Following a recommendation from last year’s report of the Synod Blue Ribbon Task Force on Funding the Mission, delegates to the 2007 Synod convention adopted a resolution (4-02) titled “To Begin a Stewardship Renewal through Enhanced Communication.”
The resolution requests that:
- “every individual, congregation, district, and the Synod itself continue to strive to respond to God’s marvelous goodness and grace through its stewardship life.”
- the first vice president of the Synod coordinate development of resources, training, and “strategic components” for stewardship renewal.
- recommendations for enhanced communication be considered.
The task force, in its report, suggested several means — including both media and presentations — to communicate the Synod’s work to congregations.
The proposal calling for stewardship renewal was a result of the work of Floor Committee 4, for Program and Finance.
Delegates also approved two other stewardship-related resolutions the committee offered.
One of those, Res. 4-01A, calls on elected leaders to develop a strategy for harmony in the Synod. It, too, grew out of a recommendation of the “Funding the Mission” task force.
Adopted by nearly 86 percent of the delegates, the resolution asks the Council of Presidents, the Synod president, five vice presidents, and the LCMS Board of Directors to address division and mistrust within the church body by gathering “a representative group of respected leaders throughout this church” to shape a strategy.
The other resolution (4-03) requests the Council of Presidents to develop a clergy-mentoring training program on biblical whole-life stewardship for the 2010 convention.
However, delegates balked at another Committee 4 resolution (4-12A) titled “To Demonstrate Support for ‘Walking Together’ ” — the only resolution among those offered throughout the six days that they defeated. Essentially, it encouraged increased participation in Concordia Plan Services, Lutheran Church Extension Fund, and the LCMS Foundation.
Defeated by a 521-654 vote, the resolution encouraged governing boards and committees to review their “responsibilities and opportunities” toward the entities and “demonstrate their working together for the ‘common good.’ ”
Posted Aug. 6, 2007
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