LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1981, Page 44

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44 ; MINUTES OF THE CONVENTION

Dr. and Mrs. Edwin Weber

Administration

Chairman Glenn O’Shoney of the Floor Committee
on Administration introduced Res. 4-02 recognizing the
service of Dr. Edwin C. Weber for his many years asa
faithful pastor and leader in the Synod. The delegates
adopted this resolution, expressing their gratitude by
rising and joining in the singing of the doxology. A
dozen roses were presented to Mrs. Weber by the Board
of Directors in gratitude to her for the support which she
had given to the work of her husband. Both Dr. and Mrs.
Weber addressed the convention expressing their grat-
itude to God for the opportunity to serve in this way and
to the delegates for their kindness and support.

A lay delegate from Fraser, Mich., a parish served by
Dr. Weber for a period of 29 years, expressed the joy of
his congregation that Dr. and Mrs. Weber would be
returning to Fraser. He asked Dr. Weber to return as
pastor emeritus of the congregation, saying, “The con-
gregation awaits your return.”

President Preus paid tribute to his predecessor, Dr.
Oliver R. Harms, and asked the delegates to observe a
moment of silence in honor of this leader who had gone
to his eternal home during the past year. He also asked
the Secretary of the Synod to write a letter to Mrs.
Harms expressing the thanks of the Synod for the
leadership which Dr. Harms had provided.

Program Implementation

Chairman George Bornemann of the Floor Com-
mittee on Program Implementation introduced Res. 12-
01 (TB, 157), which was adopted by the delegates. This
resolution called upon all members of the Synod to
recommit themselves to the principles of Christian
stewardship and to adopt into their personal lives the
understanding that “Christian stewardship is the free
and joyous activity of the child of God and God’s family,
the church, in managing all of life and life’s resources
for God’s purposes.” The convention expressed its

thanks to God for the success He had granted to
Forward in Remembrance (Res. 12-02, 7B 158), by rising
and joining in the Singing of the doxology. President
Preus led the convention in a special prayer of thanks-
giving for all the blessings which had been experienced
through this effort. After adopting this resolution, the
delegates also adopted a companion Res. 12-03 (7B 158)
in which they expressed their thanks to all the workers
who were involved in assisting in the Forward in
Remembrance campaign, especially Dr. Preus, and Dr.
Gerhardt Hyatt, who provided leadership for the cam-
paign. Before adopting the resolution it was agreed by
common consent to also include in the resolution those
units of the Synod who had loaned persons to the Synod
to assist in the campaign. By the adoption of Res. 12-
04A (TB 217) it was also agreed that lists of those
contributing to Forward in Remembrance should re-
main confidential and that after payment of their
pledges was completed all donors be given an oppor-
tunity in writing to remove their names from future 4
mailings concerning synodical appeals. It was also @
agreed that any future mailings concerning synodical 3
appeals using such lists would require approval of the ed
synodica] President. In Res. 12-13 (TB 289)thedelegates 3
reaffirmed their understanding that funds received from
Forward in Remembrance for reduction of the debt of
the Synod should be limited to $5 million. Res. 12-05(TB
159) was adopted, encouraging growth in the grace of
giving. Each congregation of the Synod was encouraged
to contact every member for their stewardship commit-
ment during the next biennium and was urged to share
any increase in giving by annually increasing the
percentage of given funds remitted to the District and
Synod accordingly. Members were challenged to raise, a
their levels of giving of personal income by 1% during a
the next biennium. Before adoption of theresolutionthe #
words “at least” were inserted between the words “by”
and “1%,” and the words “e.g., 2%—3%, 10%—11%,”
after the word “income” in line 66 (TB 159). In order to
accomplish this the seminaries and teachers colleges
were urged to initiate a required course on the Biblical
principles of Christian stewardship to include the theol-
ogy of responsible monetary management as well as |
the methods by which congregational, District, and 3 x
synodical work programs are funded. Pastors and 4
congregational stewardship leaders wereencouraged to aay
attend STEM seminars and other stewardship training aE
seminars in their areas and encouragement was given
to develop a stewardship education and training pro-
gram for the child and youth levels in the parish. This
was done by the adoption of Res. 12-06A (TB 281). After
changing the word “three” to “five” in line 72 (7B 282).
the delegates adopted Res. 12-07A (TB 281), thereby
adopting the report of the Executive Planning Grou

and authorizing a planning/coordinating committee to:
assist the Synod’s Board of Directors, Council of Pres ;
idents, and Council of Administrators in the planning
Process recommended in the report. The conventio
next adopted Res. 12-09 (TB 162) which authorized th

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