LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1977, Page 208

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208 RESOLUTIONS

Chairman Paul Zimmermann, Committee 13

extend the kingdom of God by the joint proclamation of
the saving Gospel of Jesus Christ; and

WHEREAS, This task is accomplished through
personal commitment leading to financial support by
all member congregations; and

WHEREAS, The percentage division of “mission
dollars” remitted by congregations through their
Districts has decreased steadily since the mid-1960s
with congregations sharing their means with the
church at large (District and the Synod) decreasing
from 18% in 1965 to 12% in 1976 and Districts sharing
with the Synod decreasing from 60% in 1965 to 46% in
1976; and

WHEREAS, Instead of expanding its work, the Synod
has found it necessary to cut back on its program of
world mission as well as other programs; therefore be it

Resolved, That we rededicate ourselves to the joint
proclamation of the Gospel; and be it further

Resolved, That the Synod in convention exhort
every congregation, District, and the Synod itself to
prioritize current and future budgets on the basis of the
Great Commission; and be it further

Resolved, That the Synod’s Board of Stewardship be
directed to implement through its Districts and con-
gregations an ongoing churchwide Kingdom
awareness program; and be it finally

Resolved, That the Board of Stewardship be directed
to approach its task of implementing a Kingdom

awareness program through the Scripturally based
“Firstfruits—Percentage Giving” principle beginning
with the communicant members of our congregations
in their giving, followed by the congregation itself, the
respective Districts, and finally the Synod in their
apportioning of the offerings received.

Action: Adopted (6).

To Implement
Circuit Counselors Conference

RESOLUTION 13-02
Report 13-03 (CW, pp. 389—391)

WHEREAS, Our Circuit Counselors have a leadership
responsibility to the pastors and congregations in their
respective areas; and

WHEREAS, Many of our Circuit Counselors have
never had the privilege of attending a Circuit Counselor
conference such as was held at St. Paul and Valparaiso,
to receive assistance for their task in the way of
guidelines, motivations, information, as well as various
suggestions; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Board of Directors of the Synod
be charged to arrange such a conference in 1978
following the District conventions; and be it further

Resolved, That the President’s office and three
members of the Council of Presidents, together with the
Mission Department, the Stewardship Department,
and the Commission on Theology and Church
Relations prepare a program of Bible studies, mission
information, stewardship training, and guidelines for
the use of Circuit Counselors; and be it further

Resolved, That in this process of stewardship
training the members of the conference spend time
together to share synodical concerns and to discuss in
brotherly love their need for supporting one another in
applying these stewardship principles to their ministry
and lives in a practical way; and be it further

Resolved, That the synodical Stewardship Depart-
ment develop a format whereby each member of the
conference may evaluate his present level of personal
financial commitment, with the intent of establishing a
new personal financial commitment as well as of
establishing a new personal goal for future growth
under the guidance of the Holy Spirit; and be it further

Resolved, That subsequent to the conference, all
Circuit Counselors visit each congregation in the
circuit to apply the principles learned and to discuss
with them the work of the Synod and the con-
gregation’s responsibility; and be it finally

Resolved, That the travel cost of this conference be
placed into the 1978 synodical budget, the cost of meals
and lodging to be assumed by the Districts.

Action: Declined (6)

(This action was taken after also declining to amend the
first resolve.)