LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1979, Page 67

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sionaries, but we have literally thousands
of dedicated workers, both professional and lay, who are
busily engaged constantly in bearing witness to the
cause of Christ and in telling the wonderful good news

“of His Gospel to people in almost every corner of the
~ world. For all of these people we give sincere thanks.

Church Extension

Any synodical program that directly helps 85 percent

- of the congregations of our Synod is obviously serving

an important function and meeting a significant need.
The Church Extension program of our Synod has

‘served that number of congregations in meeting the

financing needs for sites or facilities or both.

‘This program is unique in all of Protestantism.
There is no church body that has a fund the size of our
total Church Extension Fund, consisting of 38 North
American Districts and a synodical Fund. Total assets
exceed $250 million.

While Church Extension Fund was initially estab-
lished to provide the financing loan needs for the new
established congregation, I am happy that loan services
are being expanded to make loan-fund services avail-
able now also to the establishment of self-supporting
congregations. This opens services to more congre-

gations and people.
The Church Extension Fund has reached another

milestone within the past year. Church Extension Fund
notes have now been approved by all 50 state securities
regulators. This is the first time that a major denomi-
nation has had its security instruments (Church Exten-
sion notes) approved in all 50 states. To facilitate these
legal requirements, the new “Lutheran Church Exten-
sion Fund—Missouri Synod” has been separately in-
corporated, and the assets and liabilities of the old fund
have been transferred to it. I urge you to ratify this
action of the Board of Directors and to support the
proposed structure of the new corporation so that
Districts, too, can be part of it.

Not only has the fund been a blessing to our home
mission program but also to our foreign mission effort.
Church Extension funds have aided congregations in
Central and South America, England, Africa, Hong
Kong, Japan, Taiwan, Korea, The Philippines, New
Guinea, India, and Europe.

Social Ministry

Wetalk about social ministry to aid the aged and the
sick and the imprisoned, and this is proper and good,
but we need to carry on a social ministry to our entire
society, and there is no better way we can do it than by
setting the example that when “change and decay in all
around I see” in regard to every social institution, at
least the Christian church is going to be there bearing
its witness and setting an example and helping a
society which is rapidly coming to a point of no return.
This is not only a challenge for groups like some of our
synodical boards but a challenge for every congre-
gation, every pastor, every school teacher, and every
parent and individual Christian among us.

PRESIDENT’S REPORT 67

Youth

In reporting on general activities and operations of
the Synod in the past biennium, I must not overlook the
fact that the Lutheran Youth Fellowship, which is
authorized by the Dallas convention, is well on the way
to coming into being. The Board of Youth Ministry has
reported on this in detail.

Parish Services

What a pleasure to hear that we have the highest
number and highest percentage of our people in Bible
classes in our synodical history! And what a pleasure
that 85 percent of our congregations are using the New
Life in Christ Sunday school material.

Concordia Publishing House

I would like to put in a very special word of support
for Concordia Publishing House and Dr. Ralph Reinke,
its president, and everyone else at CPH. Doctor Reinke
and CPH have been unjustly vilified, in my opinion, by
certain elements in the Synod, and I believe it is not only
my duty but also my great pleasure to say that no
church president could ever ask for better cooperation
and help than Doctor Reinke has given to me during my
years as President. When we had the difficulties re-
garding “Mission:Life,” he was completely open and
cooperative. He has helped us enormously with the new
hymnbook, and I hope that the convention will take
actions which will show appreciation to Concordia
Publishing House and which will encourage this fine
organization to go on serving the church as it has for
over 100 years. Let us make special note of the 110th
anniversary of CPH.

Stewardship and Finance and Planning

A special word of thanks needs to be said to our
congregations, our pastors, our District officials, and
the Board of Stewardship of the Synod for the increase
in the financial efforts of our people. The people of The
Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod during the last bi-
ennium laid not less than $400 million per year on the
Lord’s altar for all purposes, including about 80 percent
for the local congregation, money for the work of the
Districts, the Synod, Lutheran high schools, LLL,
LWML, almost countless social ministry agencies, and
other efforts carried on by various groups in the church
to tell the story of Jesus Christ to all segments of our
society and in all parts of the world, to minister to people
in their old age, their illnesses, on the campuses, in
prisons, in the military, among the mentally retarded,
and to virtually all people in all walks of life and in all
conditions of life. Total contributions for all these
purposes have increased 105 percent since 1965, only 4
percent less than inflation. This is a most commendable
record.

However, when we look at the distribution of these
dollars, we find that the amount retained within the
congregation has increased 124 percent since 1965
while the amount shared with District and the Synod
for work at large has increased only 34 percent. In other