LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 2001, Page 197

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UNPRINTED REPORT AND LATE OVERTURES
7. Do any female clergy or clergy interns (vicars) lead
(conduct) your school’s chapel services?
8. Do you offer Holy Communion at any of your school’s
chapel services?
If yes, who is invited to commune?
9. How do you resolve doctrinal differences in your
school?
10. What are the required qualifications of your principal?
(Check all that apply)
__Member of LCMS congregation
__LCMS synodically trained
__Currently LCMS synodically rostered
__Lutheran
__Other of similar nature (please specify)
L2-67

To Evaluate This Far by Faith
in Light of New Hymnal Project
WHEREAS, The Board for Black Ministry worked in cooperation with other Lutheran bodies to formulate a worship
supplement for use in congregations who have AfricanAmerican, Caribbean, and African immigrant membership;
and
WHEREAS, This hymnbook is treasured by many of our
black congregations because it compiles a fine collection of
hymns, folk songs, spirituals, and cultural resources for the
Lutheran parish; and
WHEREAS, This hymnbook is not considered to be a synodically approved resource for worship, thus placing a burden upon the hearts of those congregations who earnestly
wish to walk with our Synod, but also wish to use the songs
that come out of the cultural traditions that speak to our
hearts; therefore be it
Resolved, That our Synod in convention officially request
the Commission on Worship to do an independent evaluation of this resource and release an official statement specifying what parts are good for Lutheran congregations and
what parts are considered harmful; and be it further
Resolved, That the Synod in convention officially encourage the Commission on Worship to use as many
hymns, folk songs, spirituals, and cultural resources from
This Far by Faith and other African-American resources as
it can for the new hymnal project.
Bethany
Yonkers, NY
L2-68

To Provide Funding for Stewardship
Education and Nurture
Rationale
Following discussions with LCMS Ministries Support
and the LCMS Foundation, the reduction of $600,000 in the
Board for Congregational Services unrestricted budget for
FY 2000–01, input from other sources, and considerable
prayer, the Board for Congregational Services at its Sep-

197

tember 2000 meeting resolved to transfer Stewardship Ministry to the LCMS Foundation as a means to “outsource”
this area of responsibility.
This “outsourcing” allows Stewardship to:
1. Maximize District presence by meeting more frequently with District staffs for relationship building, listening, resource development, and mutual encouragement.
2. Maximize the “Stewardship for Life” (whole-life, yearround, all ages) emphasis by melding this with the Foundation’s approach to “long-term stewardship.”
3. Maximize the use of the Congregational Stewardship
Workbook and Biblical Stewardship Principles as the Foundation strives to make stewardship nurture and education
an integral part of their approach to God’s people, helping
to make them “stewards for life.”
4. Maximize partnerships to enhance its working relationships with Ministries Support, LCEF, CPH, and other
stewardship-sensitive entities.
5. Maximize resource research and development by receiving additional input and interaction from personnel in
Districts for the purposes of providing and developing resources helpful for stewardship ministry in congregations.
6. Maximize technology by continuing development of
the StewardCAST network, the Stewardship Web site, the
new StewardLife web site, and the LCMS Mission and Ministry electronic catalogue.
At its December 2000 meeting, the Synod’s Board of Directors took the following action:
“Resolved, That the Board of Directors reminds the Board
for Congregational Services that it has the responsibility under
the Bylaws of the Synod for the work of the Department of
Stewardship.”
The Commission on Structure in its Proposed Handbook
for consideration at the 2001 Synod convention, item
3.3.5.2.3 (page 71–72), proposed:
The Board shall allocate available funds to the program boards,
commissions, councils, and departments of corporate Synod and hold
them responsible therefor.

(c) The Board of Directors shall be responsible for providing
operation and capital funds to carry out the work of the Synod
and to that end provide for a Department of Stewardship Ministry under the Board for Congregational Services which will
promote stewardship education and nurture in accordance with
the biblical principles of stewardship.
The various dynamics around “funding the mission” of
the church have changed considerably over the last number of years in terms of giving patterns, designation of financial gifts by the donor, determining the use of unrestricted gifts at the congregation, District, and national
level, etc. With appropriate responsibility and flexibility,
the Synod’s Board of Directors is positioned to determine
how best to provide operation and capital funds to carry out
the work of the Synod through boards, commissions, seminaries, etc., including various stewardship functions.
Resolved, That paragraph 3.3.5.2.3 (c) be amended as follows:
(c) The Board of Directors shall be responsible for providing operation and capital funds to carry out the work of
the Synod and to that end provide for stewardship educa200l Convention Proceedings