LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2007, Page 196

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196 PROGRAM AND FINANCE —

WuerEAS, The financial aid now needed challenges the finan-
cial structures of our seminaries, being dependent on development
and third-source income to cover both the financial aid that subsi-
dizes tuition and the loss of much of the Synod’s subsidy; and

WHEREAS, Both seminaries have responded to the Synod’s call
with increased attention to recruitment, financial aid, and develop-
ment; 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
WHerEAS, The Board for Pastoral Education undertook as its
immediate first task a systemic study of the funding models for the-
ological education in our Synod (2004 Res. 4-02A); 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 Pas-

toral Education be put into place, including:

« Continued direct funding of the seminaries by the corporate Synod
from its annual budget in the form of subsidy.

* An intentional and fundamental shift away from being gift-driven
to being tuition-driven institutions. This shift will make funding more
predictable and reduce the risk of financial crises at the seminaries.

¢ The LCMS as a whole (individuals, congregations, circuits, dis-
tricts, corporate Synod, and agencies) assume primary responsibility for
gathering funds to support seminary students and assist them in paying
undiscounted tuition (1995 Resolution 5-02A, namely, “set as a goal
the ingathering of funds sufficient to cover the cost of all tuition for
every student enrolled in the seminaries for the purpose of entering the
LCMS pastoral ministry”).

LCMS Board for Pastoral Education

4-15

To Develop Plan for Support of Seminaries

WHEREAS, The financial support given to our two seminaries
has continued to decline over the past years; and

WHEREAS, Art. III.3 of our Synod’s Constitution states that one
of the main objectives for forming our Synod was to “recruit and
train pastors, teachers, and other professional church workers, and
provide opportunity for their continued growth”; and

WHEREAS, The seminaries are important in conserving and pro-
moting the unity of the true faith (Eph. 4:3-6); therefore be it

Resolved, That the 2007 Synod convention instruct the LCMS
Board of Directors, along with both seminary presidents, to de-
velop a fiscally sound plan of support for both seminaries; and be it
further

Resolved, That the LCMS Board of Directors immediately im-
plement this plan of financial support.

Salem
Taylorsville, NC

4-16

To Continue to Increase Seminary Funding

WHEREAS, The objectives of The Lutheran Church—Missouri
Synod state that the Synod shall “recruit and train pastors...” and
that the Synod shall “aid congregations...to support synodical
...seminaries” (Art. III); and

WHEREAS, The Synod Board of Directors has increased the
Synod subsidy given to our seminaries from $349,998 in 2003-
2004 to $500,000 in 2004-2005 to $750,000 in 2005-2006; there-
fore be it

Resolved, That the 2007 Synod convention directs the Synod
Board of Directors to continue to increase yearly the amount of the
Synod subsidy given to our seminaries.

Immanuel
Mernill, WI

4-17

To Support Synod Schools’ Development Efforts

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 and colleges for the re-
cruitment and training of pastors, teachers, and other professional
church workers is a key objective of The Lutheran Church—Mis-
souri Synod according to Art. III of the Constitution; and

Wuereas, The Synod has understood the wisdom of providing
support for these schools, so that their energies may be properly
focused on the preparation of pastors, teachers, and other profes-
sional church workers with integrity and a strong sense of service
to the church; and

WHEREAS, The financial aid now needed challenges the finan-
cial structures of our schools, being dependent on development and
third-source income to cover both the financial aid that supports
tuition and the loss of the Synod subsidy; and

WHEREAS, These schools have responded to the Synod’s call
with increased attention to recruitment, financial aid, and develop-
ment; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Synod as a whole continue to support each
school’s development efforts; and be it further

Resolved, That Synod’s Board of Directors increase its finan-
cial support of these schools during the next triennium.

Board of Directors
Southeastern District

To Create Revenue Stream
for Hispanic Institute of Theology (HIT)

WHEREAS, The Hispanic Institute of Theology 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 (BHE) eliminated their funding for
the HIT; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Texas District convention memorialize the
2007 LCMS convention to identify a permanent revenue stream,
in addition to the funding provided by Concordia Seminary, St.
Louis, to fund the work of the HIT or its successor.

Texas District

4-19

To Provide Adequate Church Worker Salaries

WHEREAS, An increasing number of pastors/church workers are
having a difficult time financially; and

WHEREAS, Work suffers under the stress of financial difficul-
ties, in time lost trying to take care of the problems that arise, and
in the feelings of failure in not being able to take care of one’s fam-
ily and responsibilities as one should; and

WHEREAS, Some congregations also struggle financially, which
can lead to stress between the pastor and congregation or even open
conflict as a result of the financial difficulties that each is having.
This can then lead to feelings or allegations that the pastor is not
doing his job and/or that the congregation is not doing its part in
support of the pastor, probably not even seeing or speaking of the
real cause for the conflict in the finances; and