LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2010, Page 47

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SYNOD REPORTS
adults, a new resource titled Lutheranism 101, and a lay-oriented
presentation on the major points of Lutheran doctrine, titled The
Lutheran Difference.
CPH’s Financial Highlights
Concordia Publishing House is financially strong and healthy and
gives thanks and praise to God for its loyal supporters throughout the
LCMS. Its 2007 revenue totaled $54.2 million, followed by $41.9 million in 2008 and $39.4 million in 2009. Revenue in 2007 was higher
due to the release of Lutheran Service Book.
Because CPH exists to serve the LCMS, it reinvests cash proceeds
from operations back into the ongoing development of resources that
serve the whole Synod and many other Lutherans and Christians
around the world. For example, the sale of Vacation Bible School programs, offering envelopes, and bulletins makes it possible for CPH to
invest millions of dollars into the development of new Sunday School
materials, Day School curriculum, and volumes of Luther’s Works, as
well as the publication of other important Lutheran theological works.
The development of The Lutheran Study Bible, to cite but one example, required an investment of nearly $3 million.
The last three years have been challenging for the entire publishing
industry in general and for denominational publishers in particular.
The economic downturn has impacted sales at CPH, although there
are signs of improvement. Unlike many other denominational publishing houses that are in very serious financial crisis, CPH remains
very strong, but with significantly growing concerns in several areas.
CPH would like to underscore two major areas of concern for the convention’s attention.
Copyright infringements are on the increase due to the mistaken
assumption that copyrighted intellectual property can simply be used
at will, without regard for federal law, which regulates its use. People
desiring to start their own self-publishing ventures are either uninformed or unconcerned about the value and necessity of respecting
copyright law and what such copyright law means for publishers like
CPH. Without copyright protection for the content of the materials it
publishes, CPH cannot continue its mission.
Another growing concern is the use by LCMS members of materials that do not deliver truly Christ-centered content that is faithful
to God’s Word. CPH respectfully must caution against the use of
such materials and encourage congregations to continue their support
of Concordia Publishing House’s Vacation Bible School materials
and other resources. Without this ongoing support, CPH’s ability to
produce excellent Sunday School, Day School, and other curricular
resources is threatened, as well as its ability to continue to produce
resources for church professionals, laypeople, and congregations.
CPH Gives Back
CPH has been blessed with the opportunity to share a portion of
its net income with the Synod, providing close to $1.5 million during
this past triennium. Additionally, in 2007, CPH contributed $200,000
to Concordia Historical Institute for its new museum at the LCMS
International Center. Customers’ trust in and use of CPH resources
makes it possible for CPH to be and remain financially healthy.
Concordia Publishing House Looks Ahead
CPH moves forward with confidence, knowing that it has the quality systems and appropriate processes, staff, and resources available
to continue to serve the LCMS and countless others across the globe
with solid, Christ-centered resources that are faithful to the Scriptures

47

and the Lutheran Confessions, all for the sake of the Lord’s mission
to make disciples of all nations.
Going forward, CPH has a keen focus on taking advantage of
emerging publishing and communication technologies and providing our customers with Web-based and downloadable resources that
offer a wide variety of options from which they can best choose what
will meet their ministry needs. The initiatives launched in this past
triennium will be continued strongly into the next.
Ruth N. Koch, Chair
Bruce G. Kintz, President
R2-04

Board for Black Ministry Service
Resolution 10-01A of the Dallas Convention (1977) has proven
to be a landmark resolution for black ministry in The Lutheran
Church—Missouri Synod. This historic resolution reflected years of
conversation, work, and dedication supporting the intentional effort
of the LCMS to become a systematically inclusive church body. It
described the function of what was then called the Commission on
Black Ministry as follows: “To plan to coordinate, and to expand
Black Ministry.” During the days of the commission, black Lutherans
met in annual convocations and drafted and voted on resolutions.
These affirmative resolutions were then funneled off to the appropriate program boards of the Synod for implementation. This process
was extremely effective for several years.
It then seemed to some leaders in black ministry that it was time
to move from commission to program board status. It was with great
discussion that the convocation voted affirmatively to petition the
Synod to create the Board for Black Ministry Services. The Synod,
walking together with the leaders of black ministry, affirmed the concept and a program board for black ministry was created. As stated in
the current Handbook of the Synod, “The Board for Black Ministry
Services exists to serve as an advocate on behalf of black ministry
in the congregations and agencies of the Synod.” Whether it was
the Commission on Black Ministry or the Board for Black Ministry
Services, the LCMS has made it a priority and one of its values to
honor the unique challenges it faces in sharing the Gospel of Jesus
Christ throughout the black community.
While the history of this unique outreach among African
Americans reaches back to the early 1800s, the approach to effective
ministry is changing. The Report of the Blue Ribbon Task Force on
Synod Structure and Governance states (p. 39):
Though the boards and commissions and their staffs have worked hard,
particularly in recent years, to coordinate their work, the current framework of structure and governance lacks accountability to the express
current dictates and needs of the Synod’s congregations. Further, the
requirement that boards and commissions hold multiple meetings each
year is inefficient and expensive. Finally, the “siloed” or balkanized setup
of the boards and commissions creates complications in business oversight
and legal compliance. The current operational structure of the Synod’s
boards and commissions begs for improvement.

It is understandable that change is necessary for the sake of
strengthening the effectiveness of the church body. It is critical that
it effectively manages the resources that God has entrusted to it. As
the Synod maneuvers this change, however, it is also critical that it
honor and strengthen the mutual commitment that seeks to share the
Gospel in the African American community. Historically, the leaders of this church body have worked hard to model the importance of
“walking together” and leading together as it seeks to model a multi2010 Convention Workbook

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