LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1973, Page 189

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SYNODICAL ADMINISTRATION 189

was used in training sessions with synodical and Dis-
trict leadership and was geared to interpretive mea-
sures of what the thankoffering was all about. This
was subsequently reproduced in 1,800 prints for use
by the “Presentors” as one of the tools in “telling the
story” in congregations of their circuits.

2. A film, entitled “Amazing Grace,” was designed to
give the constituency an overview of selected mission
thrusts carried on successfully by all of us in the
LCMS right now through the mercy of God and of
the tremendous challenges these portray for the future.

Congregational Participation

Every congregation in the Synod was urged to conduct
an every-member educational and interpretation program
followed by a person-to-person solicitation to secure com-
mitments over a 2-year period over and above what they
are now giving to the church, This was the preference option
emphasized. Experience has again proven this to be the
most effective method of gathering an offering.

Nevertheless, it was recognized that many congregations
would want the privilege of choosing other participation op-
tions such as unified Budget approach, Telephone Solicita~
tion, Mail Solicitation, and or others or combinations of the
above.

There is no breakdown available at this writing on how
many used which method. A number of District Directors
have reported, however, where the suggested EMV was
used, the results were absolutely spectacular. Those con-
gregations reached or surpassed their goals. Where the
commitment card-calendar-envelope inspiration piece was
passed out or mailed to the membership, the results are fair
to good. We predict an additional problem in connection
with the calendar-envelope distribution without receiving
of commitments on file in the local congregation. There will
be some difficulty in relating results until the end of the
2-year period, or until a pattern of giving has been estab-
lished, or by a “guesstimate™ based on knowledge of the con-
gregation. We would hope the latter course could be fol-
lowed in time for the convention.

We know of some congregations who, because they were
engaged in, or making payments on, their own local com-
mitments, have delayed participation in the thankoffering
until Fall 1973 or even 1974.

Children’s Participation

When the synodical convention in Milwaukee decided the
church ought to be given the opportunity to bring a thank-
offering for the 425th Anniversary of the LCMS, it meant
the whole church... . and that included children no less
than others.

Aware of the fact that while the thankoffering effort
planned for adults is over a 2-year period, children nor-
mally cannot maintain attention over such a long span of
time. A plan was developed, therefore, whereby, during
a T-week period between Easter and Pentecost, they could
become excited about celebrating the birthday of the church.
With the aid of teachers and parents, materials, in the form
of “Benji and Waldo” banks, cartoon booklets, “Celebrate
Our Church’s Birthday with Benji and Waldo,” together
with suggestions for their use, were provided for Sunday
schools, day schools, and weekday schools.

That this portion of the program was most popular is
best demonstrated by the fact that orders outstripped pro-
duction of 400,000 to the extent that not all orders could be
filled. Consideration is being given to additional production
at this writing.

Standards of Giving (District and Congregational Goals)

Jt was essential that a scale or standard of giving be
projected for Districts, congregations, and individuals in
keeping with the thankoffering goal of $28,000,000. Failure
to comply with this oft-proved principle — the principle of
establishing standards of giving — easily results in token
gifts. the total of which neither reaches the goal nor reflects
the actual giving ability of contributors.

In personal visits to each District's Board of Directors,
the thankoffering staff presented formulas and ranges for
consideration.

It is a real joy to report that the 37 out of 38 North Amer-
ican Districts accepted goals by self-allocation, which totaled
$30,047,140. (This is probably a “frst” in special offering
programs in the Synod.) The two South American Districts
have not yet reported firm goals as this progress report is
written.

Generally, after most Districts had accepted what they
considered to be their responsible share goal, they applied
the same process in suggesting goals for local congregations
within a District.

Many congregations — particularly those using the EMV
in turn completed evaluations of individual and family
potentials and made the same approach to its members.

Channeling the Offering

It is anticipated that congregations and Districts will keep
their own records of commitments in relation to contribu-
tions and seek to stimulate the latter wherever necessary in
the ensuing contributive period. In fact, there is nothing
that would prevent either Districts or congregations from
instituting special efforts in order to meet and/or surpass
their thankoffering goals over the next several years.

The “Gifts of Joy” contributions are scheduled to be
made monthly, or in whatever manner selected by the con-
tributor, in the special envelope provided through the local
congregation. The congregation treasurer will remit monthly
through the normal channels of the District. After deducting
25¢. for use in the District, the District treasurer will for-
ward the remaining 75% monthly to the synodical treasurer’s
office.

Guiding Principle VI: Training and Scheduling —

To carry out any program successfully and effectively,
and particularly so in a special offering effort, a calendar
of events with specific time targets is vitally important.
These target designations are employed so that the effort
can unfold smoothly and function in an orderly manner.
Failure to adhere to certain and specific target dates can
impair and impede progress. even to the point of not reach-
ing the dollar objective during the scheduled time period.

On the positive side, it can truly be said that the grueling
pace required in the conduct of this effort of thankoffering
staff, synodical, District, and congregational leadership was
generally willingly accepted.

On the negative side, it must also be recognized that to
simultaneously select, train, and expect top work from people
in the organization is not good. That is what was necessary
to stay on schedule. Those facets should really be con-
secutive.

The attitude, still too commonly held, that the LCMS is
one large homogeneous Mass eager and easily channeled is
an attitude with no basis in fact. The mind-boggling logistics
and communication required in an effort of this magnitude
for preparation, education, conditioning, motivation, produc-
tion, shipment of materials, and training for their use, pre-
clude that the greatest effectiveness can be achieved in any-
thing short of a Q1o-year period — even with experienced
and well-accepted leadership.

Acknowledgement and Thanks

The 125th Anniversary Thankoffering staff acknowledges
with special consideration the members of the Executive
Committee which guided the program so successfully: Dr.
Oliver R. Harms, Director, 125th Anniversary Observance;
Mr. Herbert Schuppan, Chairman; Dr. William A. Buege;
Dr. Milton Carpenter: Rev. A. Lorenz Grumm, Dr. Martin
Neeb Sr.; Dr. Walter Stuenkel; and Dr. Roland Wieder-
aenders.

The entire committee and staff appreciate the excellent
cooperation of the officers of the Synod and of the staffs,
boards, commissions, and agencies in meeting many requests
for information needed, and in supplying consultative
services.

Special commendations are due the Presidents of the
Districts. the approximately 164 specialized District Directors,
the almost 3,000 special circuit Directors, the uncountable
congregational Presentors. the estimated 30,000 Advance and
Special Gift Solicitors, the hundreds of thousands of lay
leaders, teachers, and pastors who constituted congregational
steering committees and the “Helpers of Joy” who made
visits to their fellow members, and the hundreds upon hun-