# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_1983_S134 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) 134 ADMINISTRATION AND PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION F. Participation in LCUSA (Res. 3-05). This resolution called upon the Synod to continue participation in the council and also to evaluate the cost in relation to benefits received. The board received detailed reports from all operating units to help it in evaluating budgetary commitments. G. Retirement Compensation (Res. 4-06). The period of years for determining a worker’s final average compensation was changed from 15 to 20 years. H. Equalization of Convention Travel Expenses (Res. 4-14). With the concurrence of the Council of Presidents, the Board of Directors decided upon a formula to equalize all convention travel expenses, the cost to be borne by Districts on the basis of the number of voting delegates from each District. As provided for in Res. 4-14, this equalization begins with the 1983 convention. I. Guidelines for New Corporations (Res. 5-07). It was decided to include this convention resolution in the board’s policy manual and to share this policy with all colleges, seminaries, Districts, and other incorporated entities, and their respective legal counsels. J. Classification of “Ministers” for Purposes of Federal Law (Res. 5-08). This resolution was referred to the Board of Directors for study and report to the next convention. The Board asked the Secretary to develop a position statement which has now been approved by the board for submission to the convention. (See separate overture.) K. Seminary Education in Canada (Res. 6-02A). As author- ized by the 1981 convention, The Lutheran Church—Canada made its decision regarding seminary education in the future when it becomes a self-governing partner church. It decided upon two seminaries, one in St. Catharines and one to be established in Edmonton. The Board of Directors appointed the Board for Professional Education Services to serve as the interim Board of Regents for the projected Edmonton seminary. It authorized early work on the Edmonton seminary program and construction at the St. Catharines seminary. It also endorses the BPES overture to the convention regarding the governance of the Canadian colleges and seminaries. L. Seminary Support (Res. 6-17A, 6-18A, and 6-30). Acontin- uing problem involves the adequate funding of our seminaries and colleges. Several studies have been initiated and several actions have been taken by the board (see Section III, HH of this report). M. Edmonton (Res. 6-31). Since the convention in this resolution clarified the relationship of Concordia College, Edmonton, to the Synod, the board resolved that all regular financial relationships with the college and synodical policies should be activated effective July 1, 1979. N. Scholarly Research Allocation (Res. 7-11). The board did not find it possible to allocate the specified amount but will monitor the matter; fortunately, royalties from previous pro- ductions enabled the work to be continued. O. Conference on Social Needs (Res. 8-03). Efforts are continuing to finance this conference authorized by the convention. P. Staff Person for Ministerial Health (Res. 8-04). The board is still making an effort to engage a shared staff person for both the Commission on Ministerial Health and the Commission on Health and Healing. Q. Executive Planning Group (Res. 12-07A). Such a group was called into being as instructed by the convention and consists of the President of the Synod, 3 District Presidents, 3 lay members of the Board of Directors, and 5 executives from the Synod’s major boards represented on the Council of Administrators. R. New Stewardship and Financial Support Department (Res. 12-08A). The structure of the department has been reviewed and approved as developed; the staffing is not yet completed. S. Selma Funding (Res. 6-05A and 6-06A). Allocation of subsidy to fund Concordia College at Selma has exceeded the BPES subsidy formula in view of the college’s unique nature and mission. III. Other Business The Board of Directors was called into being in the early 1920s. In constitutional language, “The voting members of the Board of Directors are the legal representatives of the Synod and the custodians of all property of the Synod, and upon them are incumbent the general management and supervision of all the business affairs of the Synod.” In the course of time these responsibilities have been further detailed to cover such assignments as budgeting, accounting, auditing, and personnel policies for headquarters staff. The minutes of all meetings of the Board of Directors are again available to the floor committees for inspection. The following is a partial list of actions taken by the board since the last convention. A. Budget. One of the principal responsibilities of the board is the setting of the budget for the general Synod. The budget adopted for the 1982—83 fiscal year was $31,732,586. B. Policy Statements. Another major responsibility of the board is the development of policy statements for itself and also for other units of the synodical structure. Such policy statements are adopted at almost every meeting and are shared with the other boards and commissions of the Synod. C. Capital Projects. A third responsibility of the board is that of giving formal approval to capital projects, which are usually recommended by the Board for Professional Education Services or the Board for Mission Services. D. International Center. The board at regular intervals heard progress reports on the construction of the new head- quarters building. Financing arrangements have not been finalized. It was decided that no space in the building should be leased to other Lutheran agencies. The board did resolve that the proceeds from the sale of and rental income from 210 North Broadway (approximately $430,000) be applied to the construc- tion costs. In February 1983 it was reported that $3,500,000 in gifts and pledges had been received. The board adopted the following as the name of the new building: “The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod International Center.” The corner- stone was laid April 13, 1982; dedication was scheduled for May 29, 1983. Costs for the center were reported in March as having reached $12.6 million. E. Presentations. The officers shared information at every meeting of the board. As opportunity presented itself, the board also heard presentations from other representatives within the synodical structure. F. Worker Benefit Plans. The board has the responsibility to approve any proposed amendments in the Worker Benefit Plans of the Synod. This was done on several occasions again in the past biennium. G. Forward in Remembrance. The board heard reports on the continuing growth of the Forward in Remembrance offer- ing. In January 1983 it was reported that $75,169,617 had been pledged. Cash contributed: $50,823,183 (67.6% of the pledge). During the course of the biennium appropriations from the Forward in Remembrance fund were made for various mission and education purposes as well as $5 million for debt reduction. H. Convention Minutes. The board approved the minutes of Sessions 12, 13, and 14 of the 1981 synodical convention. I. LCUSA. Reports on the activities of the Lutheran Council in the U.S.A. were regularly given to the board. The board informed the council that it would have great difficulty in carrying out a new bylaw regarding the time element for notification of intended withdrawal from programs of the council. J. Lawsuits. Some additional settlements were made regard- ing the case of a parochial school teacher in Detroit; the Grace, River Forest, issue is under appeal; several other lawsuits are in process at this time. In addition to lawsuits there are many pressing legal questions that impede the ongoing work of the church in our generation. These are being addressed as quickly and as efficiently as posssible. The board also adopted a policy statement indicating general assistance and support for those synodical officials at whatever level who are striving to carry out their responsibilities, since they should not be left standing alone.