LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 2019, Page 179

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8. FINANCE
To Encourage Congregations
to Support Pastoral Formation

To Encourage a Synodwide 1.1.1 Funding
Model for Defined Mission Outcomes

RESOLUTION 8-01

RESOLUTION 8-02

Overture 8-04 (CW, 479–80)

Overture 8-01 (CW, 478)

WHEREAS, Well-trained pastors are essential for the
ongoing work of Word and Sacrament ministry in our
congregations; and
WHEREAS, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
(LCMS) has been blessed by God with two seminaries for
the training and equipping of parish pastors and every
congregation in Synod has and continues to benefit from
the work of our seminaries in training and equipping parish
pastors; and
WHEREAS, Every congregation in our Synod has benefited
and continues to benefit from the ministry and service of
well-trained pastors from our Synod’s seminaries; and
WHEREAS, As the cost of seminary education continues to
rise, the LCMS continues to search for ways to cover the
costs of maintaining the quality of the pastoral education
of our seminaries without unduly increasing the financial
burden of the students; and
WHEREAS, The occasions of ordinations and/or
installations and the ordination anniversaries of pastors
provide wonderful opportunities for congregations to show
their thankfulness to God for a pastor to carry out the Word
and Sacrament ministry in its midst; therefore be it
Resolved, That congregations of the LCMS be encouraged
to take a special thank-offering on the occasion of the
installation and/or ordination of a new pastor or the
anniversary of their pastor’s ordination to support the
LCMS joint seminary fund or the LCMS seminary of their
choice.
Action: Adopted (7)
It was moved and seconded to strike “the LCMS Joint Seminary
Fund” from the resolve on lines 19–20. After a delegate objected
to the chair’s suggestion to move to a vote, another speaker called
the question. On a point of order, the mover of the amendment
was allowed to speak to his motion. Closure of debate on the
amendment carried [Yes: 759; No: 40] and the amendment
failed [Yes: 203; No: 623]. The chairman noted the orders of the
day, and debate was closed [Yes: 790; No: 29]. Res. 8-01 was
adopted as presented [Yes: 786; No: 47].

WHEREAS, Resolution 2-02 adopted at the 2018 English
District convention established a funding model for
missions whereby congregations gather significant gifts
above and beyond regular offerings to be used for
specifically designated mission endeavors (namely, the $1
per member per week initiative, hereafter “1.1.1”); and
WHEREAS, Congregations of the English District are
joyfully participating in this simple model, showing there is
power and strength in many giving a little as these
congregations offer meaningful extra funds for missions;
and
WHEREAS, $52 per baptized member would make a
significant mission impact; and
WHEREAS, The Church is the beautiful Body of Christ that
desires more missions to be started, more missionaries to
be sent, more pastors and teachers to be trained, more
people to be baptized, to hear of Jesus and be saved; and
WHEREAS, Mission funding by member congregations
has been a hallmark of The Lutheran Church—Missouri
Synod (LCMS) since its founding, as seen in the original
Synod Constitution, Chapter I, “Reasons for Forming a
Synodical Organization” (tr. Suelflow, Concordia Historical
Institute Quarterly 16, no. 1 [Apr. 1943]: 1–18):

Committee 8 Chairman Mark Miller
Resolutions

PROCEEDINGS OF THE 2019 (67TH) LCMS CONVENTION | 179