our
beloved church, The Lutheran Church — Missouri
Synod; and be it further

Resolved, That with dedicated courage, a sense of
our mission, and faith in the unfailing promises of God,
the members of our synod bring to the Lord a “Forward

in Faith” offering in the amount of fifty million dollars
($50,000,000); and be it further

Resolved, That this special offering be an intensifi-
cation of our “Venture of Faith”; and be it further

Resolved, That the responsibility for the initiation
and promotion of the offering be placed into the hands
of the Stewardship Department of the Synod in cooper-
ation with the synodical Board of Directors; and be it
further

Resolved, That the projected allocation of the funds
received from this offering be determined by the Coun-
cil of Administrators, presented to the Board of Direc-
tors of the Synod for review and approval, and then
submitted to the 1962 Fiscal Conference for final rati-
fication; and be it further

Resolved, That the people charged with the adminis-
tration of these funds consider seriously their steward-
ship obligation in the judicious and prudent disburse-
ment of these sacrificial gifts of God’s people; and be it
further

Resolved, That the timing of this offering be made
the responsibility of the 1962 Fiscal Conference; and be
it finally

Resolved, That this “Forward in Faith” offering pro-
vide the occasion for a spiritual life rededication effort
which would include:

1. An emphasis of the study of God’s Word in Bible
class, worship services, and home devotions for growth
toward true discipleship;

2. A reexamination of the purpose and mission of the
church in the world; a better understanding of the pur-
pose for which congregations have joined themselves
together into a Synod, leading to a greater loyalty to
this organization with which they have affiliated for mu-
tual helpfulness;

3. An opportunity for further training in Scriptural
concepts of Christian giving which will lead people to
change giving habits from leftover giving to first-fruit,
generous percentage, sacrificial giving;

4. A realization that the entire life of every member
of every congregation under the guidance of the Holy
Spirit is indeed a venture of repentance and faith. Rom.
12:1, 2.

Action: This resolution was first presented on
June 26 and debated at length until discussion was dis-
continued; on June 27 it was again taken up for consid-
eration at the morning session, but the discussion could
not be completed; after a substitute motion (see below)
had been introduced during the evening session on
June 27 and been declined during the morning session
on June 28, Resolution 11-16 was recommitted and later
replaced by Resolution 11-16 A.

SUBSTITUTE MOTION FOR RESOLUTION 11-16

Wuereas, Improvement in the grace of generous and
proportionate giving has been evident in the Synod by