LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1975, Page 183

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ADMINISTRATION 183

WHEREAS. Christian prudence suggests the maximum use of
God-given talents and treasures: and

WHEREAS. Definite interest has been shown in supplemental
funding of the church's mission through investment and business
ventures: therefore be it

Resolved. That the Board for Stewardship appoint an ad hoc
committee to study the feasibility and advisability of such supple-
mental funding and. if found desirable. to formulate the necessary
policies and procedures for implementation of such supplemental
funding and submit them for approval to the 1975 synodical con-
vention.

Background

The present concern of the Synod in addressing itself to
the issue of providing supplementary funds for carrying out the
church's mission by means of private investment. endowment.
and business ventures was occasioned by the following:

—The necessity and the desire of the younger churches over-
seas and the Synod. who are in partnership, to strive toward
greater economic independence for the younger churches as
quickly as possible.

—The growing conviction that such methods of funding the
church’s mission in a supplementary manner is both de-
sirable and compatible with a Biblical understanding of
Christian stewardship.

_The trend toward decreasing funds available for world mis-
sion outreach because of shrinking synodical contributions
and erosion of the dollar because of inflation.

—Experimentation by both the Synod and the overseas sister
churches in select “for profit” enterprises designed to supple-
ment the funds received through traditional channels.

_The interest generated and the findings that surfaced from
the Conference on Economic Activities in the Christian World
Mission held in St. Louis. Mo.. Oct. 21—24, 1971.

Resources and General Areas of Inquiry

In undertaking the task of determining the “feasibility and
advisability of such supplemental funding” the committee
availed itself of what it considered to be the best resources in
terms of people and information available. Special thanks must
be tendered to Dr. William Danker, professor of missions at
Concordia Seminary in Exile, Dr. Herman H. Koppelmann,
acting Executive Secretary of the Board for Missions, and Mr.
John Schuelke, Administrative Officer of the Synod’s Board
of Directors. These men provided valuable firsthand information
and background for the committee's consideration.

One of the areas of inquiry included past and present experi-
ences of the church's funding of missions through business
enterprises. Although the committee did not feel it necessary
to review in depth the extensive record of the Christian church's
involvement in business ventures for profit of various kinds,
it did examine the general subject matter. Of more pressing con-
cern was the involvement of The Lutheran Church — Missouri
Synod and the overseas sister churches in such business enter-
prises designed to provide supplemental support of mission
and ministry. The prime example of such an enterprise within
the Synod is Concordia Publishing House. St. Louis, Mo. Dur-
ing the last 10 years alone this business venture. besides pro-
viding Christian publications for both church and society, has
from its profits allocated between six and seven million dollars
toward the Synod’s operational budget. Note was also taken of
such quasi-official church-related enterprises as Aid Association
for Lutherans and the Lutheran Brotherhood, whose grants to
the Synod’s programs of mission and ministry over the years
have been substantial indeed.

Time was also given to the examination and study of the
four business enterprises currently being operated in the sister
churches overseas: the Jedong Office Building. Seoul. Korea:
Waso Enterprise in New Guinea: an apartment building in
Japan: and a project designed for the production and sale of
agricultural limestone in Brazil. Of these four enterprises. two
are real estate ventures, and one. the Waso project, is not con-
trolled and owned by the church but by private citizens of whom
most are church people.

A second area of inquiry dealt with theological and tradi-
tional considerations. The committee recognized that the ehurch
in all its activities, including that of funding the mission, must
always be true to its Biblical and theological foundations if it

hopes to receive blessing from the Lord. Nor dare any economic
venture detract from the church's mission.

The third and final area of inquiry and discussion addressed
itself to the possible implementation and administration of a
program of supplementary funding through private investment
and business ventures if such were to prove practicable.

Among the wide variety of materials examined and studied,
particular mention should be made of the report and findings
of the Conference on Economic Activities in the Christian World
Mission held in 1971. This report is the product of 52 churchmen
representing a broad spectrum of Protestant churches and
interested agencies in North America. It represents a broad
input of ideas and insights that were extremely helpful to the
committee. Three of the undersigned members had the privilege
and opportunity of being participants in that conference.

The following represent other pertinent materials that were
studied and shared: “Profit for the Lord.” by William Danker:
“Money and the Church.” by Lutheran Powell: “Endowments
and Christian Mission.” a paper by Arne Sovik: “American
Lutheran Statement and Policy.” and “A Theology of Christian
Stewardship.” by Kantonen.

Rationale and Recommendation

In addressing the three areas of concern mentioned above.
several key convictions surfaced that are included here as a
basis for the committee's recommendations.

Although the Scriptures do not specifically address them-
selves to the church's involvement in business ventures to pro-
vide supplementary monetary support for mission, asound New
Testament understanding of Christian stewardship not only al-
lows for such activity in Christian freedom: it even encourages it.

Since the congregation is the organized expression of the
Christian community for its own worship and communal life
and work, support for this life and work should normally come
from the personal commitment and offerings of the congrega-
tion. On the other hand. programs of mission and ministry
carried out cooperatively by congregations have traditionally
gathered supplemental support through endowments and busi-
ness enterprises while maintaining a high level of personal
commitment and individual support. This is especially true in
education and the bodily care of the sick, handicapped, and
aged — programs designed to serve others. especially those who
because of illness, age. or some other reason are unable to pro-
vide for themselves.

Nothing should be done that would relieve Christians from
supporting the church's mission and ministry by their joyful
and generous offerings. Thus the primary purpose of any
supplementary funding, as envisioned by the resolution, should
be to provide supplementary income for sister churches over-
seas. leading to greater economic independence and self-
determination.

Necessary capital and operational dollars for a program
of supplemental funding through business ventures might very
well be derived from a special fund. fed by specially designated
contributions of interested individuals and groups as well
as money from unexpected income. Contributions of members
through regular channels should not be used for this purpose.

There is a vast reservoir of talented lay persons within the
church with background in business enterprises of various
kinds. Active leadership appears to be readily available for
establishing and managing such enterprises here and overseas.
as well as training national personnel to ultimately and suc-
cessfully conduct such operations.

The organizational structure best able to implement and
carry out a program of economic activity to supplement the
church's income is one that is independent of all other boards
and commissions of the Synod, yet related to them. This would
insure in its membership the unique requirements of special
expertise. continuity of service. and single-minded concen-
tration.

The committee recommends that the Synod authorize the
synodical Board of Stewardship to establish an independent
structure related to the Synod with a minimum of three persons
and an allocation of $25,000 to begin the development of a pro-
gram providing supplemental income through economic activi-
ties on behalf of our sister churches overseas. The program
should be carried out on the basis of the following guidelines:

1. Establish a special fund designated for this purpose by