LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1981, Page 214

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214 RESOLUTIONS

To Thank Workers for Help
in Forward in Remembrance Campaign

RESOLUTION 12-03
Report 4-04 (CW, pp. 195—198)

WHEREAS, Our great God has abundantly blessed the
Forward in Remembrance campaign of The Lutheran
Church—Missouri Synod; and

WHEREAS, That extraordinary appeal has resulted in
the dedicated involvement of thousands of members of
LCMS congregations who have freely given of their
time and ability; and

WHEREAS, With an announced goal of $40 million
these efforts have to date produced commitments for
offerings to the Lord’s work in an amount exceeding $70
million; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Synod commend (1) the President
of the Synod, Dr. J. A. O. Preus, who suggested the
undertaking and worked tirelessly to insure its success;
(2) Dr. Gerhardt W. Hyatt, who provided leadership for
the campaign and who served with great dedication and
effectiveness; (3) Rev. James Uhrinak, Director of
Information for Forward in Remembrance, who directed
the development of the education and motivation thrust
of the campaign; (4) Dr. Walter Rosin, Mr. John
Schuelke, Dr. Norman Sell, Dr. Edward Westcott, and
Rev. Marcus Zill, who, together with Dr. Preus and Dr.
Hyatt, have comprised the Forward in Remembrance
Coordination Committee and have given unstintingly
of their time and effort; (5) Community Counselling
Service representatives, William Hanrahan, Peter
Flynn, and other associated personnel who have demon-
strated great skill and diligence in the performance of
their duties; (6) Every active person in each role in the
campaign administration, and every District President,
District official, pastor, professional worker, or lay-
person cooperating in this extensive effort; (7) those
units of the Synod which permitted their personnel to
participate.

Action: Adopted as amended (10).

(The last point was added by common consent.)

To Protect Confidentiality
RESOLUTION 12-04
Overture 2-26 (CW, pp. 136—139)

WHEREAS, Many of our loyal and faithful brothers
and sisters in Christ have made extraordinary sacrifices
for the “Forward in Remembrance” effort in response to
His love for them; therefore be it

Resolved, That lists of such contributors be protected
against an onslaught of fund appeals by maintaining
strict confidentiality of such lists, unless specific re-
leases are obtained from the original donors.

Action: Adopted (10).

To Encourage Growth
in the Grace of Giving

RESOLUTION 12-05

Report 12-02, Rec. 1 (CW, p. 356); Overture 12-05
(CW, p. 364)

WHEREAS, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
at its 1979 convention in St. Louis took action that its
mission budget be increased 100% beyond inflation
during the decade of the 1980s; and

WHEREAS, Other resolutions of the Synod call for
upgrading the funding of the church and aiding mem-
bers of congregations to grow in the grace of giving; and

WHEREAS, The membership of the church has been
made aware of the many opportunities for proclaiming
the Gospel through the educational and motivational
phase of Forward in Remembrance; and

WHEREAS, The people of God within the parishes of
the LCMS are ready and willing to heed this call to
witness and to give; therefore be it

Resolved, That during the next biennium every
congregation in the LCMS be encouraged to contact
every member (individually or in a group setting) for
their stewardship commitment and response; and be it
further

Resolved, That, God willing, during the next bien-
nium all members of LCMS congregations be urged to
give proportionately, moving toward or beyond tithing,
by annually increasing their regular giving by at least
1% of their personal income, e.g., 2% to 3%, 10% to 11%;
and be it finally

Resolved, That congregations be urged to share their
increase by annually increasing the percentage of given
funds remitted to the District and the Synod
accordingly.

Action: Adopted (10).

(In the second resolved the committee added “at least” and
inserted the two examples.)

To Encourage Stewardship Training
RESOLUTION 12-06A
Report 12-02 (CW, pp. 352—357)

WHEREAS, The communicant giving of our personal
disposable income has decreased from 3 percent to 2
percent since 1960 (one generation), resulting in an
estimated annual loss of one-quarter billion dollars for
investment in the Lord’s work by congregations, Dis-
tricts, and the Synod, thereby curtailing many inreach
and outreach programs; and

WHEREAS, We “‘know the grace of our Lord Jesus
Christ, that though He was rich, yet for our sakes He
became poor that we through His poverty might be rich”
(2 Cor. 8:9); and

WHEREAS, Stewardship embraces the entire response

of the Christian to the grace of the Lord, and we are
encouraged to grow in this grace of Christian giving
also (2 Cor. 8:7); therefore be it