LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1975, Page 142

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142 ADMINISTRATION

from Districts and other sources for 1975, was compelled to in-
form the Council that it could expect only about $500,000 from
our Synod during the new fiscal year of 1975. At the request of
the other participating church bodies the board itemized those
projects from which it considered it necessary on a priority
basis to withdraw entirely or in part. These determinations
were not whimsical but resulted from studies extending in some
instances over the past 4 years. The board has also asked one
of its standing committees to draft our Synod’s conception of
the present mission of the Council: after this document is com-
pleted, it is to be shared with the leadership of the other par-
ticipating church bodies for their reactions.

I. Foundation. The board met regularly as the membership
of the Foundation to conduct the necessary business. Mr. Victor
Mennicke left as executive director and was replaced by Pastor
David Heino, who however was subsequently given a leave of
one year for a tour of duty with the military. In the interim Dr.
O. A. Dorn is continuing to function as acting director. Regular
meetings were held between representatives of the board and
the Board of Trustees of the Foundation to arrive at a better
understanding of the mutual responsibilities.

J. Convention Workbook. As a result of the favorable experi-
ence 2 years ago the Board of Directors again asked all who
submit reports and overtures to the convention to do so before
March 14, so that a representative selection can be made from
among similar overtures for inclusion in the Workbook.

K. Investment in Brazil. After much negotiation the Board
of Directors finally gave approval for the investment in Brazil
to be transferred from direct involvement in the ownership
and operation of a limestone mine to the operation of a tax-free
foundation, which will receive properties and equities equiva-
lent in value to the investment in the mine. It was felt this is a
much more manageable approach. When the Brazil District
indicated it was not interested in such a venture, the board
delegated the Treasurer of the Synod to make a final determina-
tion of the best way to be of assistance to the District in be-
coming self-supporting.

L. Concordia Publishing House. Although our publishing
house also suffered from the economic difficulties of the times,
the board was pleased to receive once again a transfer of funds
from Concordia Publishing House to the Synod both in 1973
($800,000) and in 1974 1$300,000).

M. Auxiliaries. The board was also grateful to receive con-
tinued substantial financial support for the television ministry
from the Lutheran Laymen’s League. The supportive work of
the Lutheran Women's Missionary League continues to be one
of the many reasons for gratitude to our gracious God.

N. Major Presentations. At every meeting the President of
the Synod reported in depth on the state of the church. Major
presentations were also received on the Department of Stew-
ardship Services: on The Lutheran Witness: on the 125th anni-
versary Thankoffering: on the Board for Missions: on Concordia
Seminary, St.Louis: by representatives of Christ College
Irvine: by representatives of ELIM: by President Edward and
Treasurer Victor of the sister church in India: by Dr. George
Harkins, newly elected General Secretary of the Lutheran
Council in the U.S.A.: by Dr. Eugene Linse, representing the
Mission Study Commission: by Mr. Norman Sell in behalf of the
Task Force on Higher Education: by Rev. Wilbert Sohns of
Lutheran Bible Translators. Joint meetings were also held
with the Board for Higher Education, the Board of Control of
Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, the Editorial Commission for
Official Periodicals, and the Board of Directors of Concordia
Publishing House

O. ELIM and “Balance.” In the spring of 1974 the board
passed a series of resolutions, published throughout the church,
regarding ELIM, Balance, the expression of dissent, and the
role of independent publications in the life of the Synod. Later,
on two different occasions these resolutions were amplified by
the adoption of additional statements in the interest of fraternal
relations.

P. Convention Matters. The board approved the minutes of
all sessions of the New Orleans convention which the convention
had not had opportunity to approve. It also ruled that the con-
vention tapes exist for the purpose of aiding the Secretary and
his assistants to compile an accurate record of the convention
in the minutes and in the Proceedings.

Q. Oakland. The board decided to support an arrangement
which the Board for Higher Education had made with the local
high school group to use this property on a 60-day cancelable
basis until such time as a purchaser can be found. Later the
board resolved to declare the Oakland college surplus property
and instructed the Treasurer of the Synod to dispose of it.

R. California and Nevada, Florida-Georgia. and Northwest
Districts. The board was happy to commend the actions of the
California and Nevada, Florida-Georgia, and Northwest Dis-
tricts in becoming self-financing as of January 1974.

S. Benefit Plans. Several actions were taken during the past
biennium to improve the Pension Plan and the Concordia Re-
tirement Plan. Included are the provision that 40% of the bene-
fits be stipulated as a rental allowance and an increase in mini-
mum pensions and surviving widow’s benefits. Women are
now granted the same rights under the Plans as are men.

T. Armed Forced Commission. An agreement with LCUSA
now provides for each of the three church bodies to lend its
executive part-time to LCUSA for joint work designed to avoid
duplication of effort. This is resulting in improved cooperation
and a lower operating cost.

U. Charters. The board requested copies of the charters of
all seminaries and colleges, their foundations, alumni organiza-
tions, women’s guilds, advisory councils, and intercollege
cooperative organizations, as well as the balance sheet for the
most recent accounting period for each of the organizations.

V. Brazil Visits. Several members of the board as well as
the legal counsel made trips to Brazi! during the past biennium
in connection with the Brazil investment, internal District diffi-
culties, and the regular District convention.

W. Career Development and Support. It was decided to par-
ticipate in Phase I and II of the career development and support
program for professional leaders of the Lutheran Church to-
gether with the Lutheran Church in America and The American
Lutheran church and to allocate $40,000 for this project.

X. Concordia Historical Institute. The board assigned Con-
cordia Historical Institute to the Division of Church Government.
Later in the year it gave approval to the needed expansion of
facilities at the Institute and also received with thanks a de-
tailed self-study made by that agency.

Y. Personnel Policies. New personnel policies and proce-
dures were developed for the use of boards and commissions.
These were asked to submit their reactions to the Board of
Directors before finalization. A similar document was circulated
for the same purpose with respect to the relationship between
boards and their staffs.

Z. Domestic Disasters. The board approved a plan for inter-
Lutheran response to domestic disasters to be implemented
through the Board of Social Ministry and World Relief.

AA. Sister Churches. The board sent greetings to sister
churches through Dr. Preus when he visited them in 1973 and
encouraged the sister churches to participate in the mission
survey. Several months later, after the Hong Kong conference
of overseas churches, the board reiterated its request and its
expressions of goodwill.

BB. Policy Statement on Planning. Programing, Budgeting
System. The board developed in consultation with the Council
of Administrators a statement listing the mission, the purposes,
and the aims of the Synod and shared this document for reaction
with all boards and commissions. It is hoped that through
the adoption of such a statement the direction in which various
operating units are to move will be clarified.

CC. Mission Visitation. Representatives of the Board of
Directors and of the Board for Missions made a round-the-
world mission visitation and reported to both boards certain
insights gained thereby.

DD. Climate. The board arranged for a meeting with the
chairmen and secretaries of all boards and commissions in order
to share certain important documents and to establish a better
climate of cooperative activity. The reaction to this meeting
prompted the board to decide to hold such meetings at regular
intervals.

EE. Prayer Day. The board resolved to ask each congrega-

tion of the Synod to designate one day each month from January
to July in 1975 as a “day of prayer for the Synod.”