LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1977, Page 209

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RESOLUTIONS 209

To Promote God-Pleasing
Proportionate Giving Through
Stewardship Workshops

RESOLUTION 13-03
Report 13-03, Rec. 3 (CW, p. 390)

WHEREAS, God has entrusted to us the stewardship
of human and financial resources so that we can carry
out His purposes; and

WHEREAS, the mission of the Lord is carried on
through the proclamation of the Word of God, the
administration of the sacraments, and the many
services rendered by God’s people; and

WHEREAS, God’s Word establishes guidelines for
Christian people concerning their stewardship of life;
and

WHEREAS, These Scriptural guidelines challenge
Christians to give sacrificially and proportionately of
the gifts that God has entrusted to them; and

WHEREAS, God blesses those who lovingly apply His
precepts on proportionate giving and sharing; therefore
be it

Resolved, That ghe Synod direct the Stewardship
Department to offer stewardship workshops or in-
stitutes to each District for pastors and lay leaders of
each congregation, for the purpose of aiding God’s
people to grow in the grace of proportionate giving; and
be it further ,

Resolved, That those attending these workshops be
encouraged to return to their congregations and present
to their members the challenge of raising their level of
proportionate giving.

Action: Adopted as amended (6).

(Amendment: addition of “or institutes.”’)

To Promote Mission Education
in our Church

RESOLUTION 13-04A
Report 13-03 (CW, pp. 389—391)

WHEREAS, Christ has given to His church on earth
the command to go into all the world and preach the
Gospel (Matt. 28:19); and

WHEREAS, The Holy Spirit has opened doors of
opportunity and challenge for our church in areas and
ways never before dreamed of; and

WHEREAS, Our people, when informed of our mission
work, needs, and challenges of new opportunities, such
as we have now open to us in West Africa, have
responded joyously and freely in the past; therefore be
it

Resolved, That the Districts of our Synod become
more actively involved in mission promotion, receiving
from the Synod and passing on to congregations
information concerning the mission work and oppor-
tunities for our church, that will help each member to
identify with the work of our missions and to be aware

of opportunities for missions in our world; and be it
further

Resolved, That circuit meetings of pastors and lay
people be held annually with District staff to promote
the mission work of our church, utilizing synodical
personnel, if necessary, and materials prepared by our
Synod’s Stewardship Department; and utilizing ex-
patriate, missionaries, former missionaries, and
national church leaders under the Missionary Lecture
Bureau of the Board for Missions; and be it further

Resolved, That congregations be urged to promote
missions through every means possible such as mission
fairs, mission festivals and/or periodic Mission Promo-
tion Sundays throughout the year to enlighten and
challenge their people to the need and opportunities to
fulfill Christ’s command to preach the Gospel in all the
world; and be it finally

Resolved, That this synodical convention encourage
the President of the Synod to invite the host leaders of
the partner churches for the 1979 convention and make
adequate arrangements for these partner church
leaders to visit and share their story with Districts,
circuits, and congregations.

Action: Adopted (6).

To Reestablish Synodical Sunday
RESOLUTION 13-05
Report 13-03 (CW, p. 389)

WHEREAS, Paul in I Cor. 12 tells us we are all one
body working together to fulfill the Great Commission
to go, teach, and make disciples; and

WHEREAS, We established the Synod under the
guidance of God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit to do
those things we as individuals or as individual
congregations cannot do; and

WHEREAS, As the Synod we are able to witness by
word and deed to areas inaccessible to the individual
congregations; and

WHEREAS, As the Synod we are able to establish and
maintain schools to train pastors, teachers, and lay
workers for service in the Evanglical Lutheran Church;
and

WHEREAS, As the Synod we are able to conserve the
unity of the true faith among our members; and

WHEREAS, As the Synod we are able to assist our
pastors, teachers, and other professional workers and
their families in the event of disability, retirement,
death, or special need; and

WHEREAS, As the Synod we are able to provide
means through which our members may express their
Christian love and compassion in meeting human
needs; therefore be it

Resolved, That beginning in 1978 and each year
thereafter the Board of Dirctors designate a “Synodical
Sunday” in the congregations of the LCMS; and be it
further