To Encourage Congregations to Include in Annual Mission Budgets Support for Regional University of Concordia University System

WHEREAS, Congregations of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod are Synod, and together pray to the Lord for our Synod and that it would be supported nationally, regionally, and locally; and

WHEREAS, Our Synod is blessed with the “jewels” of two fine seminaries and several regional universities; and

WHEREAS, Many congregations of our Synod give at least some financial support for our seminaries; and

WHEREAS, The well-being of the Synod’s schools of higher learning, particularly our regional universities of the Concordia University System (CUS), is the concern of each congregation, pastor, professional church worker, and parochial school; and

WHEREAS, Over a half century ago the Synod recognized the need for districts, regional Concordias, seminaries, and other entities of the Synod to develop their own advancement departments for fundraising, and encouraged them to do so, even though this did not always translate into financial support for our colleges and universities in particular until long after some of them were in severe financial straits and could not rely solely on student tuition and large endowments for support; and

WHEREAS, There is a necessity for our congregations in particular to consider giving faithful support to the Concordia universities in their region; therefore be it

Resolved, That the English District memorialize the Synod to encourage its congregations to give prayer ful consideration and financial support to our various Concordia universities; and be it further

Resolved, That pastors in shepherding their congregations encourage the financial, prayer, and “presence support” for and to a CUS school of their choosing; and be it further

Resolved, That the district memorialize the Synod in convention to direct the CUS Board of Directors to send an annual letter of encouragement to pastors and congregations to give financial support, as well as prayer support, and encouragement of youth to consider attending a Concordia university, especially for professional church work; and be it finally

Resolved, That each congregation of Synod be encouraged to put a CUS school into its annual budget and/or mission budget,marking it a blessing of God to render such support for the furtherance of Christ’s kingdom of grace, His church on earth.