Reports - Central Illinois District - Lutheran Church Missouri Synod

∑ 12 months of Stewardship materials resources by Ron Chewning- Bulletinannouncements, Newsletters, bible studies, and other material.These are a few of the items our District Commissions and I have been involved in the lastthree years. As we look to the future, a short visit to the past is important! In the 1990’s theNational Synod changed the boards of various parts of structure and placed many of thosedepartments into District Congregational Services. One in particular was Stewardship.The national Stewardship department was reduced from staff of many down two full-timeexecutives and today down to one full-time executive. The rest were moved into LCMSFoundation and fund-raising. Today, the trend is movement towards Lutheran ChurchExtension Fund (LCEF), another fund-raising and savings organization. They have anexcellent Christian Fund Raising program called ‘Consecrated Steward.’ However, no districtin the LCMS has a full-time Stewardship executive. The responsibilities are shared with manyother duties.Added to this mix are our seminaries in the education of our pastors in various areas ofstewardship, evangelism, and congregational similar activities. At the 2008 Upper MidwestDistrict Stewardship Conference, a short study was done that showed for many yearsStewardship is not taught as course or significant time or module spent at the seminary on thetopic (not that they need 4 years of it, but at the present none is being done.)Why is this important? A look back in the 1980’s and 90’s Journals and Quarterlies of our twoseminaries show parish pastors in the sermon outlines of those publications developedtechniques and/or sections of their sermons speak about stewardship of time, talents, treasures,and witness. When it was taught at some point in the seminarian’s education, it became a partof the pastor’s early formation life. It show up not at all or less frequent today in readings andsermons.Next, around 2000 it was stated in a previous report: “National Studies show that about 2.6%of a Christian family’s income is given as an offering to the local church.” In 2007, studieshave shown that the levels continue to drop and have gone below 2.0%. A recent informalstudy by Lutheran Church Extension Fund showed an average of 2.5% of LCMS FamilyHousehold’s income is given to their local church. The need to educate church workers andlaity in the area of giving continues. Especially, our work should always be done completelyin the atmosphere of God’s Word and Sacraments. This work is critical considering the largerneed of mission work to the unchurched in our district and synod.Again, Stewardship is sanctified—holy living—good works area of our lives in time, talent,and treasures. The following tables and other information are taken from national stewardshipstudies and LCMS studies on congregations:2009 Convention Section B – Reports Page 34