Collection › LCMS Convention Proceedings (St. Louis, Missouri) › 1935 · 36th Convention, Cleveland › Sheet 172
LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1935, Sheet 172

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

Ev. Luth. Synod of Missouri, Ohio, and Other States. 1935. 165.

On two questions that have to do with our work abroad we need
not say anything in this report because they will come before Synod
through other channels. We are referring to the case of Dr. A. Brux
and to the Chinese Term Question.

Owing to the financial stress much less money was spent for our
Foreign Missions during the past three years than the amount used
from 1929:to 1932. Our appropriation for the present fiscal year is
$200,000. Not wishing to cut still deeper into the salaries and in-
dispensable allowances of our missionaries and into our work, it was
impossible for us, in spite of all efforts, to balance our budget. The
appropriation therefore will most likely not be sufficient for our
present needs. While we are exercising all possible economy, we
anticipate that we shall need from $20,000 to $25,000 in addition to
our appropriation. No building projects of any kind and no new
missionaries are included in this estimate. A specially vexing obstacle
which we have to meet and overcome is the constantly fluctuating and
unfavorable exchange situation, which makes it impossible for us to
formulate a fixed budget in advance. The American dollar no longer
represents the value in foreign countries which it did before 1933;
hence the money which we send to the Orient does not net us the
same amount in native currency as in former years. For this reason
it is to be feared that the appropriation will prove insufficient. In
view of these facts it is the request of the plenary Board that Synod
instruct its Fiscal Office to add the special gifts (sundry titles) for
Foreign Mission purposes to the annual budget appropriation instead
of reversing them to the general Foreign Missions treasury, as at
present, in order to enable us to carry on our work without further
injurious curtailment. We hope, too, that Synod will resolve to make
available for our Foreign Missions as soon as possible some moneys
for the development and expansion of our present work. While our
needs are so great that under existing conditions we have not the
courage to mention them, we ask that at least $15,000 a year be ap-
propriated for land and buildings in China and India. No one can
deny that our evangelistic, educational, and literary work needs much
strengthening, not to mention our medical work.

With regard to new workers, the plenary Board respectfully peti-
tions Synod to authorize the calling of several new workers. We ought
to send out eight at least, four to India and four to China. Mr, Lutz
of our congregation in London, England, manifesting a beautiful
spirit of consecration to the highest interests of our Savior’s kingdom,
offers to maintain for several years his son Martin, a member of the
graduating class of our Seminary in St. Louis, if we call him into our
India field. His daughter, a deaconess, trained in the Deaconess
School at Fort Wayne, is anxious to accompany her brother. We hope
that Synod will not only with gratitude and rejoicing avail itself of.