# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_2007_S201
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

PROGRAM AND FINANCE 201

WHEREAS, KFUO FM has been recognized as one of the best

classical music stations in America, and is a fixture for The-

Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod in the greater St. Louis metro-
politan area; and

WHEREAS, Martin Luther once said that, “Music is God’s great-
est gift. It has often so stimulated and stirred me that I felt the de-
sire to preach” and “Music is an outstanding gift from God and
next to theology”; and

WuereaS, Both AM and FM stations now broadcast around the
world through streaming; and

WHEREAS, The commercial FM station contributes to the overall
. operation of both stations; and
WHEREAS, The selling of the FM license would severely inhibit
the ability of KFUO AM to remain broadcasting; therefore be it
Resolved, That the Synod in convention give thanks to God for
this valuable radio ministry by singing the Common Doxology; and
be it further
Resolved, That the Synod in convention thank KFUO Radio
Ministries for their efforts to spread the Gospel; and be it finally

Resolved, That the Synod not sell either radio station and/or
their licenses.

St. Paul

Trenton, MI

4-29
To Pursue Sale of KFUO-FM Radio

History and Rationale

KFUO-FM is located at 99.1 MHz FM and plays classical
music as “Classic 99 KFUO-FM.” KFUO-FM broadcasts with an
effective radiated power of 100 kW. KFUO-FM is the oldest FM
station west of the Mississippi River, broadcasting since 1948. Stu-
dios are located on the campus of Concordia Seminary and are
owned by The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Its transmitter is
located in St. Louis.

KFUO-FM began as a listener-supported station, but moved to
acommercial format several years ago.

KFUO-FM broadcasts RBDS data, which shows its identifica-
tion and broadcast mission—Program Service: KFUO-FM

Radio Text: Classical Music for St. Louis

The current value of KFUO-FM to the mission of the LCMS is
minimal, except as an asset for sale to support the direct religious
radio ministry of KFUO-AM or other evangelistic mission work in
keeping with the LCMS mission statement. While KFUO-FM is an
award-winning classical music station, it only serves the classical
music audience in St. Louis, and now recently on the Web.

Wuereas, The current religious programming on KFUO-FM is
minimal on a daily basis; and

WHEREAS, The listening audience for KFUO-FM is primarily
the St. Louis market; and

WHEREAS, In the St. Louis market KFUO-FM, has a weekly au-
dience estimated at 20,000, with more listeners on its new Web ser-
vice; and

WHEREAS, KFUO-FM is ranked 19th in listening audiences
among the St. Louis radio stations; and

WHEREAS, Operating profits for KFUO-FM have averaged
$128,147 for the last five years, and KFUO-AM has operated at a
deficit during that same period; and

WHEREAS, An appraisal from ONECOM, Inc., dated Nov. 23,
2005, established a value of KFUO-FM to be estimated $26 mil-
lion; and

WHEREAS, An investment of $25 million should result in in-
vestment income of at least $1.5 million (6 percent rate of return),
which could subsidize the work of KFUO-AM for years in the fu-
ture or field at least 15 mission fields at $100,000 each; and

WHEREAS, The popularity of satellite radio and Web streaming
is the wave of the future and as their listening audiences increase,
the value of KFUO-FM could decrease; and

WHEREAS, The Synod Board of Directors has a responsibility to
the entire Synod and not just St. Louis; and Bylaw 3.3.5.7 states, in
part, that the Board of Directors shall have the authority and re-
sponsibility with respect to the property of the Synod as is gener-
ally vested in and imposed upon a board of directors of a corpora-
tion; and

WHEREAS; In order to be good and wise stewards of all the
Synod resources and funds; therefore be it

Resolved, That the 2007 LCMS convention direct the chairman
of the Synod Board of Directors to appoint a committee of not less
than three board members and the Vice-President—Finance—Trea-
surer, and that this committee be authorized to engage a media bro-
ker to solicit bids for the purchase of only KFUO-FM; and be it
further :

Resolved, That all bids that are received be reviewed by the
committee and that the committee report to the Board its findings
and submit a proposal if a bid is received to be valued of at least
$20 million or more; and be it further

Resolved, That any recommendation coming from the commit-
tee be approved by the Synod’s Board of Directors before imple-
mentation; and be it further

Resolved, That a portion of the proceeds resulting from any sale
be used to endow the work of KFUO-AM and programming for
satellite radio, Web streaming, etc., and the remainder be treated
as Synod overseas/foreign mission-designated funds, with its in-
vestment proceeds be used to fund missionaries and/or mission
projects outside of the United States; and be it finally

Resolved, That the Board for Communication Services be noti-
fied of the sale of the FM radio station by the chairman of the
Board of Directors.

Board of Directors
Northern Illinois District

4-5

To Demonstrate Support for “Walking Together”

WHEREAS, The 2006 Blue Ribbon Task Force on Funding the
Mission recommended a stewardship renaissance and called on en-
tities and individuals of the LCMS to be good stewards; and

WHEREAS, The accepted layman’s definition of the Synod is
“Walking together,” being part of and partners in “the body of
Christ” (Rom. 12; 1 Cor. 12); and

WuEeREAS, Biblical stewardship imperatives require each orga-
nization to accomplish their tasks in the most efficient and effective
manner possible for “the common good” (1 Peter 4:10) of the
whole body; and

WHEREAS, Concordia Plans Services has designed The Church’s
Plan so that each of the individual Concordia plans complement
each other to provide a total benefit package for the LCMS church
worker; and

WHEREAS, Only approximately 70 percent of LCMS employers
have elected to adopt The Church’s Plan; and

WHEREAS, Concordia Plans Services seeks to serve the entire
LCMS and can do so with greater efficiency and effectiveness
when all districts, congregations, and other LCMS entities are par-
ticipating employers; and

WHEREAS, The Lutheran Church Extension Fund (LCEF) was
incorporated in 1978 and ratified by unanimous action of the 1979
LCMS convention to more effectively serve the churches and enti-
ties of the LCMS by consolidating all district church extension
funds into a single organization, pooling available funds to better
meet all church needs and efficiently meeting evolving state regu-
lations; and

WHEREAS, LCEF seeks to serve the entire LCMS on a local, na-
tional, and worldwide basis through a full range of investment,