I really like the way . . .

this guy thinks!  Actually, I'll see his $4 million and bump him $4 million.  Let's set aside 10% of our annual synodical budget to fund our seminaries.  I know, I know, that's not feasible.  Things are just more complicated than any of us can imagine.  I've heard it all before.  The synod just doesn't receive enough money to keep itself running and support our seminaries at the same time.  There's an easy solution to that - just eliminate as much of the unneeded bureaucracy as it takes to put ourselves in the position to give 10% to our seminaries.  Hey, while we're at it, let's just go ahead and eliminate as much as we have to in order to allot 10% to funding missionaries as well.  Imagine that:  20% of what the synod takes in to train pastors for service here and abroad, and to fund missionaries in the endeavor to bring the Gospel to more regions around the globe.  I mean, 100% of the reason why our synod was established was to do these things, so it doesn't seem like to much to ask to dedicate 20% of our resources to them.  But, alas, it can't be done.  I'm just a silly parish pastor who doesn't understand the ins and outs of synodical economics.  Funny, that's the same line fed to us by our federal government all the time.  You silly citizens with all your crazy ideas on how to fix things - you just don't get it.  Oh well, maybe I don't get it.  Come to think of it, I never have gotten how our synod got to the point of giving less than 1% of its annual budget to our seminaries and missionaries.  And, to be honest, I doubt that I ever will get that.