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LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2019, Page 85

Scan: The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod

Transcription machine transcription, uncorrected

OFFICER, BOARD, AND COMMISSION REPORTS
contested excommunication under Bylaw 1.10 and expulsion
proceedings for one ordained minister under Bylaw 2.14, two
ordained ministers under Bylaw 2.17, and two congregations
under Bylaw 2.14. Other disputes and expulsion proceedings
proceeded nearly to the point of convening a panel but were
resolved by agreement or resignation. Appeals from panel decisions were requested in the contested excommunication and in
the three expulsion proceedings, but no review hearings were
granted by an appeal panel.

Conclusion
It has been a challenge and a joy in the Lord to serve the
congregations of the Synod as their Secretary. I am deeply appreciative of the orderly and respected state in which the office
was left by Dr. Hartwig, and for the invaluable assistance of
Mrs. Pam Weeke, who has faithfully and tirelessly assisted me
as she assisted him.
John W. Sias, Secretary

Board of Directors
The Constitution of the Synod conveys the responsibility
and authority that the Synod gives to the Board of Directors:
The Board of Directors is the legal representative of the Synod. It is the custodian of all of
the property of the Synod, directly or by its delegation of such authority to an agency of the
Synod. It shall exercise supervision over all the
property and business affairs of the Synod except in those areas where it has delegated such
authority to an agency of the Synod or where
the voting members of the Synod through the
adoption of bylaws or by other convention action have assigned specific areas of responsibility to separate corporate or trust entities, and as
to those the Board of Directors shall have general oversight responsibility as set forth in the
Bylaws. (Art. XI E 2)
Legal, property, and business matters are included in its responsibility and have been given attention throughout the past
triennium.

Board Actions
The board continued to made strides in efficiency and effectiveness over the past three years. Improvements in the construct of meeting agendas, committee meetings prior to board
meetings, and the use of electronic media for board dockets, and
information gathering and sharing have had a dramatic impact
on the ease of conducting the Board’s business. Additionally,
since in the past triennium, the board engaged in a self-evaluation process to re-examine its collective and individual performance and identify plans for improvement; the board continued
forward in that process.
Synod’s operating environment has changed over the past
years. Long-term donor trend is flat, and operating costs, mainly employment-related expenses and other overheads, have increased due to inflationary pressures. These factors have shown
us that our work toward increased efficiency is necessary. The

BOD has teamed with Concordia Plans Services, the LCMS
Foundation, and LCEF to explore opportunities to become
more efficient and create win-win opportunities for all.
During the past triennium, we have collaborated in six areas, identified as opportunities: Information Technology; Facility Management; Accounting; Human Resources; Risk Management; and Purchasing. Most of these areas have either been
completed or are in process. Any remaining will be completed
by the end of 2019.
All of these processes have resulted in improved performance, increased efficiencies, and closer collaboration with
Synod entities. Sharing services between entities and utilizing
third-party contractors have resulted in substantial savings to
Synod and the entities involved.
The Board of Directors is dedicated to continuing this selfexamination to increase efficiency, increase collaboration with
our Synod entities, and effect savings in the cost to operate.
Other actions by the board were to appoint a new member to fill a vacancy caused by the resignation of one of the
members. The Rev. Josemon Hoem, Murphysboro, IL, was appointed to fill the vacancy. Also, Mr. Frank Simek was hired as
the new Chief Administrative Officer.

Overtures Submitted
by the Board of Directors
The board has submitted three overtures to the 2019 convention. The first is to Amend Bylaw 3.1.8 To No Longer Require Publication of Delegate Mailing Addresses. The second
is to Amend Bylaws to Change the Board of Directors’ Means
of Representation on Synodwide Corporate Entity Boards of
Directors, and third is to Add Bylaw 3.3.4.10 to Clarify Access
by the Board of Directors to Information of Synod Agencies.

Financial Condition of the Synod
The Chief Financial Officer has reported that during the triennium, support from congregations, passed to Synod, through
the 35 Districts has continued a more-than-25-year decline.
This type of financial support for Synod is used where needed
most. Its continued decline reduces Synod’s financial flexibility
to respond quickly to events and activities that could not be reasonably foreseen, as it increases Synod’s reliance on restricted
revenue streams, which may or may not match the needs of the
ministries carried on by Synod. The Chief Financial Officer also
reported that LCMS Synod, Inc. finished the 2015−16 fiscal
year with a decrease in unrestricted, undesignated net assets of
about $3.4 million dollars. The Chief Financial Officer reported
that at the end of the 2016–17 fiscal year, the total assets of the
Synod had decreased by approximately $20.6 million, accompanied by a decrease in liabilities of $17.6 million. Total revenues
were $72.1 million and expenses totaled $74.4 million, resulting
in a year-end deficit of $2.3 million. The FY 2018−2019 budget was reduced to under $70 million. Financial benefits, from
the assessments and reorganization mentioned above, in several
departments will be realized going forward. This, coupled with
continuing deficit reduction efforts, is beginning to show positive impact for the months and years to come. More detailed
information is provided in the report of the Chief Financial Officer of the Synod, below.
The board approved the distribution of the $607,000 surplus funds from those budgeted for the 2016 LCMS conven2019 Convention Workbook