LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1979, Page 165

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12. PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION

To Conduct a Major Fundraising
and Ongoing Stewardship Effort

RESOLUTION 12-01A
Report 4-04, III, 00 (CW, p. 129)

WHEREAS, The Lord has placed before us, His ser-
vants, challenging opportunities in mission and min-
istry for the 1980s; and

WHEREAS, Our responsibility under Christ, for meet-
ing these challenges joyfully and positively belongs to
every member of every congregation of the Synod; and

WHEREAS, The Lord has entrusted the members of
the congregations of the Synod with the spiritual,
human, and financial resources to enter through the
open doors He has set before our Synod; and

WHEREAS, The Board of Directors and Floor Commit-
tee 12 have reviewed a feasibility study prepared by
Community Counselling Service based on interviews
with selected synodical staff, 37 District Presidents,
District staffs, and representative pastors and laymen
from these Districts; and

WHEREAS, Stewardship training enables mission;
therefore be it

Resolved, That the 1979 convention of The Lutheran
Church—Missouri Synod authorize that a major fund-
raising effort be conducted, culminating early in 1981,
with a goal of $40,000,000 to be pledged by the time of
the 1981 synodical convention; and be it further

Resolved, That this fundraising effort be conducted
in such a manner that the ongoing stewardship life of
the church be enhanced and elevated by:

a) using a strong spiritual emphasis according to
basic Scriptural principles of stewardship;

b) enlisting the support of parish pastors and
through them the support of teachers and lay people in
its plan and organization;

c) making the effort a part of the ongoing program
to assist church members to bring their first-fruit gifts
and to grow in the grace of giving; and be it further

Resolved, That the lay people, pastors, teachers, and
staffs of all congregations and the officers, boards, and
staffs of the Synod and its Districts, colleges, and
seminaries join their prayers, efforts, and gifts to
respond to the mission and ministry challenges the
Lord has placed before our Synod; and be it further

Resolved, That the Board of Directors provide leader-
ship, authorize resources, and engage professional coun-
sel for the fundraising effort; and be it finally

Resolved, That the Board of Directors after consulta-
tion with the appropriate boards bring to the 1981
synodical convention its proposal for a continued up-
grading process to fund the mission of our church.

Action: Adopted (10).

(An amendment to remove professional counsel from the
effort failed.)

167

To Define Canadian Districts’ Role
in Major Fundraising Effort

RESOLUTION 12-02
Report 4-04, III, OO (CW, p. 129)

WHEREAS, The Canadian Districts, while working
toward partner-church status, desire to be part of the
major fundraising effort in the Synod; and

WHEREAS, There are equally challenging opportuni-
ties for the Canadians to expand mission and ministry
as well as higher education at home and abroad;
therefore be it

Resolved, That a mission and ministry statement be
developed by our Canadian brethren in cooperation
with the steering committee and fundraising consul-
tants that will address the challenges in Canada as well
as the mission opportunities we share throughout the
world.

Action: Adopted (10).

To Clear All Calendars
for Major Fundraising Effort

_ RESOLUTION 12-03
Report 4-04, III, OO (CW, p. 129)

WHEREAS, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod is
conducting a major fundraising effort that will reach its
culmination in the first half of 1981; and

WHEREAS, The proposed fundraising effort will aid
all areas and phases of the Synod’s working together in
outreach and leadership development, both in the Synod
and in the partner churches, as well as in recruiting and
training future workers for the church; and

WHEREAS, Any special fundraising effort during the
period of January through June 1981 would be a source
of confusion as well as mutually detrimental to each
effort; therefore be it

Resolved, That the Synod in convention ask all
LCMS Districts, institutions, boards, etc., as well as
auxiliaries, affiliated agencies, and other groups that
are not directly supported financially by the Synod to
clear their calendar of special fundraising efforts during
the period of January through June 1981, it being
understood that continuing fundraising for normal
operations is excluded from this resolution; and be it
further

Resolved, That all such groups be asked to inform
the Synod, through its Stewardship Counselor, of any
fundraising plans before 1981 in order that these may be
considered in the Synod’s planning.

Action: Adopted (10).

(In response to a question, the committee stated that
clearing calendars is not a mandate.)