# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_2001_S53 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) 52 SYNODICAL REPORTS counselors and new partnerships resulting in significant new re- sources for ministry. A focus on the life of the Christian steward drives this new ap- proach. Applying and building on the LCMS Stewardship Princi- ples approved by the 1998 convention, the Foundation is growing, building, and serving stewards from birth to beyond death. President Mark Stuenkel, in this reorganizational year, has di- rected the development and implementation of a strategic plan to serve the church. The plan begins with nine goals: 1. Manage $4 billion in investments by 2010 2. Function as a team, each unit getting what it needs from the others . Establish expense controls and increase the revenue stream . Provide excellent customer service . Flatten the organization, with less layers of bureaucracy . Be proactive in contacting customers . Communicate the Foundation as a ministry in itself . Become the stewardship arm of the church . Strengthen relationships among congregations, Districts, and the national office Each unit has pledged its contribution to meet each goal or a portion of the goal. Each unit has defined activities to fulfill its pledge, created a calendar based on defined activities, and consid- ered how resources wil] be shared among other units to complete its pledge. Evaluation of the Foundation’s service to the church will in- clude a significant emphasis on performance. Individuals and or- ganizations using the services of the Foundation expect a return on investment on behalf of the ministry served. Therefore, results of the work of each unit will be tracked and evaluated. The Foundation, long known by its trademark “Linking Chris- tians with Giving Opportunities”®, will also begin to introduce a service mark: “Stewards for Life.”*“ The services available under this new banner will be broken down into three components: Growing—Stewards for Life™ Under this component, Christians will be instructed and nurtured in biblical stewardship principles and their application in life, from birth to beyond death. This will be done through the production and distribution of stewardship education and nurture materials. (2 Tim- othy 3:16-17) Building—Stewards for Life™ Under this component, individuals, agencies, and organizations of the Synod will be directed to and instructed in the use of various in- struments in planning a sleward’s life. (1 Corinthians 3:11-14) Serving—Stewards for Life™ Under this component, individuals, agencies, and organizations of the Synod will be provided personal counseling in eslablishing a God-pleasing stewardship plan for life and beyond. (Matthew 6:19-20) Our biblical stewardship principles tell us that the LIFE of a steward is multidimensional, extending through time and eternity and includes everything physical and spiritual. The mission of the steward is to share LIFE with the world through stewardship of the Gospel (John 6:57~58). Consequently, we are all “Stewards for Life” in many ways, all of which are expressed in the new focus of the Foundation. The Foundation’s performance report with supplemental in- vestment information, updated financials, and distributions appears on the Foundation’s Web site at http://www.lcmsfoundation.org. The Foundation’s audited financial statements are also available in print upon request. OOrATNN RW Mark Stuenkel, President 2001 Convention Workbook R4-02 Lutheran Church Extension Fund—Missouri Synod Board for Church Extension (CEF) Mission Statement The mission of the Church Extension Fund is to provide oppor- tunity to make funds and services available in support of the Great Commission through The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Objective To provide financing and services for the acquisition of sites; the construction of facilities; the purchase of buildings and equip- ment; operating expenses; professional church worker education; the residential housing needs of professional church workers; and other purposes approved by its governing board consistent with the ministry and mission of the Synod under policies approved by the Board of Directors of the Synod. LCMS Handbook, Bylaw 3.503a Board Specified Outcomes and Expectations « LCEF mission and ministry are inseparable. ¢ With God’s grace, LCEF will continue to meet the qualified cap- ital requirements of the LCMS now and in the future. * Present and future participants have confidence in LCEF. ¢ LCEF will operate successfully as a not-for-profit organization with necessary investment in technology, training, etc., to grow the ministry, maintain God-pleasing stewardship, and sustain the organization into the future. * Employees will continue to recognize LCEF as a ministry mak- ing a difference and a great place to work. ¢ LCEF will monitor CEF Districts’ performance to fulfill Board oversight requirement for LCMS. Guiding Attributes ¢ Church Extension is a ministry. ¢ LCEF is a partnership between investors and borrowers with the focus on congregations. * Church Extension is positioned to help specialized ministries. i.e., urban and ethnic ministries. * Investors are fellow Christians who support the ministry. * God has richly blessed LCEF through the ministry of volunteers. ¢ LCEF is guided by “Will this decision make a difference and fur- ther the Great Commission?” Operational Summary—1998 to Present Narrative LCEF is currently supporting a significant building increase in the LCMS. Across the nation building in congregations and other LCMS entities is proceeding at an unprecedented rate. The three- year Capital Needs Survey (FY 02-04) indicates a continuation of the building increases seen during the prior three years (FY 99-01). Annual loan approvals have increased by $90 million per year over the last four years ($100M, $130M, $150M, $193M). LCEF has expanded the services provided to its customers through the addition of Capital Funding Services. The “Arch of Services” shown below depicts the relationship of services avail- able to every customer ot LCEF. It allows the customer to contact LCEF for virtually all the services needed from concept to com- pletion.