LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 2007, Page 131

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PROGRAM AND FINANCE
dent on development and third-source income to cover the
financial aid that subsidizes tuition; and
WHEREAS, There has been a shift in member offerings
from undesignated to designated giving resulting in a continuous increase in giving in support of the overall mission
of the church, including support of the seminaries; and
WHEREAS, This shift has resulted in limited resources
available from corporate Synod to our seminaries; and
WHEREAS, Both seminaries have responded to this shift
in giving and to the Synod’s call with increased attention
to recruitment, financial aid, and development; and
WHEREAS, The corporate Synod is supporting the seminaries with $750,000 total from undesignated funds in the
2006–2007 budget; and
WHEREAS, The Synod as a whole supports the seminaries
and neither requires nor expects them to contribute to the
budget of the Synod; and
WHEREAS, The Board for Pastoral Education undertook
as its immediate first task a systemic study of the funding
models for theological education in our Synod (2004 Res. 402A); and
WHEREAS, The Board for Pastoral Education sought to
engage leaders and representative agencies of the church
for counsel and support in resolving this crisis (2004 Res.
4-02A); 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 funding model adopted by the Board
for Pastoral Education be put into place, including:
• Continued direct funding of the seminaries by corporate
Synod from its annual budget in the form of subsidy.
• An intentional and fundamental return to being tuition-driven institutions in order to make funding more predictable
and reduce the risk of financial crises at the seminaries.
• The LCMS as a whole (individuals, congregations, circuits,
districts, corporate Synod, and agencies) assumes primary
responsibility for gathering funds to support seminary students and assist them in paying undiscounted tuition.
Action: Adopted (4)
(After discussion, the resolution was adopted as presented by
the committee [Yes: 1,051; No: 89].)

To Encourage Funding for Center
for Hispanic Studies
RESOLUTION 4-10
Overture 4-18 (CW, p. 196)
WHEREAS, The Center for Hispanic Studies (formerly
known as the Hispanic Institute of Theology [HIT]) has
been the most effective program for preparing LCMS Hispanic church workers, both lay and rostered; and
WHEREAS, Both the Synod’s Board for Mission Services
and the Board for University Education have eliminated
their funding for the former HIT; and
WHEREAS, Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, currently provides funding for the Center through its budget; therefore
be it
Resolved, That the Synod in convention give thanks to
God for the opportunity to be involved with training church

131

workers through the Center for Hispanic Studies at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis; and be it further
Resolved, That Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, be
thanked for recognizing the importance of this ministry to
the future of the Church; and be it further
Resolved, That Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, be encouraged to continue to include funding for the Center for
Hispanic Studies in its annual budget; and be it finally
Resolved, That the Synod’s Board of Directors be encouraged to seek additional funding to maintain and expand this program.
Action: Adopted (10)
(The resolution was adopted as presented by the committee
without discussion [Yes: 837; No: 74].)

To Encourage Participation in
Concordia Plan Services, LCEF,
and LCMS Foundation
RESOLUTION 4-12A
Overture 4-30, (CW, pp. 201–202)
WHEREAS, The 2006 Blue Ribbon Task Force for Funding the Mission recommended a stewardship renaissance
and called on entities and individuals of the LCMS to be
good stewards; and
WHEREAS, Biblical stewardship imperatives require each
organization to accomplish its tasks in the most efficient
and effective manner possible for the “common good” of the
whole body; and
WHEREAS, Concordia Plan Services has designed “The
Church’s Plan” so that each of the individual Concordia
Plans complements the other in providing a total benefit
package for the LCMS church worker; and
WHEREAS, At the present time, approximately 70 percent
of LCMS employers have elected to adopt “The Church’s
Plan”; and
WHEREAS, Concordia Plan Services seeks to serve the entire LCMS and can do so with greater efficiency and effectiveness if all districts, congregations, and other LCMS entities are participating employers; and
WHEREAS, The Lutheran Church Extension Fund
(LCEF) was incorporated in 1978 and ratified by unanimous action of the 1979 LCMS convention more effectively
to serve the churches and entities of the LCMS by consolidating all district church extension funds into a single organization, pooling available funds to better meet all
church needs, and efficiently meeting evolving state regulations; and
WHEREAS, LCEF seeks to serve the entire LCMS on a
local, national, and worldwide basis through a full range of
investment, loan, and service opportunities and can do so
with greater efficiency and effectiveness if all LCMS districts become members of the national program; and
WHEREAS, The LCMS Foundation exists to serve the entire church, and can do so more efficiently and effectively
if all organizations utilize its services; and
WHEREAS, The LCMS Foundation currently has Partner
Member relationships with 18 LCMS districts, 9 universi2007 Convention Proceedings