Collection › LCMS Convention Workbook (St. Louis, Missouri) › 2023 · 68th Convention, Milwaukee › Page 81

LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2023, Page 81

Scan: The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod

Transcription machine transcription, uncorrected

OFFICER, BOARD, AND COMMISSION REPORTS
objective is broad in scope and includes operational objectives necessary for success. The three-year objectives are:
•

Continuous Improvement

•

Increase Investment in Core Technology

•

Transform Identity and Position

•

Develop Key Partnerships

•

Access to Greater Financial Resources

The plan also includes financial growth drivers that focus on
increasing the total loan portfolio to $1.85 billion by the end of
fiscal 2025. This would be supported by $2.5 billion of total assets.
Growth will come through the expansion of products that better
serve congregations, schools, organizations, and workers of the
church.
LCEF is focused on people, processes, and technology as we
endeavor to provide products and services that expand the work of
the church. Updating our core banking system, providing digital
account creation, streamlining underwriting and loan processing,
and improving the customer experience for both investors and borrowers remains our top priority.

Supporting the Work of the Synod
Over the triennium, LCEF has given special consideration to
Resolution 8-03, “To Ensure Timely and Transparent Financial Report to the Synod,” and Resolution 9-06, “To Add Bylaw 3.3.4.10
to Clarify Access by the Board of Directors to Information of
Synod Agencies,” both of which were passed at the 2019 Synod
Convention. LCEF makes an annual disclosure of its financial position through an audit, the Offering Circular, and the annual report
shared with its members and available via its website. LCEF has
satisfied all requests for information from the LCMS Board of Directors, assuring their oversight responsibilities are carried out with
the requested information, per the bylaw.
LCEF continues to find ways to support the mission priorities of the Synod and the work of the national, international, and
pastoral education offices. Noteworthy endeavors of the past triennium include providing grant dollars to support “Set Apart to
Serve” resources, a property purchase in Uruguay, expansion of a
children’s home in Tanzania, and, most significantly, a $1 million
grant to support the Soldiers of the Cross–Amplified program during the pandemic. New international loan opportunities are being
considered in collaboration with Synod. LCEF continues to provide Mission InSite resources that give meaningful demographic
insights into future ministry expansion. LCEF is working with the
church planting initiative to evaluate and identify sites while creating financial models that better support new starts. Likewise, as
the Synod considers ways to launch new Lutheran schools, LCEF
is committed to providing financial and other resources to assure
success.
LCEF is working to support church workers through special
loan and investment products as well as integrating worker wellness resources into its processes. The launch of a new investment
product to establish a loan pool offering below-markets rates to
support church workers is an important way LCEF will address
home ownership and debt challenges some workers face. Leadership development remains critical to the future success of LCEF
as church workers and laity consider creative ways to extend the
mission of serving the church and the world. Supporting the development of leaders continues to be explored through partnerships

with Synod entities and universities. The impact of LCEF’s work
and the breadth of its partnerships are highlighted in the publication Interest Time. Detailed information about LCEF products and
activities are available at lcef.org.
Bart Day, President and CEO
R18

LCMS Foundation
The LCMS Foundation was created in 1958 by The Lutheran
Church—Missouri Synod to assist LCMS members in the creation
of charitable estate plans, to accept noncash gifts on behalf of
LCMS organizations, and to help LCMS ministries invest the assets they possess, whether received as estate gifts or through other
sources.
We celebrate the generosity of God’s people in supporting the
work of His church and ask the Lord’s continued blessing on our
humble efforts that, through His blessing and guidance, the successful performance of our tasks will help bring glory to His name.

Gift Planning
During fiscal years 2020–2022, the LCMS Foundation distributed more than 9,300 gifts totaling $105.9 million (including a
record $45.8 million in 2022) to several thousand LCMS organizations. These ministries include our congregations, schools, seminaries, districts, and ministries providing missionary support, rural
and urban outreach, housing assistance, and much more.

The gifts the Foundation distributes are a result of the joyful
response to God’s love found in the hearts of individuals in our
LCMS community. These are primarily planned gifts such as endowments, donor-advised funds, charitable trusts, and so on administered by the Foundation and distributed to a particular ministry after the donor is called to his or her heavenly home.
To carry out this work, 20 gift planning counselors are located
across the United States. They assist individuals and families in
creating comprehensive estate plans to support families and ministries with the very best gifts.

Investment Services
Ministries who receive significant gifts from donors or already
possess sizeable assets can benefit by working with the Foundation to invest those gifts for future growth. The Foundation presently manages more than $1 billion in investment and trust assets
for nearly 600 LCMS organizations. We provide sophisticated,
2023 Convention Workbook