Conflict Brings High Costs

In July Synod’s Blue Ribbon Task Force for Funding the Mission issued its report. The full 23-page document is available on the President’s Office page of the LCMS website (www.lcms.org).

The fundamental difficulty they faced is that the unrestricted funds (general offerings) available to Synod for national ministries and services continue to decline, necessitating yearly cutbacks in many of those areas. 

According to Dr. David Buegler, the task force chairman and Synod’s Fifth Vice President, “That has gotten to the point where there can’t be more cuts.  The alternative will be that some of these services will have to end or congregations and districts will be charged to pay for them.”

The Report issues 11 recommendations, some of them technical in nature.

Systemic Issues

Of more interest here is the generalization that “Every single time our Task Force got together several systemic issues arose that were not a direct part of our charge and yet they have huge impact upon our ability to ‘fund the mission.’ 

“Others in Synod need to address these three issues:  mistrust and division, lack of good communication to the person in the pew, and a complicated, inefficient and outdated structure.”

Of mistrust, the Task Force reports:  “We were confronted with the division in our Synod and resultant mistrust that seems to permeate  individuals and impact every level of funding decisions.  Individuals, congregations and districts are making funding decisions partially depending upon ‘who is in control’ at district and synodical levels of authority. . .  

“From Such Division, Good Lord, Deliver Us,” is the Task Force prayer.

Unity Around the Great Commission

Their Recommendation #3 is for the Synod to take some intentional steps to become more united around the Great Commission of our Lord.  They note:  “Amidst the many squabbles (perhaps too soft a word) that divert our energies as a Synod (and have for the last 30 years), our task Force believes THE major challenge that we all agree is important enough for us all to ‘hang together’ on is reaching the lost with the treasure of the Gospel that has been preserved among us in all of its truth and purity.  The goals of the Ablaze! movement can be the unifying principle that will strengthen our funding motivation throughout the Synod.”

The Report observes, “Some among us would like us to sing in unison, which prevents us from the fullness of sound the world needs to hear, while others want the freedom to play any note they want with no regard for what others are playing and that results in nothing but noise.  Harmony is to take our unified confession and strike the chords of the variety of gifts that make up a song that gives praise to our God and His great work in the world.”

Also:  “The generation-long divisions among us have frustrated us all.  Allowing for proper dissent through bylaw-allowed procedures, we also recommend that those members of this Synod that cannot embrace the Convention-mandated mission of our church should feel free to leave this fellowship with truth-filled integrity and find another association with whom they can partner.”

Need for Spiritual Solutions

The Task Force acknowledges that our church body too often resorts to quick fixes and legalistic tactics.  Rather:  “All the while we should realize that while organizational problems can be fixed with organizational solutions…….spiritual problems need to be fixed with spiritual solutions.”

Toward such solutions the report offers “Theological Reflections on Stewardship” which are centered on Paul’s advice in II Corinthians 8 and 9.

Accordingly, giving is: all about ‘grace,’ about submission, a test of the sincerity of love, motivated by God’s gracious act in Jesus Christ, a discipline, done in light of one’s God-given capacity to give, to be above board, encouraged by the example of others, a matter of the mind, heart and body, a reflection of faith in God’s promises, an act of service, and a response to the indescribable gift the Church has received in the crucified and risen Christ!

Spiritually the Report also lifts up the importance of prayer to renew this church’s vision for mission and subsequent funding of that mission.  Two moving examples of such prayer are offered, one by Dr. Arnold Kuntz and the other by Dr. W. Harry Krieger.

One such prayer is, “Worker of miracles, provide to us that which makes us equal to our challenge.”

DSL