LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1998, Page 67

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SYNODICAL REPORTS 67

* has the potential to facilitate increased allocation of charitable re-
sources to congregational, District, and national ministries.

The Implementation Team continued to meet during this past
triennium, giving guidance to staff as it worked on developing a
system to support the yes/yes approach to funding. The Implemen-
tation Team believes that the system must be compatible with the
biblical stewardship principles developed by the Synod’s Steward-
ship Department pursuant to 1995 convention Res. 4-07A. The Im-
plementation Team provided input to and supports those principles
which have been sent to all congregations and which appear in the
Convention Workbook.

The Implementation Team defines “a clear and simple system”
as one that is easy for the donor to understand and use. Its compo-
nents will include
* stewardship/mission and ministry education through triennial, on-

site visits and other direct contacts between national, District, and
congregational leaders;

* communication of current mission and ministry opportunities via
an electronic catalog available to all over the Internet;

* an opportunity selection process through which individuals, con-
gregations, and Districts may support mission and ministry
through unified budgets AND IF DESIRED, select and support
some specific projects which still require funding;

* The financial transfer process, essentially the current commit-
ment/remittance system will record, credit, and report all gifts;

* donor feedback will occur through the boards/groups which have
responsibility for conducting the projects selected by individuals,
congregations, and Districts.

Conclusion

The Implementation Team is pleased to report that the devel-
opment of this system is well underway. At its Feb. 5 meeting its
members received reports and saw demonstrations on how each
component will work. Since the system should be fully operational
by the Districts’ 2000 fiscal years, the Implementation Team be-
lieves it has completed its task.

The Board of Directors will need to provide the necessary fund-
ing for Stewardship/Mission and Ministry Education, the LCMS
Ministries Support Department, and the Information Center to sup-
port the “yes/yes approach of funding our work together.”

We pray the Lord’s guidance and blessing on supporting the
work He has placed before the Synod. To Him be the glory!

John P. Schuelke, Chairman

R4-02

The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
Foundation

Report to 1998 LCMS Convention

Based on recommendations from various affected groups, the
1992 convention transferred deferred giving and estate planning
services, development of current gifts, and consulting services to
the LCMS Foundation. The action was taken to respond to rapid
societal change making ministry and its funding more difficult, to
be more responsive to individual donors and ministry constituen-
cies, to minimize to the extent possible fund-raising competition
while generating more gift income to sustain and increase min-
istries, and to respond to the transfer of wealth from one genera-
tion to the next.

In order to develop ownership in the activities of the newly con-
stituted Foundation its corporate membership was expanded to in-
clude representation from organizations in partnership with the
Foundation.

The role and function of Members is to serve the broad inter-
ests of the donors, congregations, agencies, auxiliaries, recognized
service organizations, and other organizations associated with The
Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Members are people who
know the facts about the Foundation because they are connected to
the source(s), tell the story, criticize/advise, but are always ready

to promote the purpose of the Foundation in a joy-filled manner,
encouraging God’s people to practice Christian stewardship
through the services of the Foundation. Members are persons who
are interested in and can be counted on to “link Christians with giv-
ing opportunities.”

The Foundation has adopted a set of guiding principles to as-
sist it in keeping its efforts in focus. The seven guiding principles
are as follows:

1. The love of Christ guides us and the people with whom we

work.

We assume that everyone associated with the LCMS Foundation
is expressing their love of Christ in recognition of the grace of
God. The Foundation, donors, and other ministry organizations
are on a journey together. The paths taken may not be identical
and the pace of our travels may vary, but we are all heading
toward the same destination.

2. We are on a mission of service through relationships.

The LCMS Foundation is a service organization which focuses
on the faithful needs and desires of Christian stewards and the min-
istries they support. Developing and maintaining relationships with
donors and the ministries in which they are interested is critical.

3. We believe that to be faithful, God’s people must be
fruitful.

The LCMS Foundation is not the Stewardship Department, but
it has a strong role in helping people live out their stewardship. We
must have the courage to pursue what God has called us to do. In
linking Christians with giving opportunities, we help them discover
the joy of giving. By assisting individual donors and ministry or-
ganizations, the results are multiplied.

4. We believe that people give to people.

People do not give to structures. People do not give because of
a need. People give to people who represent causes that embody
their values. We encourage people to share testimonies to help oth-
ers learn how to live out their faith.

5. We help make visions a reality.

We believe in the importance of having a vision and looking to-
ward the future. We aim not only to link Christians with current
activities, but also to make possible dreams and aspirations for to-
morrow.

6. We operate within the context of The Lutheran Church—

Missouri Synod. ;

The LCMS is a unique organization. To serve the church well,
we strive to understand and work within the dynamics and per-
spectives of the LCMS.

7. We aim for excellence and are accountable for results.

LCMS Foundation staff are motivated by high standards and
are held accountable for results.

The Foundation’s Ministry Report with supplemental financial
and investment information is enclosed with the Workbook. This
document shares our definition of ministry, the external and inter-
nal effects of that ministry, and the spectrum of services that the
Foundation offers. In it we attempt to describe how the momentum
of ministry develops, continues to increase, and assists others in
setting ministry into motion. The Foundation’s audited financial
statements are also available upon request.

The Board of Trustees has continued to develop its understand-
ing of board and executive relationships and accountability. In
order to assist them, the board has adopted a model of governance
that is described as Policy Based Leadership. Under this model the
board continues to focus on finding the proper ways to respond to
the changes that are taking place around us and the impact such
changes have on Christian stewards. The underlying question for
the board always is: “Is what we are doing making a difference in
ways that others couldn’t do as well or better?” The following sum-
marizes the board’s view of this process:

An approach to leadership that emphasizes
* values;

* vision;
* empowerment of board and staff,
* outcomes—results that make a difference.

The board crafts and recrafts its values and vision into policies
that