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LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2007, Page 28

Scan: The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
Transcription machine transcription, uncorrected

28 ‘ SYNOD REPORTS

creasing personal communication through the existing struc-
tures must be improved until there is a change in the existing
structures. In the first years of implementing this effort the
Synod/districts should WITHOUT ANY REQUEST FOR
MONEY simply share the long list of benefits derived from syn-
odical membership. The list is formidable. In future years, some
basic assumptions of what is expected from congregations as they
covenant with their sister congregations should be shared. As this
process is shared each year (perhaps all electronically) a set of
added values for reasonable support might be added. If a congre-
gation responds by meeting its financial expectations, then addi-
tional services may be provided to those congregations without
charge. If a congregation refuses to meet its reasonable financial
obligation, then it should be subject to a “fee for services” expec-
tation for the many services it is receiving and yet not acknowl-
edging with some degree of responsible fiscal support. The districts
and Synod should work together to implement these changes.

(F) - ASUMMARY OF THE EFFECT OF THESE
RECOMMENDATIONS

This report has come after two years of regular meetings by
our task force and many assignments completed by members of the
task force between meetings. Our task force included members
from the Council of Presidents and Board of Directors and we have
met with both groups on two separate occasions. In addition, we
presented portions of our report for feedback from the National
Conference of Synodical Business Managers and a group of staff
people from 6 districts in the south and central part of our Synod.
We have interviewed any number of leaders in our church body in-
cluding the leaders of several RSOs, entities and agencies. We met
jointly with the Blue Ribbon Task Force on Synod Governance and
Structure and had the consultation of not only Dr. David Roozen,
but also Dr. Lyle Schaller, who shared with us what other denomi-
nations were doing with the challenge of funding national church
operations. We studied extensively the work that was done by pre-
vious groups that worked on these same issues. We have had the
ongoing assistance of the Synod’s Chief Financial Officer along
with the Synod’s President and his assistants.

We believe the investment Synod makes in the “seeds” of
this report (well sown and watered in the fields the Lord has
given us to harvest) will yield tenfold in additional support for

work w: y S together as Th theran
Church—Missouri Synod. Every recommendation of this report
is important. They all connect to each other. Some will work
independently of others, but none will work alone as well as
they all will work when fit together in the giant puzzle that is:
“HOW CAN WE BETTER FUND OUR MISSION?”

(Here will follow a summary of the potential “dollar” cost of our
recommendations.)

Recommendation #1

Establish funding for a Stewardship Executive, Assistant, Travel,
and Materials, cost = $ 200,000

Recommendation #2

Establish funding for an Evangelism Executive, Assistant, Travel,
and Materials, cost = $ 200,000

Recommendation #3

Fund a summit of leaders for “Harmony for the Sake of the Great
Commission,” cost = $ 50,000

Recommendation #4

Prepare a DVD/Training Booklet, cost = $ 100,000

No cost for Storytellers

Funding for an Every Member Magazine, cost = $1,000,000

2007 Convention Workbook

Recommendation #5
No cost involved

Recommendation #6
Costs already included in operating budgets

Recommendation #7
No cost involved

Recommendation #8
No cost involved

Recommendation #9
No cost involved

Recommendation #10
Cost to fund a Fiscal Conference, cost = $ 250,000

Recommendation #11
No cost involved

Appendix
Members of the task force

David Buegler, Avon, OH

William Diekelman, St. Louis, MO
Gloria Edwards, Portola Valley, CA
Kirk Farney, Hinsdale, IL

Merle Freitag, St. Louis, MO
Dwayne Jobst, Menomonee Falls, WI
John Kieschnick, Houston, TX
Keith Kohlmeier, Topeka, KS

Tom Kuchta, St. Louis, MO

Day May, Fort Wayne, IN

Carol Olson, Afton, MN

Gary Thies, Mapleton, IA

Ed Trapp, Dallas, TX

Chad Woltemath, Ann Arbor, MI
Mark Zehnder, Omaha, NE

A Hymn of Encouragement
“Arise, O Church of God, Arise” by W. Harry Krieger. Tune:
Lasst uns erfreuen. Printed by permission.
Arise, O Church of God, arise! Bestir thyself, lift up thine eyes.
See the nations in commotion. See tumult, warfare, earthquake,
flood,
Sun turn to darkness, moon to blood! Men’s hearts fail them, Fears
assail them.
Hear their sighing. Souls are dying. Time is flying!
Attend, O Church of God give ear! Thy King commands in accents
clear;

Spread the tidings of salvation. As once My Father sent Me forth
So send I you thro’ all the earth. Rise, delay not, Go and stay not.
I who send you will attend you and defend you.

Fail not, O Church of God to heed the world’s sad cry, her anguish,
need.

If thou bleed not, thou canst bless not. Despise not thou the servant’s
place.

So came thy Lord in matchless grace. Christ most holy served the lowly.
Thus He taught us. He who sought us, Loved and bought us.

Exult, O Church of God, and bless the Lamb, the Lord our righteous-
ness.

His the kingdom, His the power! To Him all laud and glory be
Thro’ time and thro’ eternity. Heav’'n rejoices, Lift your voices.
Come before Him. Pray, implore Him. Praise, adore Him! Amen.

To God Be The Glory!