Thank God for his blessings!
From the office of President Mark Schroeder
" 'Test me in this,' says the LORD Almighty, 'and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it' " (Malachi 3:10).
With those words, God encouraged the people of Israel to place their trust in his promises, and he assured them that he would bless them in ways that they could hardly expect or even imagine. At last summer's synod convention, we were encouraged to have that same kind of trust in God's faithfulness. In the 11 months since that time, he has poured out financial blessings on our synod that few of us would have expected.
The preliminary results for our synod's fiscal year, which ended on June 30, show that the synod ended the year with a budgetary surplus of approximately $2.8 million. Year-end accounting is still being finalized, but our financial staff is confident that these numbers are very close to what the final results will be. The surplus is the result of a number of factors, including a substantial increase in congregational and individual offerings combined with significant underspending by the areas of ministry. The Synodical Council will determine how these funds will be utilized.
In May, the Synodical Council already approved an increase of $500,000 in the 2008-09 budget for Home Missions to be used for new mission starts. The majority of this $500,000 was actually a part of the 2007-08 budget that was not spent in 2007-08.
The budget originally adopted by the synod convention for the coming year (2008-09) showed a shortfall of $2.6 million. This shortfall was created when the convention restored $600,000 to World Missions and $2 million for the continued operation of Michigan Lutheran Seminary in Saginaw. Again, due to a number of factors, the $2.6 million shortfall has been reduced to approximately $900,000. Part of the surplus from 2007-08 could be used to cover that $900,000 shortfall, with the remaining surplus placed, for the time being, into a buffer fund for shortfalls that may occur in the future. Again, the Synodical Council will determine how to handle these unexpected blessings and will present final recommendations to the next synod convention.
Two important things need to be noted. First, we can and should be filled with a sense of overwhelming thanks to God. Even in a time of financial uncertainty in our nation, he has moved his people to bring generous thank offerings to support the worldwide proclamation of the gospel. This support is not the result of a convention resolution; it's the result of the gospel of Jesus Christ working in the hearts of God's thankful people.
Second, some have expressed a concern that news of this surplus will lead congregations and members to conclude that the financial crisis has passed and that support will diminish, even as forecasts warn of future shortfalls. I'm convinced that just the opposite will happen. We believe that the promises of a gracious God are what moved people to respond with their offerings in the last year. Those promises have not changed, and we should have no doubt that the gospel will continue to lead us to focus our efforts on the mission opportunities that God will give to us.
Personally, I would like to thank our synodical leaders (the Conference of Presidents and the Synodical Council) for their planning work and the encouragement they offer to the members of the synod. I would like to thank congregational leaders, both called and lay workers, for helping to keep our congregations focused on our shared work as a synod. I would like to thank the members of our congregations for their generous offerings. Together, we join our hearts in thanking God for the gift of his Son, and for all of the other gifts that he continues to shower on us as individuals and as a synod. To him alone be the glory!
Serving in Christ,
Mark Schroeder
Filed Under: Budget, Finance, gift, Offering, support, Synod Finances
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