LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2010, Page 179

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4. Administration and finance
4-01

To Increase Financial Support for Synod
Seminaries
Whereas, The support of seminaries was included as a part of
the rationale for the formation of the Missouri Synod in 1847; and
Whereas, The Constitution of the LCMS states as one of its objectives: “The Synod, under Scripture and the Lutheran Confessions,
shall— ... 3. Recruit and train pastors, teachers, and other professional church workers and provide opportunity for their continuing
growth” (Art. III); an¡
Whereas, Concordia Seminary, St. Louis and Concordia
Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, belong to the Synod and are
critically important for the long-term health and faithfulness of our
Synod; and
Whereas, Over many years the financial relationship between the
Synod and its seminaries has changed from one where the Synod provided the majority of the seminaries’ budgets to the situation today
in which the Synod provides nominal contributions to the seminaries’ budgets; and
Whereas, The necessity of raising nearly all of their own funding distracts the resources and attention of seminary faculty and staff
away from forming pastors and deaconesses for the church; and
Whereas, Requiring the seminaries to be financially independent
from the Synod degrades the relationship between Synod and seminaries and tempts the leadership of the seminaries to disregard the
will of the Synod; and
Whereas, The dependence on individual contributors for funding leaves the seminaries vulnerable to the desires of the contributors
rather than the needs of the church; and
Whereas, Because of financial challenges facing the Synod, budget and program decisions will be very difficult for Synod officials to
make beyond what is simply required; therefore be it
Resolved, That the Montana District of the LCMS memorialize
the Synod in convention to direct the Synod to increase direct support to the seminaries to 5 percent of their total budgets in 2011, and
to increase another 5 percent of the seminaries’ annual budgets each
year until 2020, at which time the Synod will support the seminaries
at a minimum of 51 percent of their budgets, to be continued at this
level indefinitely; and be it further
Resolved, That congregations be informed of this change and
thereby be encouraged to support our seminaries.
Montana District
4-02

To Encourage Support of Seminaries
Whereas, The LCMS in convention has spoken repeatedly of the
need for the Synod to provide financial support for the seminaries
(e.g., 2007 Res. 4-09A); and
Whereas, Corporate Synod does not receive sufficient funds from
Sunday morning offerings from congregations via districts to provide
substantial financial support for the seminaries; and
Whereas, Both LCMS seminaries rely increasingly on gifts from
congregations and individuals for the resources needed to fulfill their
mission to the Synod of providing theological education; therefore
be it
Resolved, That pastors and congregations be encouraged to include
the seminaries in their congregational budgets; and be it further

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2010 Convention.indb 179

Resolved, That pastors and congregations be urged to include (by
2011) envelopes for one or both of the seminaries in the offering
boxes/packets distributed annually to their members.
Board of Regents
Concordia Seminary
4-03

To Encourage Immediate and Long-Term
Financial Support for Seminaries
Rationale

Pastors are necessary for the mission and ministry of the church,
and seminaries are necessary to produce pastors. As existing congregations need pastors, and the mission goals of the Synod include
planting new congregations, even more pastors will be needed.
Articles in the April 2009 issue of Reporter and the Spring 2009
issue of Concordia Journal state that Concordia Seminary in St. Louis
receives only 2 percent of its funding from the national budget of
The LCMS. The articles state that Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, is
faced with making drastic cuts in its operating budget for next year
(one-fourth of its budget). Similar short-term and long-term funding
challenges exist for Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne
as well.
Whereas, Art. III of the Constitution of The LCMS states that
two of the objectives of the Synod are: “3. Recruit and train pastors, teachers, and other professional church workers and provide
opportunity for their continuing growth” and “5. Aid congregations
to develop processes of thorough Christian education and nurture
and to establish agencies of Christian education such as elementary
and secondary schools and to support synodical colleges, universities, and seminaries”; and
Whereas, The 2007 LCMS convention passed Res. 4-09A which
states:
Resolved, That the Synod as a whole continue to support each seminary’s development efforts; and be it further
Resolved, That the funding model adopted by the Board for Pastoral
Education be put into place, including:
• Continued direct funding of the seminaries by corporate
Synod from its annual budget in the form of subsidy.
• An intentional and fundamental return to being tuition-driven
institutions in order to make funding more predictable and reduce
the risk of financial crises at the seminaries.
• The LCMS as a whole (individuals, congregations, circuits,
districts, corporate Synod, and agencies) assumes primary responsibility for gathering funds to support seminary students and assist
them in paying undiscounted tuition.;

therefore be it
Resolved, That the congregations of Circuit 9 of the Texas District
memorialize the LCMS in its 2010 convention to encourage all congregations and calling entities of the Synod, as an immediate solution
to help out in the current financial need, to engage in active fundraising now, and that these dollars be sent to the Joint Seminary Fund as
soon as possible; and be it further
Resolved, That the Circuit 9 Forum memorialize the Synod in its
2010 Convention to encourage all congregations and calling entities
of the Synod, as a long-term solution and to reflect a greater responsibility for the seminaries of the Synod, to place in their annual budgets
$1,000 per pastor or 1 percent of their annual budget to be paid to the
Joint Seminary Fund annually.
Circuit 9 Forum
Texas District
2010 Convention Workbook

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