How do we fund our work?

also should reflect  passion  for mission and min 

istry.  He said the resulting gifts come not from

Funding less in terms of total dollars than

obligation, but out of  response to God's goodness

how they are directed will be important in shaping

and willingness to make known His love in Jesus

the future of the Synod's national and international

Christ.  

mission and ministry. 

Hewitt summarizes the work of the national

While per member giving has grown substan 

Synod as doing two things: One is encouraging mis 

tially during the past two decades,  the system for

sions through LCMS World Mission and training

distributing those gifts has become extremely com 

church workers.  The other is  ecclesial  super 

plex, according Brad Hewitt, administrative officer

vision, such as accountability on doctrine and the

with the LCMS Board of Directors.  

work of elected officers and conventions.

 Funding the Mission,  a committee of the

Average giving per confirmed member in the

Board, is exploring a  free market  concept for

Synod for all purposes rose from $259.39 in 1981 to

funding mission and ministry.  The concept reflects

$633.62 for 2001, while the average per confirmed

the growing trend of congregations and individuals

member that reached the national Synod increased

making direct gifts to the Synod's work.  (The pro 

only from $12.61 in 1981 to $12.65 in 2001.

portion of direct donations and grants and gifts 

The current system has become  way too

which administrators refer to as  restricted

complex for simple answers  about how it works,

income  comprises 52 percent of the revenue for

according to Hewitt.  It's frustrating for people to

the current $88.6 million budget.)  

understand, he said.  The question is whether we

In terms of accountability, Hewitt said,

make the change that is necessary, or do we just

 Congregations are the market, and they will drive

keep going down the path we are on.  Eventually

the work rather than convention resolutions.    He

the loyalty will wear off. 

said it is outcome focused, controlled by the donor

and is effective resource allocation.

W H E R E  YO U R   D O L L A R   G O E S

For example, he said,  LCMS World

Mission is a high quality, effective organiza 

tion.   LCMS World Mission currently

For every dollar contributed on Sunday

derives 78 percent of its spending plan from

mornings in LCMS congregations 

direct gifts.  Higher education and World

Relief/Human Care both receive 95 percent

or more of their revenue from direct gifts.

 Unrestricted income  largely the

funds that come from congregation offering

plates through districts to national offices 

has continued to decline.   

 88 cents

 Funding the Mission  proposes that

is used by the congregation for its mission and ministry

recipients of direct gifts provide a  fair

share to a common ministry fund for ecclesial

supervision and the administrative functions.

 Everybody would pay their fair share 

districts, Lutheran Church Extension Fund,

world missions, CPH, for example based on

 8.3 cents

a percentage of their receipts,   Hewitt said. 

goes to the respective district and to nonsynodical agencies

Recent decisions to lay off staff and

decrease programs in order  live within our

means  is a reaction to a problem, according

to Hewitt.   But it doesn't get to the underly 

ing issue and it's not because people aren't

 3.7 cents

being good stewards.

is forwarded to the national Synod of which almost 1 cent goes

Hewitt credits LCMS members for

to world mission, a half cent to higher education, 1.5 cents to

their loyalty, which shows in their offering

convention mandated services and a half cent to all others.

support.  Yet, Hewitt says he believes giving

(55) FEBRUARY 2003

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