LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1962, Page 154

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154 RESOLUTIONS — COMMITTEE 11

the increase of contributions under the “Venture of
Faith”; and

Wuereas, The very same fine motives and methods
which have produced this improvement can work far
more effectively than any emergency campaign; and

Wouereas, Only 55 percent of our congregations have
participated in the “Venture of Faith,” and

Wuereas, We “know the grace of our Lord Jesus
Christ, that though He was rich, yet for our sakes He
became poor” and recognize fully the tremendous needs
in all departments of our church’s work; therefore be it

Resolved, That an all-out effort be made to under-
gird the “Venture of Faith”; and be it further

Resolved, That the Stewardship Department expend
the effort planned for a special collection to raise the
level of giving in congregations which have participated
in the “Venture of Faith” and win over those congrega-
tions which are not participating; and be it finally

Resolved, That the Synod establish as its goal a 20
percent annual increase in the giving of our people to
God for all purposes.

Action: As noted above, this Substitute Motion was
introduced at the evening session on June 27 and was
declined on the morning session of June 28 by a stand-
ing vote of 333 to 295.

Special Stewardship Effort
RESOLUTION 11-16 A
Replacing Resolution 11-16

Preamble. We confess to Thee, O Lord, that we have
been unfaithful stewards. Thy giving has been bounti-
ful in Christ Jesus, but we have given sparingly. Spare
us from Thy judgment, and forgive us for the inadequate
expressions of our love.

We thank Thee for the open doors Thou hast set
before us, which no man can shut. We praise Thee for
having made us colaborers with Thee to enter these
doors of opportunity so that men may know Thee, the
only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom Thou hast sent.

Open our eyes to the joys of our own salvation and
to the needs of men everywhere who sorrow as those
who have no hope. Help us to understand and to appre-
ciate the prosperity we enjoy under Thy grace and
to grasp the responsibility which is ours to use Thy
bounty for the spreading of Thy Gospel.

Lead Thy people forward in the “Venture of Faith”
begun in Thy name and prospering under Thy benedic-
tion, so that they may lay at Thy feet the gifts which are
necessary to meet the opportunities Thou hast placed
before us in this day of grace. Amen.

Resolved, That the Synod ask all Synodical and Dis-
trict leaders, as well as congregations and individuals,
to make an all-out effort to undergird the “Venture of
Faith”; and be it further

Resolved, That this “Forward in Faith” effort include
a double thrust, namely:

1. A program of education with the purpose of
achieving a higher level of spiritual life rededication
(compare Memorial 816, pp. 350, 351); and

2. An occasion for enlarged giving for the worldwide
mission of the church, to be achieved by adding the sum
of ten million dollars ($10,000,000) to the annual synodi-
cal budget each year during the 1963—1965 triennium;
and be it further

Resolved, That the congregations of the Synod be
encouraged to subscribe to the “Forward in Faith”
effort with an extra-challenging yearly budget allot-
ment and/or a special offering for synodical work; and
be it finally

Resolved, That the 1965 convention of the Synod
evaluate the progress of this program in terms of pro-
jected needs and income.

Action: This resolution was presented during the
evening session on June 28 and adopted by a rising vote
of 496 to 69.

Individual Right to Inspect the Synod’s Books
RESOLUTION 11-17 A
Unprinted Memorial 825, p. 103, Today’s Business

Wuereas, Your committee has been given full co-
operation by both the petitioner and the synodical offi-
cers referred to in Unprinted Memorial 825 (p. 103, To-
day’s Business); and

Wuereas, The petitioner has assured the committee,
as well as all those in attendance at the open hearing
in which he was present, that by his reference to “nu-
merous discrepancies” no charge of any dishonesty or
misappropriation of funds was intended; therefore be it

Resolved, That we express our appreciation to the
petitioner and the synodical officers for their coopera-
tion; and be it further

Resolved, That we assure the petitioner and all mem-
bers of the Synod that constructive criticism and helpful
counsel in the business affairs of the Synod are always
appreciated; and be it further

Resolved, That we commend the officers of the Synod
for their conscientious devotion to duty; and be it finally

Resolved, That this request of Unprinted Memorial
825, for individual authority to inspect synodical books
or account, be declined.

Action: This resolution was adopted in place of can-
celed Resolution 11-17 (p. 435, Today’s Business).

Report of Council of Lutheran Agencies
RESOLUTION 11-18

Report 638 A and B, pp. 285—287, Reporis and
Memorials

Wuereas, The Synod benefits immeasurably from the
ministries of voluntary organizations not provided for