# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_2023_S30
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

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OFFICER, BOARD, AND COMMISSION REPORTS

C. Challenges
Many challenges remain and are inherent to the communications task. Even so, we continually strive to better serve the Synod
by addressing the most pressing ones, chief of which are as follows:
•

Reach more LCMS households directly through online and
other forms of engagement.

•

Reach a greater number of LCMS members under the age of
30. This is imperative for the future life of the church body.

•

Increase the trust level of parish pastors so they feel confident in sharing our communications with their members.
Our content is faithful to the Word of God and the Lutheran
Confessions and well produced for the benefit of the church
body.

•

Be wise stewards of our resources while keeping up with the
pace of communication technology in ways that serve the
Church well.

D. Opportunities
•

Continue creating a strong, confessional Lutheran voice
worldwide through joint communications efforts with our
partner church bodies.

•

Continue to evaluate new media and formats to advise the
Synod on the proper use of new ways to communicate with
and to the world and one another.

•

Continue to utilize new media and formats to present faithfully the precious Gospel of Jesus Christ to our Synod and
throughout the world.

E. Departments
LCMS Communications presents the stories of our Synod’s endeavors in compelling ways. The Communications department’s
structure focuses on different aspects of communication.

E.1. Editorial
The news and information of the Synod provides a constant
flow of content for a variety of audiences delivered through the
following media outlets:
Reporter (print and online)
reporter.lcms.org/
•

The official newspaper of the LCMS, offering news and
actions of Synod offices, boards, ministries, task forces,
events, congregations, and workers.

•

Monthly print circulation: 33,000

•

Email newsletter subscriptions: 13,000
The Lutheran Witness
(subscribe to print and digital issues at cph.org/witness)
witness.lcms.org/

•

•

The official magazine of the LCMS, now in its 142nd year of
continuous publication, making it one of the longest-running
periodicals in America.
Monthly paid circulation: approximately 77,000 (with a
“pass-around rate” approximately double that)

The aim of The Lutheran Witness (LW) is to provide LCMS
laypeople with articles on faith and life, theology and culture that
2023 Convention Workbook

help them “interpret the contemporary world from a Lutheran
perspective.”
Web-exclusive articles from expert bloggers expand the reach
of the magazine on social media, while KFUO Radio and Issues,
Etc. interviews bring LW-related conversations to listeners over the
airwaves.
Lutherans Engage the World (print and online)
engage.lcms.org/
•

Quarterly magazine for LCMS donors, rostered workers,
and missionaries, which shares uplifting stories about the
church body’s work in the world while also providing accountability on how financial gifts given to the LCMS are
being spent.

•

Circulation: around 75,000 (plus another 6,500 sent as free
bulk subscriptions to congregations)
Life Together

•

A monthly digital news digest from the Synod president.

•

A subscription-based online compendium of the top stories
and other highlights from multiple communications outlets
of the church body. It includes stories, photos, videos, new
resources, links to KFUO Radio programming, and more.

•

Subscribers: 4,150

E.2. Church Information Center
lcms.org/cic
•

Year-round call center and email responses to questions,
concerns, and requests for information coming into the International Center.

•

Total inquiries for Jan. 1, 2020, through Dec. 31, 2022, is
31,544:
o

53 percent laity queries

o

17 percent congregation or school staff queries

o

17 percent clergy queries

o

13 percent other queries

E.3. Production
Our production team is at the center of every LCMS Communications project, orchestrating the daily work of the department and
ensuring accurate and congenial interactions between Communications and the ministries in the building. These projects range from
missionary prayer cards to published books, and from exhibit planning to brand management.

E.4. Web Services
In cooperation with the offices, ministries, and mission regions
of the Synod, we create, manage, and update lcms.org. Web Services also facilitates email communications, online event registration, and calendar pages.

E.5. Graphic Design
This team creates and implements the look and presentation of
Synod materials, including branding for the Synod and its ministries. This includes promotional materials, curriculum, and multiple
exhibit opportunities. LCMS Communications designs the monthly
The Lutheran Witness and Reporter and the quarterly Lutherans
Engage the World publications. These resources are designed to