LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1969, Page 158

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158 RESOLUTIONS

accept the various financial exhibits and schedules of
the Controller as presented on pages 447—462; and be
it further

Resolved, That the Synod herewith express heart-
felt thanks and deep appreciation for the information
made available by the installation of the Uniform Ac-
counting System in 24 Districts; and be it finally

Resolved, That the Synod express its thanks to Ray-
mond C. Rauscher, Controller, and to the staff for the
improvements that are being made to assist synodical
and District officials in making more informed decisions
toward increasing efficiency and effectiveness in syn-
odical and District operations.

Action: Adopted (3).

To Accept Report of Board of Stewardship,
Mission Education, and Promotion
RESOLUTION 12-04

Report 12-03 (CW, pp. 462—466)

Resolved, That this convention accept the report of
the Board of Stewardship, Mission Education, and Pro-
motion with gratitude and with special commendation
for valuable services rendered during the past biennium
and its progress in reorganizing and reshaping the de-
partment during this transitional period; and be it also

Resolved, That we thank our Lord that this board
is directing us to the goal we must all seek: to combine
the mission of the church and Christian stewardship in
such a way that God’s gifts to His people are used in the
most effective way possible to achieve God’s redemptive
purposes for a dying world; and be it finally

Resolved, That we express our gratitude to the mem-
bers of the stewardship staff for their faithful services,
namely, Pastor A. Lorenz Grumm, Mr. Alfred Bieber,
and Pastor O, A. Soeldner.

Action: Adopted in the form given above (3).

To Launch a “Soul-Winning-Seventies”
Effort
RESOLUTION 12-05
Overture 12-08 (CW, p. 476)

Wuereas, The new decade of the 70s confronts the
congregations of the Synod with a variety of new and
exciting opportunities for mission both local and world-
wide; and

Wuereas, The natural tendency to give priority to
causes close at hand has resulted in insufficient funding
of the worldwide mission of the church through the
Synod by the regular offerings of our people over the
past 4 years; and

Wuereas, Special Synodwide appeals have been nec-
essary in 1967 and 1968 to supplement synodical budget
income so that the church’s corporate mission might
not be critically hindered, and again in 1969 we are
faced with the need of supplementing budget income to
meet the minimum needs of the church’s mission; and

Wuereas, Such special appeals for synodical budget
income develop poor stewardship attitudes and practices
among our congregations as well as become increas-
ingly unproductive in providing the necessary funds;
therefore be it

Resolved, That the entire synodical family — offi-
cials and staffs, pastors and people, professors and stu-
dents, teachers and pupils—-launch into the new dec-
ade of the ’70s with a “Soul-Winning-Seventies” effort,
to win at least a million souls for Christ by —

1. A renewal of commitment to Christ and His mis-

sion of proclaiming the Gospel of salvation near and -

far, by the edifying Word;

2. A rededication to the basic principles first enun-
ciated in the “Venture of Faith” movement that funds
for the ongoing mission of the church through the Synod
be provided by the regular offerings of our people;

3. A reaffirmation of the historic concept that the
Synod is an extension of the congregation in fulfilling
its commission from our Savior to proclaim the Gospel
to all the world (Constitution, Art.III, 2); and be it
further

Resolved, That under God we attempt to achieve
these goals by —

1. A more zealous sharing of the Edifying Word
together with its stewardship and mission implications
on every level of congregational and synodical life; and

2. A reevaluation by every congregation of the
percent ratio used in dividing the offerings of God’s
people, coupled with the determination to raise the
percent ratio in favor of the worldwide mission through
District and Synod by at least 2% per year, over the
next 4 years, and to strive for the eventual optimum
of 50/50; and be it finally

Resolved, That the Stewardship Department of the
Synod provide District Presidents and leaders with
guidance, materials, and helps necessary to lead the
congregations of the Synod into a God-pleasing in-
volvement in mission on every level.

Action: Recommitted (3).

(Before this action was taken, the committee agreed to
change “Soul-Saving-Seventies” to “Soul-Winning-Seven-
ties.” The committee later offered Res. 12-24 as a replace-
ment for 12-05.)

To Assign Specific Budget Items to Districts
RESOLUTION 12-06

Overture 12-38U (URO, p. 83)

WHEREAS, It is the function of the synodical Stew-
ardship Department to provide mission-education in-
formation and materials; and

Wuereas, This information can be used to inform
the people of God that they might be able to fulfill to
the greatest extent possible the mission of the church;
and

Wuereas, The desire for a more personalized mis-
sion program has been expressed by the laity; and