LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1971, Page 61

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PRESIDENT’S REPORT 61

In keeping with this, your President some time ago
asked the Board of Social Ministry and World Relief
to develop a series of social ministry affirmations. We
realize that words are easier than action, but perhaps
the right kind of words adopted by our convention will
give necessary direction to our congregations and let
the world know that we do care. Of particular concern
in this area is the ongoing problem of combating racism
in our own nation and church. We dare not allow
this evil and demonic spirit to devour us.

VIII. Our Mission Requires that We Use All
the Communications Media

Committee 10 will make recommendations pertain-
ing to the important area of church publications, tele-
vision, radio, and all other means by which the church
attempts to get the message of Christ out to the whole
world. Our church, which pioneered in the field of
radio and television ministry, must continue to utilize
every means at our disposal to proclaim the reconciling
Word. We are told that only 18 percent of the people
use the newspaper as their first source of news. The
rest use radio and television. The implications for the
church are obvious and therefore require our continued
prayers and financial support. In this connection, we
should remember with gratitude all those who have
worked so valiantly in this field.

IX. Our Mission Requires Money

Committee 11 will be considering the matter of the
125th-anniversary observance of our beloved church
in 1972. Certainly this anniversary ought to be an oc-
casion for a generous thankoffering to God for His many
blessings over the years. Perhaps we can use that occa-
sion for some significant advancement in the whole
field of synodical financing. For the past six or seven
years we have just been coasting. Last year, for ex-
ample, our Board for Higher Education reported that
there was only $19,000 to be divided among 16 schools
for capital improvement.

Work needs to be done; schools need to be estab-
lished and maintained; missions need new infusions of
capital; and the entire program of the church needs to
be revitalized by a thankoffering which will really say to
God and to ourselves that we are interested in the great
work of proclaiming our Lord Jesus Christ. It is my
hope that Committee 11 will present us with a resolution
calling for such an opportunity, and that the Synod will
respond with enthusiasm and gratitude. Committees 12
and 16 will also be giving consideration to important
financial questions facing our Synod in the field of
stewardship and budgeting.

Sometimes we get the impression that long lists of
figures are not important. I will never forget an old
gentleman who used to say that he always opened the
church paper to the financial page first, saying, “I want
to see what the Holy Ghost is doing.” Perhaps one of

the greatest proofs of our love for Christ and for His
church is in the degree to which we open our pocket-
books. While our financial picture as of June 30, 1971,
reflects an improvement over the past two years, we
must admit that we have not done what we can do or
what needs to be done. It is my fervent prayer that the
delegates at this convention will overwhelmingly pledge
their support and the support of their congregations for
a renewed financial effort in the next biennium. Such an
effort will enable us to move forward in the expansion
of mission work both at home and abroad, in increased
social ministry, in a better educational program at all
levels, and in an outreach to others through various
agencies.

X. Our Mission Requires the Leadership of Qualified
People

Committees 13, 14, and 15 are in one way or another
related to the people who are asked to lead our church
in various capacities. What we must do in our nomina-
tions and elections is select the best people available
to do some of the most important work in the world.
The men and women to be chosen to fill the offices in
our church are to be servants of the Synod and of the
Lord of the church. These are to be people of high
integrity, people who are to stand before the church and
her Lord saying, “Here I am; send me, and give me the
strength to do what You want done.”

No presidential report would be complete without
reference to the wonderful help and service which so
many thousands of people in our church have performed
during the past biennium. It would be impossible to
begin naming all those who have been helpful to your
President in the conduct of his office. But special thanks
must go to the synodical Vice-Presidents, the corporate
officers, the Council of Presidents, the Board of Direc-
tors, the Board of Trustees, and the members and ex-
ecutives of every other board, commission, and com-
mittee in Synod, and our auxiliary organizations, for
the countless hours they have given to help promote
the work the church has asked them to do. Thanks are
due to our pastors, teachers, deaconesses, parish work-
ers, lay workers, congregational officers, and all our con-
gregations for their prayers, their financial support, their
moral support, and all that they have done in demon-
stration that Christ dwells in them. We are also grate-
ful to the secretarial service staff, to the convention
committee, and to all others who have contributed to
the work of this convention.

As we open this convention, we have but one prayer:
that God’s name may be glorified, that His kingdom may
come, and that His will may be done in the hearts and
lives of all of us. May our wonderful theme, Sent To
RECONCILE, be uppermost in the minds of all of us so that
we may emerge from this convention reconciled to our
Lord, reconciled to one another, and zealous to bring
the message of a reconciled God to a fallen and alienated
world.

God bless us all. In His service. Amen.