LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 2004, Page 134

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4. Program and Finance
To Initiate “Stewardship Ablaze”
RESOLUTION 4-01
Overtures 4-26-27 (CW, pp. 213–214)
WHEREAS, God has richly blessed the individual members and congregations of The Lutheran Church—Missouri
Synod with an abundance of resources; and
WHEREAS, Opportunities for mission and ministry in the
world have outpaced available funding in recent years, as
evidenced by budget shortfalls and ministry reductions at
all levels of Synod; and
WHEREAS, The need for biblical stewardship education
for all members throughout Synod is the foundation for addressing our funding challenges; therefore be it
Resolved, That the Synod promote a unified stewardship
education initiative entitled “Stewardship Ablaze” in 2006
to raise awareness of faithful stewardship in all of the congregations; and be it further
Resolved, That each District be encouraged to conduct
“Stewardship Ablaze” education conferences or events that
would include all church leaders (ordained, commissioned,
and lay); and be it finally
Resolved, That to ensure broad-based ownership, the
Synod’s District and Congregational Services Department
shall collaborate with the Council of Presidents to implement this initiative.

Committee 4 Chairman William Hoesman

WHEREAS, The corporate Synod is supporting the seminaries with $500,000 from undesignated funds in the 2004−
2005 budget; and
WHEREAS, The Synod as a whole supports the seminaries; therefore be it
Resolved, That the Synod as a whole continue to support
each seminary’s development efforts; and be it further
Resolved, That the corporate Synod maintain its existing financial responsibility to our seminaries for the next
triennium; and be it further
Resolved, That the Board for Pastoral Education undertake as its immediate first task a systemic study of the
funding models for theological education in our Synod; and
be it further
Resolved, That this Board for Pastoral Education seek
to engage the entire church for counsel and support in resolving this crisis; and be it further
Resolved, That a plan be put into place within the next
triennium; and be it finally
Resolved, That interim funding be secured to guarantee the
financial solvency of our seminaries until such a systemic plan
is implemented and proven successful.

Action: Adopted (6)
(During discussion an amendment was offered to replace the
words the biblical stewardship lifestyle in the first resolve with
the words faithful stewardship. After the amendment was approved and after further discussion, the amended resolution was
adopted [Yes: 846; No: 313].)

To Provide Support for Seminaries
RESOLUTION 4-02A
Overtures 4-11-20 (CW, pp. 210–212)
WHEREAS, Holy Scripture tells us that among the gifts
that God has given to His church is the gift of “pastors and
teachers” (Eph. 4:11); and
WHEREAS, The support of seminaries for the recruitment
and training of pastors is a key objective of The Lutheran
Church—Missouri Synod according to Art. III of the Constitution; and
Whereas, The Synod has understood the wisdom of providing support for these seminaries, so that their energies
may be properly focused on the preparation of pastors with
integrity and a strong sense of service to the church; and
WHEREAS, God is blessing the efforts of the seminaries
to recruit and train more men to study for the Office of the
Holy Ministry; and
WHEREAS, The financial aid now needed challenges the
financial structures of our seminaries, being dependent on
development and third source income to cover both the financial aid that subsidies tuition and the loss of the synodical subsidy; and
WHEREAS, Both seminaries have responded to the
Synod’s call with increased attention to recruitment, financial aid, and development; and

Action: Adopted (6)
(After the committee announced extensive changes to the
printed resolution to comply with the earlier convention action to
establish a Board for Pastoral Education, an amendment to the
final whereas replacing the word its with the and deleting the
words through the Joint Seminary Fund and also amending the
first resolve by replacing the word its with to and deleting the
words which includes the Joint Seminary Fund and was approved. When debate was ended, the resolution as amended was
adopted [Yes: 1,037; No: 113].)

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2004 Convention Proceedings