Collection › LCMS Convention Workbook (St. Louis, Missouri) › 1969 · 48th Convention › Page 429
LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1969, Page 429

Scan: The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
Transcription machine transcription, uncorrected

SPECIAL MINISTRIES AND SUNDRY MATTERS #20

another substantial source of gifts. By naming the
Foundation as the irrevocable beneficiary the donor
can make relatively small premium payments over the
years while eventually providing a substantial sum for
the needs of the church. Furthermore, premium pay-
ments qualify as charitable contributions for federal
income tax purposes. As of Jan. 31, 1969, our records
reveal that 23 policies have named the Foundation or
an agency of the Synod as beneficiary, amounting to
an aggregate face value of approximately $125,000. It
is hoped that in the future this avenue of Foundation
support, too, will prove to be substantial.

6. Memorial Gifts. Gifts of this nature may well be
made in memory of a deceased loved one toward the
establishment of an abiding memorial. The donor may
designate the purpose for which such funds (either
principal or income or both) may be used. Such gifts
are permanently identified, thus perpetuating the mem-
ory of loved ones and extending their influence far
into the future.

The Foundation also receives outright gifts in mem-
ory of a deceased person. Memorial gift cards for
this purpose are available on request.

Steady Growth

In gratitude to almighty God the Foundation's Board
of Trustees is happy to report a steady growth of the
Foundation from its inception to the present. As of
Jan. 31, 1969, it distributed to the Synod in the form
of designated gifts the sum of $562,000. Of this sum
$54,000 was distributed this past fiscal year. Further-
more, during the past 10 years of its existence it dis-
tributed $213,000 to various auxiliary agencies of the
Synod, $61,000 of it during 1968.

The Foundation as of Jan. 31, 1969, had assets of
approximately $3,500,000, consisting of working capital
of $240,000, gift-annuity fund of $1,549,000, life-income
fund of $940,000, and endowment fund of $392,000.
Most of these assets are in effect held in trust, not only
for the benefit of the donors but also for the Synod and
its various affliated agencies. Undistributed and un-
matured gifts plus miscellaneous agency funds amount
to $334,000.

The Board of Trustees is happy to state that, begin-
ning with the fiscal year 1968, the Foundation became
completely self-supporting and hence is not included
in the synodical budget.

The blessings of God upon the work of the Founda-
tion during the first decade of its existence have dem-
onstrated, among others, two important factors: (1) It
becomes increasingly evident that the work of the
Foundation is long-range in nature. Most of the gifts
lie in the area of deferred giving, the actual results of
which are realized only after a period of years. (2) It
becomes increasingly clear that the Foundation has
a potential of great service and support for our church,
including also its various agencies.

Promotional Program

By world standards our personal dedication and
systematic giving might be considered as relatively

generous. However, it is evident that many of our
people possess accumulated resources which could be
shared with the church if they were but reminded of
the opportunities now existing and if they knew how to
take advantage of these opportunities. One of the great
challenges of the Foundation therefore is to educate our
people to the great need of special, “extrabudget” gifts
and to point up the convenient channels of the Founda-
tion for such giving. The Foundation is unique in that
it provides services which no other organization in the
Synod can offer.

The Foundation must constantly publicize and pro-
mote its services. This is accomplished through litera-
ture, ads, films, and we hope, word of mouth. It con-
stantly encourages our people to make a will and to re-
member also the church in it. Requests for the Founda-
tion's two films on wills are on the increase. To this end
also new literature is being produced. new ads are being
run in the Reporter, The Lutheran Layman, and other
publications. Prospective donors are being sought out,
and new mailing lists are being compiled.

To furnish the Foundation with definite goals and
to aid in the accomplishment of these goals, a committee
is in process of formulating a definitive 5-year plan,
subject to the approval of its Board of Trustees and the
Board of Directors of the Synod.

A major development of our activity is the recent
appointment of additional District Foundation Com-
mittees plus the increasing activity on the part of these
committees. The formation and efforts of these com-
mittees are of paramount importance because this ave-
nue represents the most effective means to reach our
people on the local congregational level. About 50°:
of our Districts now have such committees. With con-
centrated efforts we have every reason to believe the
number will be substantially increased by the end
of 1969.

Personnel and Office Procedures

For some time the Board of Trustees has felt the
need of having representatives in the field on a full-
time basis, pointing up the needs of the church and
also making personal contacts with prospective donors,
particularly in areas of concentrated synodical mem-
bership. To this end, in cooperation with the Iowa Dis-
trict West Foundation Committee. the Foundation pro-
cured the services of Dr. R. C. Bunge, Lake City, Iowa,
on a contractural basis for a 6-month trial period
ending Jan. 31, 1969. The Foundation and the afore-
mentioned District committee have equally shared in
paying his salary. The success of this venture during
this trial period prompted the executive committee of
the Foundation’s Board of Trustees to continue this
arrangement for an additional full year ending Jan.
31, 1970.

In addition to the foregoing arrangement the Foun-
dation is attempting to procure the services of qualified
retired pastors and or laymen to work certain areas.
Through the generosity of one of its trustees a special