Encouraging signs in Congregation Mission Offerings

In the first six months of 2012, the offerings sent by congregations for the work we do together as a synod are running nearly 5 percent ahead of the previous year, even though congregational commitment for 2012 showed a slight decrease from the previous year. During that same time period, the offerings from 11 of the 12 districts have exceeded the amounts that had been projected. Overall, gifts to the synod are 10 percent above what was committed for that time period. We thank God for this amazing blessing.

It’s not clear whether congregations are sending their gifts earlier than in the past or whether this represents a trend that will continue through the rest of the year. In either case, we recognize the results as a real blessing from God, especially in these difficult economic times. We pray, of course, that the members of our synod will be encouraged by these results and continue to bring their offerings joyfully and generously.

Congregation Mission Offerings (CMO) are the way that most people in our synod provide financial support to the work we do together. Congregations recognize that the work of the synod is their work, and they typically commit a portion of their offerings to support our common ministry in world missions, home missions, ministerial education, and in providing resources to help congregations grow stronger through their use of the means of grace. Some congregations have a unified budget and designate an amount of that budget to be used for the synod’s work; others allow members to designate a portion of their offerings for synodical work (often called simply “missions”) and forward those offerings to the synod.

Since CMO is considered to be the foundation of the synod’s financial support, much of our planning is based on the commitments made by congregations and the ability of congregations to follow through on those commitments. In recent years, likely in part due to the economic situation in our country, congregational mission commitments and offerings have decreased and have been less than planned. We join you in praying that what we have seen in the first six months of the year will continue, reaffirming that our members and congregations are committed to seeing the synod’s ministry be maintained and even expanded.

Serving in Christ,
Mark Schroeder