Synodical Conference Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1954, Page 180

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180 Proceedings of the Forty-Third Convention,

ever, a special grant of $25,000 from Missouri Synod has helped to
offset these overdrafts. Automotive costs and new automobiles
have contributed to the overexpenditure in our African budget.
This situation should be remedied in the future because we just
recently inaugurated the “Revolving Motor Fund.” Under the
personal-responsibility plan, missionaries returning home on fur-
lough will sell their automobiles in Nigeria, and the money thus
received will be used toward the purchase of new cars when the
‘missionaries return to the field. Since our Rest House at Jos has
now been completed, each term of service has been extended to
three years, with the result that our transportation costs to and
from Africa should be reduced somewhat. African budget dis-
bursements are listed for comparative purposes as follows:

1942—43 $ 14,278.16 1948—49 _.. $ 86,587.37
1943 —44 oo. 12,225.19 1949-50 85,137.98
1944—45 20,252.00 1950—51 110,776.85
1945—46 38,872.18 1950—-51 110,776.85
1946—47 68,122.74 1952-53 184,858.66
1947—48 57,902.28 19538—54 183,430.74

The Missionary Board and its treasurer are constantly on the
alert to find ways and means of reducing expenditures and thus
stay within our budget allotment. It should be noted that our
‘disbursements during fiscal 1954 were less than during the previous
year, despite the fact that we were actually operating on a stepped-
up budget.

Exhibit “C,” Proposed Budget 1954—1955. The Executive Com-
mittee of the Missionary Board, after much careful thought and
prayerful deliberation, compiled the proposed budget for 1954—55,
which, for the sake of convenience, is appended to this report.
Provisions have been made for absorbing existing overdrafts in
the current budget. The Southeastern District of the Missouri
‘Synod has expressed its willingness to assume the financial respon-
sibility for the Negro congregations in its area as of July 1, 1954.
Such an arrangement tends to stabilize our mission fields, and
the moneys thus saved may be used for further expansion in other
areas. Subsequent to the meeting of the Executive Committee, the
proposed budget was approved by the Executive Board and the
Plenary Board and is now being submitted to the Synodical Con-
ference convention for ratification. It is our prayer that the moneys
thus appropriated may be used wisely and judiciously in furthering
the cause of our missions and in winning blood-bought souls for
the Lord’s kingdom.

All other exhibits and schedules are self-explanatory, and no
additional comments are necessary. Should more information be
‘desired, or should any questions arise regarding the report, the
treasurer will give your inquiries his immediate attention.

Respectfully submitted,

Russett E. Rote, Treasurer
The Missionary Board of the
Lutheran Synodical Conference