LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2007, Page 21

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SYNOD REPORTS 21

task force has a recommendation later in this report (Recommen-
dation # 3) that may move us forward toward a more unified church

body. And we have gone ahead with other recommendations un-
derstanding that the current state of division in our church is an ‘“‘as-
sumption” we will have to live with until it is dealt with. Our other

recommendations can be carried out with the assumption that for
now: “St. Louis, we have a problem.” And our prayer is: FROM
SUCH DIVISION, GOOD LORD, DELIVER US.

Raise up a “Coalition of the Willing”

This report also understands that Synod is a voluntary organi-
zation. We cannot “fund the mission” by coercing through legalis-
tic regulation the districts and congregations of our Synod. The
2000-2001 committee considered “taxing” the districts and other
organizations of the Synod, but emphatically stated that we should
never “‘tax” or assess the congregations. We understand full well
the words of C. F. W. Walther in 1879 to the Iowa convention; “Jf
our Synod would ever say, ‘Every congregation must contribute
one cent every year,’ then the congregations should say, ‘Not even
half a cent. You must beg; yes, we’ll gladly give to a beggar, but if
you try to give us orders, our friendship is over. Because whether
much or little—if we have conceded you a penny this year, you can
demand a dollar next year, and even more in two years; for we

would have then given you the right, the power, to tell us what to ~

do.” While that quote is often used to argue against congregational
assessments for “work-at-large support” it would do us all well to
ponder some of C. F. W. Walther’s words spoken later in that very
same 1879 speech: “Therefore anyone who joins a Synod knows in
advance: ‘I am now becoming a member of an organization that is
charged with the responsibility of supervising church affairs; lam
also joining an organization that operates with a specific system
of regulations, for without regulations it could not exist.’ Conse-
quently, when someone joins such a Synod, he must do so with the
firm resolve that he will gladly and wholeheartedly abide by its
regulations.”

What we seek through the following recommendations is to
gather together a “coalition of the willing” who are in agreement
with the importance of “common good” activities as a way to fulfill
the Great Commission by the most efficient stewardship of the re-
sources the Lord has bestowed upon us. As for those who are UN-
WILLING, perhaps there should be consideration of limiting the
benefits available to them if they voluntarily reject the “common
good” principle that they agreed to when they joined the Synod in
the first place.

A few more guiding principals for this report:

The fields are ripe with harvest. This is the day the Lord has
made! And that day is NOW!
This report will address two time frames.

1. We will recommend immediate and more urgent needs in the
ways we “fund the mission.” 2. We will also recommend more long-
term solutions to systemic issues that need further study and will have to
be dealt with by others before “funding the mission” issues are more
fully resolved.

You can’t do the same things the same way and expect different
results.

This report will offer significantly new approaches to the way
we work together. For 20 years we have been trying to “tweak” the
old system. The task force has started with a clean slate approach
and are trying to offer an achievable new system of FUNDING
THE MISSION.

(C) SCRIPTURE, PRAYER, STEWARDSHIP &
EVANGELISM

In the quest to influence funding distribution decisions at every
level (personal, congregational, district, and Synod) we far too
often resort to quick fixes and legalistic tactics. All the while we

should realize that while organizational problems can be fixed

ith organizational solutions ... spiritual problems need
fixed with spiritual solutions. From the beginning our task force
committed to the biblical foundation that should guide every fund-
ing discussion in the church and we surrounded our work with
prayer for the Lord’s wisdom and guidance. We offer, not as a per-
functory token, but as the very foundation to our recommendations
the following biblical insights from 2 Corinthians 8 and 9 ... and
two historic prayers from LCMS pastors who have been blessings
to our church.

The Floor Committee agreed to an amendment to Resolution 4-
07 that was offered from the floor at the 2004 convention that “the
task force be instructed to demonstrate that the funding system it
proposes is supported by Scripture.” We believe the same should
be true with the entire issue of “Funding the Mission” for each of
us individually ... for our congregational funding decisions ... for
the work that is done at the district and organizational level ... and
for all of the Synod’s entities and agencies. For that reason we offer
up the following “Theological Reflections on Stewardship,” which
are centered on Paul’s advice in 2 Corinthians 8 and 9.

1) Giving is all about “grace.” It was God’s grace that moti-
vated the Macedonian Christians to provide gifts for their poor
brothers and sisters in Jerusalem. This grace comes from God,
flows into the Christian giver, and flows out to those who are in
need. Giving is not determined by external circumstances. It is de-
termined by the internal working of God’s grace in the life of a
Christian. It is this grace that enables Christians to give beyond
their natural ability. In fact, it prompts them to plead to participate
in the funding process.

2) Giving is about submission. It involves giving one’s self
first to God but then also to God’s people. These two “submis-
sions” cannot be separated. Giving is not a theoretical matter. It is
very practical. Giving produces financial gifts! However, both of
these are to be understood as an “act of grace.” Excellence in giv-
ing money to fund the needs ef others should be as desirous as
wanting to be excellent in faith, speech and knowledge.

3) Giving is a test of the sincerity of love. It is a practical way .
of expressing love. As someone has suggested, “You can give with-
out loving but you cannot love without giving.”

4) Giving is motivated by God’s gracious act in Jesus
Christ. The One who had it all gave it all up so that those who de-
serve nothing could have it all. The Christian’s motivation to give
is rooted in the poverty of the cross and empowered by the empty
tomb.

5) Giving is a discipline. It is learned and practiced in real-life
events. The Corinthians were moved by God’s grace not only to
make a decision to give, but to actually give. They apparently fol-
lowed Paul’s advice in this first letter to them when he wrote, “On
the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum
of money in keeping with his income, saving it up, so that when I
come no collections will have to be made.” Good intentions are fol-
lowed by good actions when it comes to giving.

6) Giving is done in light of one’s God-given capacity to
give. Giving is done in proportion to what one has been given. Pro-
portionate giving promotes equality when it comes to Christian giv-
ing. When one has it, he is to give it. When one needs it, others
who have it can give it.

7) Giving and the way the gifts are handled are to be above
board. They are to reflect integrity and honor the Lord Himself.
Honesty is crucial when it comes to reporting what is given and
how the gifts are used. The way in which this is done is to be
“right, not only in the eyes of the Lord but also in the eyes of men.”
Those involved are not only representatives of the church but are
also to be an honor to Christ.

8) Giving can be encouraged by the example of others. The
“enthusiasm” of the Corinthians had a profound impact on the other

2007 Convention Workbook