LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 2010, Page 119

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4. Administration and Finance
To Lead Districts and Synod in a Stewardship
Renaissance
RESOLUTION 4-01A
Overtures 4-08, 4-24 (CW, p. 181; TB, p. 25)
Whereas, Martin Luther has written that offerings come
as a result of hearing God’s Word (Luther’s Works, vol . 1,
Genesis Lectures: Cain and Abel); and
Whereas, Through the death and resurrection of our Lord
and Savior Jesus Christ we as God’s people are freed to serve
with time, talents, and resources (Rom . 5 and 6; Eph . 2:1–
10); and
Whereas, There are many stewardship programs in the
Christian community which stress “social gospel” giving,
“need” giving, “guilt” giving, or “crisis” giving; and
Whereas, Such programs do not address the heart, giving
joyously and freely at the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ; and
Whereas, 2007 Res . 4-02 mandated the coordination of
national and district leaders and other assisting entities in the
development of resources, training, and strategic components
for an expanding stewardship renewal in the life of the Synod;
and
Whereas, God is the giver of all gifts (Gen . 1:1); therefore be it
Resolved, That LCMS congregations be encouraged to
search the Scriptures for all stewardship examples; and be
it further
Resolved, That LCMS congregations study biblically based
and Gospel-centered stewardship principles; and be it further
Resolved, That the Synod and its districts promote the
Lutheran understanding of biblically based stewardship principles with emphasis on (1) gratitude for God’s gifts, (2) the
need of my neighbor, and (3) trust that “I will never be without”; and be it finally
Resolved, That each district president lead his district in a
stewardship renaissance using the resources that are available
to him within the Synod .
Action: Adopted (5)
(During brief discussion, a motion to amend the second resolve
by adding “and Gospel-centered” before the word “stewardship”
was accepted by common consent . Res . 4-01A was adopted as
changed [Yes: 1,005; No: 131] after brief discussion .)

To Address Corporate Synod’s Financial Crisis
RESOLUTION 4-02
Reports 4-03–04 (CW, pp. 72–74)

Committee 4 Chairman Don Fondow

Whereas, The July 2006 Report of the Blue Ribbon Task
Force for Funding the Mission states, “Synod has reached a
crisis as a result of individual, congregational and direct giving” (Report, p . 2); and
Whereas, The Vice-President–Finance—Treasurer of the
Synod has reported a decline in unrestricted income at the rate
of approximately five percent per year and has indicated that
corporate Synod is approaching a financial crisis; and
Whereas, Much of the report of the 2006 Blue Ribbon
Task Force for Funding the Mission was not acted upon before
the adjournment of the 2007 Synod convention; and
Whereas, The Vice-President–Finance—Treasurer recommends revisiting the report of the Blue Ribbon Task Force
for Funding the Mission (R4-03); therefore be it
Resolved, That each recommendation in the task force
report for increasing unrestricted revenues be placed on the
agenda of the Synod’s Board of Directors for disposition by
the next LCMS convention; and be it further
Resolved, That the Board of Directors evaluate all assets,
taking action to ensure that they are being used effectively to
carry out the Synod’s mission and ministry or to make recommendations to the next convention for their appropriate use .
Action: Adopted (5)
(Res . 4-02 was adopted as presented, after brief discussion
[Yes: 869; No: 270] .)

Whereas, Corporate Synod faces mounting financial challenges; and
Whereas, The Synod’s Board of Directors has reported
a decline of Synod’s unrestricted dollars throughout the last
triennium (R4-04); and
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2010 Convention Proceedings