Collection › LCMS Convention Proceedings (St. Louis, Missouri) › 1941 · 38th Convention, Fort Wayne › Page 16
LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1941, Page 16

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

14 President’s Report

His gracious guidance and protection upon them during these
troublesome days and implore His divine blessings upon their faith-
ful acitivities.
“ With special gratitude to God, your President would call atten-
tion to Synod’s excellent financial status. According to instructions
of the 1938 convention, arrangements were made for a special Cen-
tennial Thank-offering to express our gratitude to God for the
blessings which He bestowed upon our Church when He led our
Saxon fathers to America. Despite the continued economic de-
pression and continued droughts throughout the Middle West, the
collection proved to be very successful. Practically one million
dollars were collected. Since one third of this amount remained
within the Districts, the financial status of all our Districts was
greatly improved. Synod’s share, according to the resolution, was
used for the liquidation of the old debt, which had been disturbing
many people throughout Synod for many years. With deep grati-
tude to God we were able to announce at the beginning of the
present fiscal year that every cent of Synod’s debt could be paid,
and there was a small balance recorded. This is the first time for
decades that a convention of Synod can hear a report of a small
balance in its treasury at the beginning of the fiscal year. It will be
interesting to note also that this special collection had no unfavor-
able effect upon the regular contributions of Synod. Often the claim
is made that such a special collection will be followed by a let-down
in the regular budgetary offerings. Present statistics do not indicate
such a reaction. On the contrary, larger sums were raised during
1940 than during 1939, and, thanks to God for the blessings and to
our pastors and people for the excellent work done, at the present
time our financial report indicates that we are somewhat ahead of
last year’s report at the same time. Special resolutions of gratitude
to God are certainly in place, and surely this joyful news should
incite and encourage us to pledge ever greater consecration and
service unto our Lord and Savior.

The delegates to the convention are called upon to help in de-~
ciding great and important issues. Let us remember that we are at
a church convention. At political conventions it is customary that
lobbying and electioneering and all manner of propaganda work
is done. This, of course, is altogether out of place at a church con-
vention. Delegates have reason to look with suspicion at any
propaganda. God’s people carry on their business in frank and open
manner. There will be open discussion and debate in committees
which review the reports and memorials, and again there will be
open discussion and debate on the floor of the convention. There
is no place for any political maneuvering either in the elections or
any other business of the convention. After honest and open dis-