Collection › LCMS Convention Workbook (St. Louis, Missouri) › 1969 · 48th Convention › Page 476
LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1969, Page 476

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

STEWARDSHIP AND FINANCES; RETIREMENT AND BENEFITS 463

rectors on Nov. 21, 1968, to discuss the broad aspects of
the recommendations of the Stewardship Study Com-
mittee. It noted again that the special Stewardship
Study Committee envisioned three basic changes to en-
able the Stewardship Department to function at top
efficiency.

1. Establish and develop the Office of Needs and Re-
sources. This office could address basically the task of
developing a coordinated program of needs and re-
sources and raise money to meet the needs of the Synod
and the Districts.

2. Alter and expand the current functions of the
Board for Stewardship, Mission Education, and Promo-
tion to include such functions as evangelism, adult edu-
cation, and family life, that it might develop into a Board
for Christian Growth.

3. Establish a division of Christian Life and Con-
gregational Nurture to include the Board for Christian
Growth and other parish-based boards (such as Parish
Education and the Board for Young People’s Work).

The Stewardship Board reaffirmed its commitment
(in principle) to the report of the Stewardship Study
Committee and took the position that in implementing
these suggestions the number one priority be given to
bringing the expanded program of Christian Growth
and Stewardship into one department to allow close
cooperation and liaison with other departments respon-
sible for congregational nurture. This was predicated
on the necessity of a unified approach to the parish, as
opposed to a fragmented offering of services and pro-
grams presently experienced despite such efforts as the
Council of Administrators and others. The Stewardship
Board also took the position that the most effective way
of accomplishing the functional expansion of the Stew-
ardship Department into the wider department of
Christian Growth and Stewardship would be to do so
gradually. As departments with common aims and goals
work together in one closely cohesive division, there
will develop a climate of mutual trust and helpfulness.
Within such a division functions could be transferred
from one department to another with a minimum of

difficulty.

Finally, the Stewardship Board wholeheartedly en-
dorsed the establishment of a new Office of Needs and
Resources. Because the effectiveness of such an office
demands a good stewardship foundation and approach,
the board also suggested that the Needs and Resources
Office develop within the Stewardship Department
rather than independently or attached to some other
function of the church. Resolving these issues will help
the department creatively develop into a more effective
service arm of the church.

Raising Funds and EMSV

The congregations of the Synod have long felt the
need for special help in raising funds for capita! projects.
Commercial fund-raising firms have met this need to
a limited degree. To make this kind of service available
to more congregations within the context of their total

stewardship responsibilities, the synodical Board of Di-
rectors on Aug. 1—2, 1968, resolved “that the Steward-
ship Department develop fund-raising techniques and
services that will assist the local congregations in their
total stewardship responsibilities.” The staff is in the
process of analyzing, evaluating, and developing this
function.

As a proved method of training members in Chris-
tian giving and providing them the opportunity of con-
tributing generously to Christ’s work through the
church, the Stewardship Department continues to pro-
mote the Every Member Stewardship Visit. During the
last decade the department has prepared an annual kit
of EMSV materials for use by pastors and parish leaders
to carry out their fall stewardship visit for pledges. The
department also assists District leaders who conduct
regional or circuit conferences and schools with con-
gregational leaders to help make these visits more suc-
cessful in local congregations. Continuing emphasis will
be placed on this program. With the rapid, almost radi-
cal changes taking place in credit buying, new experi-
mentation and innovation is planned to offer more ef-
fective ways for our people to support the church con-
sistent with sound stewardship principles.

Lay Enlistment

Rev. Marcus T. Zill, as associate counselor of the
department, took responsibility for developing a pro-
gram of ministry of the laity. Pastor Zill thoroughly re-
searched this area and cooperated with the Lutheran
Laymen’s League in preparing materials for the Lay
Sunday observance. This Sunday received special em-
phasis at the 1967 synodical convention. Many pilot
projects were completely tested. In 1969 Pastor Zill will
represent the department at the national LWML con-
vention in Houston, Tex., to give further emphasis to
the ministry of the laity.

In January 1969 the Lord led Pastor Zill to accept
a call as pastor of St. Paul’s Church, Ogden, Utah. At
the present writing his position on the synodical stew-
ardship staff is vacant.

Mission Education

Mission education is becoming increasingly difficult
for many reasons.

1. The excitement of a tremendous expansion after
the World War II years is past, and a new era of the
young church overseas is upon us.

2. The widely adopted unified budget does not re-
quire the Christian to make an individual commitment
to the needs of Christ’s world mission. And while mis-
sion needs are not the motivation for giving, they are
frequently an important occasion and opportunity for it.

3. Our country as a whole has become more isola-
tionist in its world view. This attitude also finds its way
into the church.

4. Many have mistaken the rise of the indigenous
church to mean that help is no longer needed in lands
of the younger churches.