# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_2004_S82 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) 82 SYNODICAL REPORTS * KFUO / Joint Seminary Support ¢ Organizational Ministry Support ¢ World Relief / Human Care Support * Direct Response Support ¢ World Mission Support The LCMS Foundation currently administers over 8,200 ac- counts. Of that number, over |,450 accounts are custodial in nature and over 6,700 are managed for specific deferred gifts. These ac- counts will benefit almost 1,700 ministries when the gifts mature and are distributed. Early in this triennium the Synod Board of Directors assigned to the Foundation the responsibility for development efforts that ben- efit the core ministries of the Synod. These core ministries include World Mission (now including Ablaze’), Human Care/World Re- lief, Concordia University System/For The Sake Of The Church, KFUO, and Joint Seminary Fund. The Foundation organized this effort by creating four units that have direct responsibility for fund development efforts for the respective ministries. More than $78,885,000 in cash gifts has been raised and distributed to these five ministries during the last three years. We currently have more than 66,000 active donors. The Foundation continues to support LCMS mission and min- istry through funds raised by gift planning activities, direct mail, telemarketing, and Web site applications. The LCMS Foundation has accepted an active role in funding the vision of Ablaze! to share the Gospel with 100 million people around the world by the year 2017. Efforts to provide start-up funds included personal visits to major donors, and a special letter and telemarketing campaign among 20,400 LCMS World Mission donors. This effort was blessed with over 4,400 responses pledging more than $1.4 million. The LCMS Foundation will continue to provide leadership and per- sonnel in helping to fulfill this vision over the next 13 years. In co- ordination with the Ablaze! vision and under the convention theme, “One Mission—Ablaze!”’ the Foundation will conduct a national of- fering that will be shared by three ministries: LCMS World Mis- sion, Board for Higher Education, and Human Care/World Relief. The One Mission—Ablacze! offering will ignite God’s people to the ends of the earth to seek, share, and serve Christ. In the Foundation’s efforts to continually seek ways to improve our service to God’s stewards, the following enhancements are key to building donor relationships: ¢ Continuing Web site improvements including congregational re- sources, investment information, giving opportunities, and stories of stewardship activities that inspire and encourage potential donors (www.lcmsfoundation.org). ¢ Secure Internet access by donors and custodial account customers to their respective accounts. « New imaging system that will improve documentation storage and enhance response time for customer inquiries. * Certification training for persons interested in gift planning for their congregation. District, or related service organization. * Continued integration of fund-development marketing efforts for efficient and effective communication with donors and potential donors. The Foundation’s annual Ministry Report with supplemental in- formation, updated financials, and distributions appears on the Foundation’s Web site at www.lcmsfoundation.org. The Founda- tion’s audited financial statements are available upon request. As the LCMS Foundation looks toward the next triennium our mission remains steadfast: To provide support for The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod through linking Christians with the many giving opportunities the LCMS and its related ministries have to offer. We praise God for His many blessings and trust God for our future efforts! Wayne R. Price, Interim President 2004 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; pro- moting strategic ministry planning and assisting in capital cam- paigns; and other purposes approved by its governing board con- sistent with the ministry and mission of the Synod under policies approved by the Board of Directors of the Synod. Handbook, 3.503 a 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 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 separate CEF District’s operations and per- formance to fulfill Board oversight requirement for LCMS. ¢ LCEF will operate with the highest standards and integrity, striv- ing for excellence in all that it does. Guiding Attributes ¢ Church Extension is a ministry. ¢ LCEF is a partnership between investors and borrowers with the primary 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 further the Great Commission?” Operational Summary—2001 to Present Highlights of 2001-2004: (Financial and operational data is as of December 31, 2003, un- less otherwise specified.) One Mission — One Message — One People! With that clear vision statement serving as the Fall Leadership Conference theme, LCEF celebrated 25 years of service to the LCMS on June 15, 2003—twenty-five years of providing space and place for ministry! During these twenty-five years, the LCEF grew from $59 million in total assets to over $1.3 billion. During that period, 27 districts chose to merge their church extension operations into LCEF in order to provide greater efficiency, pooling of available investment dollars, and expansion of services to better meet the needs of the LCMS. The 28" district, lowa District East, joined LCEF on Janu- ary 1, 2004. To God alone be the Glory!