# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_1998_S77 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) SYNODICAL REPORTS 77 District Presidents should be informed to whom such letters are sent. If the current budget of WBP is insufficient to permit the above-referenced informational survey, then monies should ei- ther be earmarked for such an effort in the next budget of WBP and/or monies can be provided through the offering or gift collections as mentioned in paragraph 5 below. 3. That the District Presidents affirmatively inquire into (1) how many retired workers or widowed spouses under either the CRP or the PPPT exist within their Districts and (2) the specific financial needs of such retired workers or widowed spouses. Such information, where permissible, should be shared, in confidence, with the WBP. 4. That WBP, after reviewing all necessary facts, establish a likely benefit and payment stream that would provide adequate funding to retired church workers or their widowed spouses currently under the PPPT programs. 5. That the Board of Directors establish within the Synod‘a designated Sunday on which day a special offering would be collected to alleviate the unmet financial needs of those retired workers or their widowed spouses. In addition, special gifts can be solicited through the LCMSF. That such monies collected be set aside in a special fund administered by the LCMSF in cooperation with the WBP. 6. That the Synod authorize the Board of Directors (or if funds are available, the Board of Directors authorize their expenditure) to provide in the annual budget the funds necessary, supplemental to those collected under item (5), above to finance the benefit and payment stream as deter- mined in item 4 above. In conclusion, of the two issues identified in the mandate to the Task Force, the inadequate funding of retirement benefits for indi- viduals under the Synod’s old PPPT program is a more readily identifiable problem and should be capable of a systematic, man- ageable resolution (over the period of the next 20 years), Never- theless, our Synod’s retired church workers or their widowed spouses who have current, unmet financial needs should have these needs met by our church body. On the other hand, the issue associated with the increasing level of debt of our Synod’s professional church workers is a problem that is growing rapidly, needs to be immediately identified as to both the number of impacted students and church workers and the individual scope of the problem of each student or worker, and then addressed with both preventive and remedial solutions. It is a prob- lem that, even though it will nor take care of itself, can be resolved. It is the recommendation of the Financial Aid Task Force that this report be submitted to the Synod’s 1998 convention for adop- tion in its entirety. In order to assist both the President and the Synod in convention, a summary of this report is attached identify- ing by issue the responsible entity within the Synod to be tasked with particular undertakings. Where the initiation of some or all of the suggested courses of action will incur costs currently outside of the budget of the responsible entity of our Synod it should be noted that what is proposed is that funds will be raised either through special synodical offerings or designated and earmarked gifts. Finally, it is imperative that when steps are implemented, through the respective entities of the Synod, the President direct that reports be given to himself, or the Board of Directors, at spec- ified intervals, in order to insure that corrective actions are in fact implemented and the issues identified are being resolved; or, if not, that additional steps be undertaken or matters implemented to as- sure the necessary resolution of these identified problems. We know that “all things” do work together for “the good of those who trust in the Lord” (Rom. 8:28) and accordingly are as- sured that through the guidance of His wisdom resolution of these identified challenges will be forthcoming. ° Edwin Suelflow, Chairman Appendix R4-06A Summary Indebtedness of the Professional Church Worker Which Indebtedness Is Mainly Attributed to the Burden Associated with the Cost of Education First Issue: Resolution: Both Assist in the Reduction in the Level of Such Indebtedness and Establish Programs to Provide Guidance for the Christian Management of Debt Agency: Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod Foundation Responsible Action: * establish and manage a special fund(s) to which contribu- tions may be made and from which portions of the principal and/or interest earned is used to underwrite both the devel- opment and implementation of the numerous programs es- tablished pursuant to this report Agency: Lutheran Church Extension Fund Responsible Action: * implement a low-interest loan program, to Districts and con- gregations, both for consolidation of high-interest debt and the underwriting of educational costs at synodical schools * implement a program that will permit the earmarking of in- terest income from LCEF investments into the “special” fund(s) established within the LCMS Foundation, as outlined above Agency: Stewardship Department Responsible Action: * continue and expand its current pilot program of personal fi- nancial management workshops * seek from both within and without the Synod the requisite ex- pertise in the area of managing financial resources share with the Synod’s colleges, universities, and seminaries the expertise it is developing in the area of personal financial management workshops Agency: Concordia University System/Board for Higher Education and Synodical Seminaries Responsible Action: * identify and assist students who have financial problems at the individual institution * provide financial planning workshops for students at the time of entry into the educational system ¢ make available continuing financial planning resources to students during their stay at the educational institution Agency: District Presidents Responsible Action: * identify those professional church workers under their eccle- siastical supervision who have unresolved debt problems implement programs within their Districts that will provide guidance to professional church workers in the area of per- sonal financial management * establish specific compensation guidelines for congregations within their Districts counsel congregations to follow the established compensa- tion guidelines * consider not approving applications for candidates from par- ticular congregations where the compensation guidelines at that congregation do not meet the District salary guidelines * identify individuals applying for admittance to our Synod’s seminaries where the individuals’ ability to finance their sem- inary education may be in doubt in order to provide counsel- ing and so inform the respective seminary e